National Museum of American Jewish History

Rising five stories above Independence Mall, in the heart of historic Philadelphia, the National Museum of American Jewish History joins Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell and other landmarks at the hallowed site of America’s birth. There could not be a more fitting place for a museum that explores the promise and challenges of liberty through the lens of the American Jewish experience.

Behind the striking glass façade that looks out across the Mall, the 100,000-square-foot Museum offers three floors of core exhibition space. The core exhibition explores more than 350 years of American Jewish history through the use of evocative objects, telling moments and state-of-the-art interactive technologies. The Museum interprets how Jews shape and are shaped by America, explores the blessings and challenges of freedom and provides opportunities for visitors to contribute their own stories.

Explore more than 1,200 artifacts and documents as well as 2,500 images taken from the Museum’s own collection, 30 original films and 13 state-of-the-art interactive media displays.

The unique Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame illustrates the extraordinary accomplishments of American Jews while the concourse is devoted to education, with classrooms, a theater and a resource center.

History

The museum was founded during the wave of museum-building in Philadelphia surrounding the 1976 Bicentennial celebration. The Museum’s collection, numbering only 40 objects in its first year, has grown to more than 20,000 artifacts, some dating back more than 300 years.

The National Museum of American Jewish History hosted a Grand Opening Weekend, Nov. 12-14, 2010 headlined by entertainers Bette Midler and Jerry Seinfeld. Barbra Streisand also attended the opening festivities. The museum officially opened to the public on Friday, November 26, 2010.

Other Information

Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am – 5:30pm

The Museum will be closed to visitors on Mondays, and will be closed all together on Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the first two days of Passover.

Tickets:
Adults: $12
Children, Youth, Senior, and Active Military (ID required): $11

In recognition of Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) and Jewish holidays, tickets cannot be purchased at the museum on Saturdays or holidays. Purchase tickets in advance at www.nmajh.org.

Ticket sales and admittance to the Museum cease half an hour before closing time.