Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
At the Academy of Natural Sciences, you can wander among towering dinosaur skeletons. Explore ecosystems from around the world through our historic dioramas or be transported to the great outdoors through our hands-on discovery center for children. Visit our Special Exhibits Gallery for our newest exhibit, or watch scientists at work in Science Live or our Fossil Prep Lab.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: City Center West
How to get there
- 19th St • 6 min walk
- 22nd St • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
404 reviews
Excellent
159
Very good
154
Average
66
Poor
20
Terrible
5
Chris M
Pocono Mountains Region, PA470 contributions
Sept 2022
If you can, run, don't walk, to catch the exhibit the museum has about the Delaware River and watersheds. It is top-notch Found the staff super helpful and friendly and the layout and displays very engaging. Fun place for kids.
Written 13 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maryann L
Fair Oaks, CA1,322 contributions
Sept 2022
On the day we visited there were many families and the children were having a wonderful time. There were staff members there to answer questions and explain the exhibits. At Outside In there is a discovery center that features hands-on science. Dinosaur Hall has more than 30 dinosaurs and other reptiles. You can watch a staff member prepare fossils in the Prep Lab. There are numerous Dioramas throughout the museum depicting wildlife from North America, Asia and Africa. All are well done. There is a cafe, gift shop and a fee for admission.
Written 27 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nelli F
2 contributions
June 2023
Several full size reproductions of several dinosaur skeletons look pretty good, but the museum in general is very small, dusty, outdated, and rather boring for an adult visitor. 20–30 minutes are enough to see the whole thing. Note that the butterfly exhibit mentioned in some reviews doesn't exist anymore, which was a huge disappointment for me. Really, there is absolutely no need to go there if you don't have kids under 10 or, rather, 7 with you. Visit the Franklin Institute instead.
Written 12 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dustythoughts
Manchester, CT2,157 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
This small-ish science museum is a fun way to spend a couple of hours if you have the time. It's not as well-known as The Franklin Institute, but has some cool dinosaur skeletons and is very educational. They have an interesting exhibit right now on skin, both the science of it and its impacts on human cultures.
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie C
Sicklerville, NJ407 contributions
Jan 2020
Enjoyed a family morning outing at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The tickets were expensive buy my daughter really enjoyed the dinosaur and butterfly exhibits. As cool as the dioramas are, I do with there were less of those and more interactive experiences for bigger kids. Worth checking out once but not sure we'll go again unless they change things up.
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin O
Newport News, VA23 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
This was one of the highlights for my 5 and 6 year olds on our trip to Philly. They particularly enjoyed the hands on Outside In exhibits.
Great for adults too, I could have spent more time in the dinosaur hall.
Limited gift shop, we had some difficulty finding something for everyone.
Great for adults too, I could have spent more time in the dinosaur hall.
Limited gift shop, we had some difficulty finding something for everyone.
Written 9 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QuackerzDaTraveler
Philadelphia, PA248 contributions
June 2019 • Couples
Completely in love with the dinosaur and butterfly exhibit. The wild animals is pretty cool too. This is nice spot to take 3-6 years old on a rainy day! Staff was very friendly!
Written 15 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheetal S
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India206 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
I spent around 1.5 hours here. The dinos here are cool.Meteorites can be touched.Nice games are available for kids. Butterfly section is cool and shows larva to butterfly transformation. Mystic creates gallery was additional cost and not worth.Many animals in their habitat dummies are kept.Egyptian mummy was also cool.
Written 13 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colin B
Cardiff, UK106 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
I have to confess that we only really went in to see the dinosaur exhibit, but the museum does indeed have more to it than that.
Our main talking point however, was not about dinosaurs, but how to make the animal displays, the dioramas. The time, detail and skill levels that go into each diorama in phenomenal. Well worth watching the video and sitting on the chairs provided.
The dinosaur animatronic exhibit was also good mind. I never realised that there were so many different species.
Well worth a visit if you're in the area.
Our main talking point however, was not about dinosaurs, but how to make the animal displays, the dioramas. The time, detail and skill levels that go into each diorama in phenomenal. Well worth watching the video and sitting on the chairs provided.
The dinosaur animatronic exhibit was also good mind. I never realised that there were so many different species.
Well worth a visit if you're in the area.
Written 11 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,437 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
The size of this museum is manageable, the contents interesting, the tradition of this museum quite rich. They just added a new dinosaur to the collection and dinosaurs are indeed the focus of the trip for many kids. For adults what may be interesting is the history of the dioramas many decades old but somehow amazingly not dated. There is quite a variety of artifacts including mummies, gems and stones, butterflies, some of the stuff almost random ( nothing wrong with that! ). It is not a museum for adults looking for science lesson of any kind or great experience. Take your kids or grandkids - they will learn and have fun. It is a great place for them.
Written 2 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it interesting for teens or more geared toward little kids? We have a range of ages.
Written 3 February 2018
Based on my observations of the children at the museum, the 4-11 year olds were enjoying the museum. Most the the 12+ children appeared disinterested.
Written 24 February 2018
Best deal is go on the parking websites for philadelphia, I think it's SP+, and you can get a discount voucher for their garages. I always park at the JFK house on 19th and JFK it's about a two block walk up 19th to the side entrance to the academy and on the weekends if you pay online it's $12.
Written 29 May 2017
I will be walking alone with 3 kids. Where is the closest parking?
Written 12 May 2017
There is a surface lot directly behind the Academy of Natural Sciences.
The address is:
114 N 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
We have used it several times. It costs a few bucks but is worth it for the convenience.
Cheers!
Written 13 May 2017
Catherine B
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Are battery operated air mattresses permitted at the museum's sleep over events?
Written 26 March 2017
I just was there for a day visit. I didn't even know the museum had sleep over events. Sorry I couldn't help :(. I think your best bet is to call the museum and ask that question:
Phone: (215) 299-1000
Written 27 March 2017
At least two hour though I would plan on half a day. It depends on who is with you and the interest and attention span of the participants.
Hope that helps!
Written 2 February 2017
Parent of 4-6 year olds, How much time did you spend there?
Written 18 May 2016
I was there with a 4 and a 12 year old, and spent about 2.5-3 hours. It was a little long, and the younger child was getting bored. The age gap didn't help, so doing things with one child was sometimes less interesting for the other. I think 2 hours could have been very sufficient.
Take a little time to map out a plan, too. We spent a bit of time bouncing back and forth from one area to the other to try and find things, which wasted some time and tired the kiddos a little.
Written 20 May 2016
10 minutes, 15 minutes if you walk slowly.
If you enlarge the map for site you can see the (30th Street) train station, just across the river. The museum is effectively at 19th street, so including the bridge it is 11 city blocks (not avenue blocks) east.
Written 31 July 2015
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