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As the birthplace of our nation, Philadelphia takes Independence Day season very seriously, highlighted by the blockbuster Wawa Welcome America festival and its 16 days of free concerts, fireworks, parades, parties and more, from Juneteenth to July Fourth.
One of the festival’s most popular programs is Free Museum Days, a two-week-long celebration of some of Philadelphia’s most beloved attractions. Each day from June 19 through July 4, at least one Philly museum or attraction offers free (or pay-what-you-wish) admission.
This year, 50 museums and historic attractions across the city are participating in the deal-lovers’ delight. Included are art museums like the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, cultural museums like the African American Museum in Philadelphia, history museums like the Independence Seaport Museum and science museums like the Science History Institute, plus historic mansions like the Fairmount Park Charm Houses. Many sites also offer special programming and tours.
Note: Pre-registration for Free Museum Day events is not required unless noted below.
Read on for our guide to Free Museum Days during Wawa Welcome America 2026 in Philadelphia.
Free Museum Day at the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) coincides with the museum’s annual Juneteenth block party — called the Juneteenth Jubilee this year — marking the first day of Wawa Welcome America.
Inside, visitors can check out the permanent Audacious Freedom exhibit or the ongoing Ruth E. Carter special exhibition. Outside, the day-long festival includes tons of music — DJ Jazzy Jeff, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh and more — food trucks and a dedicated kid’s zone.
Vibe: Jubilation Don’t miss: Wawa free smoothies at the festival (while supplies last)
No pre-registration required
Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
At the edge of Philly’s iconic Boathouse Row, Fairmount Water Works — the nation’s first successful water supply system — now houses an environmental education center teaching visitors about innovations in urban water projects and sustainability through interactive exhibits, an interpretive center and programs about water use.
Visitors on Free Museum Day can check out the onsite Mussel Hatchery to observe scientists propagating the Eastern Pondmussel (a native species still found locally).
Good for: Learning about Philly’s water history Don’t miss: The baby mussels each learning to use their new “foot”
Where: Fairmount Water Works, 640 Waterworks Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia’s only Victorian house museum, the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion in historic Germantown explores the stories of men and women from the Civil War through 1900 across the home’s two floors and gardens.
On Free Museum Day, guests can enjoy tours of the mansion, learn about the people who resided here and the history of Philadelphia in the 19th century.
Good for: Learning about 19th-century Philadelphians Don’t miss: A stroll around the beautiful gardens
Where: Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, 200 W. Tulpehocken Street, Philadelphia, PA
Take a trip back in time at Historic Rittenhouse Town, a once-bustling industrial village (dating back to 1687) that was home to America’s first paper mill. Before construction of the mill, America had its paper delivered from England — and after it, the Rittenhouse family became the only people selling paper in America.
During Free Museum Day, journey through history that explores the Homestead (birthplace of David Rittenhouse, first director of the U.S. Mint and namesake of Rittenhouse Square) and the 1753 Bakehouse with its giant 16.5-foot hearth.
Where: Historic Rittenhouse Town, 208 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia, PA
West Philadelphia’s Paul Robeson House served as the residence of the esteemed human rights activist, scholar, attorney, stage and film actor, professional football player, and bass-baritone singer during the last decade of his life.
Tours offered on Free Museum Day give visitors a chance to hear songs recorded by Robeson over his lifetime, learn about his politics and activism, and explore his life with deep roots in Philadelphia.
Good for: Learning the storied history of a famous Philadelphian Don’t miss: Checking out ongoing programming, like the Paul Robeson chess club
Pre-registration required (Tickets coming soon)
Where: Paul Robeson House & Museum, 4951 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
The oldest unified museum and art school in America, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (founded in 1805) features elaborate Victorian Gothic architecture surrounding a large collection of compelling American art, highlighted by a 1796 copy of Gilbert Stuart’s famous Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington.
During Free Museum Day, peruse the gallery filled with well-known paintings by American Masters like Homer, Wiley, Sargent, Lawrence, Eakins, Cassatt, Hopper and Beaux.
Good for: Seeing iconic American art Don’t miss: Checking out the museum’s ongoing Nation of Artists exhibition
Where: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
From the outside, the Ryerss Museum and Library looks like a charming Victorian mansion in Northeast Philly. But on the inside, guests can find fantastic artifacts and oddities that the Ryerss — a family of traders and art collectors — acquired during their world travels.
During Free Museum Day, visitors can see statues from Japanese Buddhist temples, European artwork, historic weapons, and a natural history collection of shells, minerals and even sea creatures.
Good for: Seeing some really cool artifacts Don’t miss: The site’s independent circulating library, loaning out all sorts of popular bestsellers and classic literature
Pre-registration required. Email [email protected] to register.
Where: Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
One of the nation’s oldest continuously occupied residential streets, Elfreth’s Alley boasts 300 years of history along its charming cobblestone road lined with quaint row houses. The alley preserves three centuries of evolution through its old-fashioned flower boxes, shutters, Flemish bond brickwork and other architectural details.
On Free Museum Day, learn about how people of that time lived by exploring the interiors of two of the alley’s homes that were built in 1755 — which now house the Elfreth’s Alley Museum.
Good for: A step back in time Don’t miss: The new pocket park on North 2nd Street
Where: Elfreth's Alley Museum, 126 Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia, PA
Stephen Girard died in 1831 as the wealthiest man in America. In his will, he instructed that his vast fortune be used to establish a college prep school for “poor, white male orphans” named Girard College. The college refused to integrate after segregation was ruled unconstitutional. After a lengthy legal battle, Girard College began admitting Black students in 1968.
Visitors can learn more about the history of Girard College’s desegregation and more about the school and Girard’s life during Free Museum Day.
Good for: Exploring a hidden gem Don’t miss: Taking some time to appreciate the classic Greek Revival architecture
Where: Founder's Hall Museum at Girard College, 2101 S. College Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
The Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery is the only museum of its kind in the region, displaying thousands of “slavery artifacts” — including shackles, chains, whips, coffles and branding irons. The site also features ship manifests, auction signs, sales documents, and Jim Crow items that segregated and stereotyped Black Americans.
On Free Museum Day, take the 90-minute guided tour, which includes these objects from the trans-Atlantic slave trade and a review of slavery from capture to emancipation and beyond.
Good for: A more complete telling of American history Know before you go: The Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery is part of the Historic Germantown consortium.
Where: Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery, 5501 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Founded in 1695 as a condition of William Penn’s Charter, Christ Church — birthplace of the American Episcopal Church — once served as the place of worship for prominent history-makers like Benjamin and Deborah Franklin, Betsy Ross, Robert Morris, and Benjamin Rush.
Take a self-guided tour of what was known as “The Nation’s Church” during Free Museum Day. Pick up a $1 map to guide your tour or ask one of the knowledgeable staff members for more info.
Don’t miss: A peek into the Christ Church Neighborhood House, just across the street Know before you go: See Ben Franklin’s grave, buried at Christ Church Burial Ground, just around the corner from the church for an added entry fee.
Where: Christ Church, 20 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA
While many museum homes in Germantown started as elegant mansions, the 1690 Wyck estate was originally a simple one-room log house — which also spent time as a Revolution-era field hospital, an 18th-century brewery and a meeting place for influential Philadelphians.
Plus, the site’s green space includes the nation’s oldest rose garden in its original plan and over 80 historic roses. During Free Museum Day, visitors can tour the grounds and explore the first floor of Germantown’s oldest home.
Good for: Strolling tranquil gardens Know before you go: Most of Wyck’s historic roses bloom in May, but the gardens burst with flowers throughout all the warmer months.
Where: Wyck Historic House and Garden, 6026 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Even though the U.S. capital moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in 1800, the manufacture of coins and medals has stayed primarily in Philadelphia for the past two centuries.
On this Free Museum Day visit, see Semiquincentennial coins like the snazzy new Declaration of Independence quarters as they are pressed into existence. Check out the historic coin exhibits throughout, including the very first coining press that made the country’s first coin money in 1792.
Good for: Seeing how coins come to life Don’t miss: Peeping the dazzling Tiffany mosaics on-site
Where: United States Mint, 151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA
Snuggled behind the east wing of Independence Hall is an unassuming brick building erected in the late 1780s. That’s the home of the American Philosophical Society Museum, which served as our nation’s first museum, national library and academy of science.
Come for Free Museum Day and view the ongoing These Truths: Declarations of Independence. On exhibit throughout the Semiquincentennial year, visitors can see a plethora of historic documents, including a first printing of Thomas Paine’s historic Common Sense.
Good for: Deep dives into historic documents Don’t miss: A chance to see the chair Thomas Jefferson sat in while drafting the Declaration of Independence
Where: American Philosophical Society, 104 S. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Tucked into Philly’s quaint Chestnut Hill neighborhood, Woodmere is a jewel-box art museum showcasing the work of prominent and lesser-known Philadelphia artists alike. Housed in a 19th-century mansion, the museum is also surrounded by an impressive sculpture garden across six acres.
During Free Museum Day, guests can take a tour of the vibrant exhibitions highlighting the achievements and social ideas of Philadelphia artists in the broader context of American art, including the Arc of Promise Semiquincentennial commemorative exhibit.
Don’t miss: A stroll around Woodmere’s outdoor sculpture garden Good for: Celebrating Philly artists
Where: Woodmere, 9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Located in Market East in Center City, The Fabric Workshop & Museum (FWM) is a contemporary nonprofit arts organization and museum that celebrates modern art created from, on, and with fabric and other textiles. The only museum of its kind in the world, FWM displays not only garments and apparel, but also drawings, paintings, sculptures and large installations.
On Free Museum Day, check out FWM’s current exhibit: Jesse Krimes: Elegy Quilts, showcasing the artist’s quilts centered around the theme of U.S. incarceration.
Good for: Viewing stunning, modern textile art Don’t miss: Browsing the on-site gift shop for home goods, handbags and wearables
Pre-registration not required.
Where: The Fabric Workshop and Museum, 1214 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
The argument can be made that America started right here in this building. In 1774, delegates from the American colonies — the First Continental Congress — gathered at Carpenters’ Hall to support a trade embargo against England. This meeting marked one of the fledgling nation’s first unified acts of defiance protesting the King.
During Free Museum Day, visitors can enter the room where the First Continental Congress met, view historic 19th-century tilework, see 18th-century fire buckets and speak with docents about the history of the Carpenters’ Company.
Good for: Seeing where America began Don’t miss: The Lego model of the hall
Where: Carpenters' Hall, 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Located along the Delaware River waterfront, the maritime history Independence Seaport Museum encourages visitors to explore one of Philadelphia’s two major rivers and its world of connections.
The Penn’s Landing site’s Free Museum Day programming offers access to exhibits like River Alive!; Patriots & Pirates; and Small but Mighty!: Models, Toys, and Miniature Ships. For an added fee, head outside to explore the massive Spanish-American War-era Cruiser USS Olympia and World War II Submarine USS Becuna.
Know before you go: Visitors can purchase tickets to explore the museum’s historic vessels on-site during Free Museum Day. Don’t miss: The museum’s current exhibit: Seeking Power and Profit, on view throughout the Semiquincentennial year
Where: Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Built by first-generation Scottish American prothonotary Edward Burd in 1798, Ormiston Mansion helps preserve a piece of Philadelphia’s Colonial past.
The two-and-a-half-story late-Georgian red-brick house features exterior architectural details like American and Flemish bond brickwork, a widow’s walk atop the house, Federal-style dormer windows adorning the cedar shake roof, and a simple Tuscan porch. The interior offers original fireplaces, moldings and a Scottish bake oven.
During the special Free Museum Day event, volunteer tour guides typically greet guests on each floor to explain the history of the building.
Good for: Exploring exquisite architecture Don’t miss: Tea and biscuits on the second floor for Free Museum Day visitors
Where: Ormiston Mansion, 2000 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Home of abolitionist judge Richard Peters and where Founding Fathers like Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison once walked, Fairmount Park’s Belmont Mansion offers collections of historical slave trade artifacts and narratives, including those of Cornelia Wells, a free Black woman who resided at the estate.
Take a self-guided tour on Free Museum Day to view the exhibits and uncover the hidden tales of the mansion’s role in the Underground Railroad, serving as a beacon of hope for those seeking freedom from the Antebellum South.
Good for: Exploring hidden history Know before you go: The American Women’s Heritage Society manages Belmont Mansion
Where: American Womens Heritage Society at the Belmont Mansion, 2000 Belmont Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia has long been associated with art and artists working in wood, many of whom are honored at Old City’s Museum for Art in Wood. The four-decade-old attraction features collections consisting of 1,400 wood-art-related objects ranging from functional pieces like furniture to modern sculptures, artist exhibitions, and a 25,000-item research library on the history of woodturning and woodworking.
While visiting on Free Museum Day, experience the site’s current exhibitions, Muliebrity by Viola Bordon and Suite Américaine by BA Harrington.
Good for: Exploring wood artistry Don’t miss: Checking out the museum’s permanent collection
Where: Museum for Art in Wood, 141 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
America’s oldest natural history museum, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University offers plenty to do during its pay-what-you-wish Free Museum Day. Visitors can experience live animals, three continents of wildlife in their natural habitats, face time with towering dinosaurs and more.
Stop by to view the institution’s Semiquincentennial-timed exhibit — Botany of Nations — which retells the famous Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 to 1806 through an Indigenous lens using plants as portals to under-shared stories, cultures and science.
Good for: Introducing the littles to science Don’t miss: Saying hello to the museum’s gigantic T. rex
Pre-registration required
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
The Penn Museum on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania is best known for its renowned collection of art and artifacts from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Greco-Roman world, Asia, Africa and the ancient Americas.
Join the institution on Free Museum Day to see items like Sumerian cuneiform clay tablets, 4,500-year-old royal Mesopotamian jewelry and the massive 3,000-year-old Sphinx of Ramses II.
Don’t miss: Checking out the museum’s new Native North America gallery space, now open Vibe: Explore the entire world in a day
Where: Penn Museum, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
As part of its A Summer aBroad programming, non-profit North Broad Renaissance is showcasing its fun, self-guided tour for Free Museum Day.
The A Summer aBroad AR Tour is a self-guided augmented reality (AR) experience that allows users to explore key sites along North Broad Street at their own pace. Stops include The Rail Park, the Divine Lorraine Hotel, Blue Horizon, the Sullivan Progress Plaza and the North Poles.
Know before you go: The free tour app is available on Google Play and the App Store. Don’t miss: The Sea aBroad, which transforms the lawn of the Leon H. Sullivan Trust into an undersea adventure
Where: Starts outside 425 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Journey through 360 years of the American Jewish experience at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, the country’s only museum exclusively devoted to preserving the culture, history and heritage of the nation’s Jewish diaspora from struggling immigrants to integral citizens.
Explore over thousands of items on display, including more than 1,200 artifacts and documents, 2,500 images, 30 original films, and 13 interactive media displays during Free Museum Day.
Don’t miss: Snapping a family selfie with Deborah Kass’ cheeky OY/YO sculpture by the museum’s entrance Know before you go: Bonus! The Weitzman offers an additional free museum day on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Where: Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA
Built between 1756 and 1758 for William Coleman, a Philadelphia merchant and close friend of Benjamin Franklin, Georgian-style Woodford Mansion is the oldest of the six Fairmount Park Charms houses and a National Historic Landmark.
The highlight of the Free Museum Day is the Naomi Wood Collection of 18th-century furniture, paintings, household goods and decorative arts, along with the guided tour of the mansion based on the lives of the families and enslaved servants who lived and worked at the summer residence.
Good for: A glimpse into the luxurious lives of Philadelphia’s historic elite Vibe: Historic elegance
Where: Woodford Mansion, 2300 N. 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Built across Fairmount Park between 1742 and 1810, the Park Charms are six historic mansions that served as summer homes for wealthy Philadelphia families. The largest is Historic Strawberry Mansion, once home to Judge William Lewis, advisor to Washington and Hamilton, and drafter of the first law abolishing slavery.
On Free Museum Day, the villa is open for tours of its antique furniture, artifacts, fine art and porcelain, plus a collection of Sesquicentennial dolls from 1926.
Good for: Appreciating the site’s eclectic architecture Don’t miss: Peeping the full-length brick terrace overlooking a beautiful azalea path
Where: Historic Strawberry Mansion, 2450 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Built around 1767, historic Laurel Hill Mansion previously served as the summer home of Rebecca Rawle (a young Quaker widow with three small children) and her second husband, then-future Philadelphia mayor Samuel Shoemaker. Today, the Georgian-style home is open for tours, concerts and educational programming.
The site’s Free Museum Day schedule typically includes creative activities and Colonial crafting for children like tin punching and whirligigs to take home, outdoor games, and guided tours of the historic house and garden.
Good for: Old-fashioned games and crafts Don’t miss: The view of the Schuylkill River from the back porch
Where: Laurel Hill Mansion, 3487 Edgley Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Often considered the “Father of Early American Surgery,” Dr. Philip Syng Physick was one of the most accomplished physicians of his time. From a medical office located in his spectacular mansion, now known as Hill-Physick House, he treated his high-profile patients, including Dolley Madison, President Andrew Jackson and Chief Justice John Marshall.
On Free Museum Day, visitors can take a self-guided tour to learn about Physick’s scandal-ridden life after his wife left him, something unheard of in that era.
Vibe: Soap-opera-like history Don’t miss: A stop by the Independence Visitor Center to snag a modern version of Physick’s soda-like drink
Where: Hill-Physick House, 321 S. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA
A crucial part of the Germantown Historic District, the Johnson House Historic Site attained National Historic Landmark designation for its key role in the Underground Railroad.
During Free Museum Day, take the docent-led 60-minute Steps to Freedom: A Guided Tour about the injustices of slavery and the 19th-century resident Johnson family — five siblings (and their spouses) from a Quaker abolitionist family — who participated in the Underground Railroad by risking their lives to offer refuge to freedom seekers.
Good for: Learning about Germantown’s role in the Underground Railroad Know before you go: Among the freedom fighters who stayed at the house were William Still and (according to family lore) Harriet Tubman.
Where: Johnson House Historic Site, 6306 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Once one of the most famous prisons in the world, the massive Eastern State Penitentiary (operating from 1829 to 1970) housed criminals like Al Capone and Willie Sutton, and introduced Americans to the concept of solitary confinement. Today, the attraction explores the site’s history and while addressing modern social justice issues surrounding incarceration.
The attraction’s pay-what-you-wish Free Museum Day offers a self-guided audio tour (via QR code) outlining the site’s exhibits and art installations with pop-up talks highlighting the prison’s history.
Know before you go: Free Museum Day is part of the site’s year-long A Time for Liberty programming Don’t miss: Visiting the on-site Fair Chance Beer Garden featuring pours from Triple Bottom Brewing.
Pre-registration recommended
Where: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
FDR Park’s American Swedish Historical Museum, modeled after a 17th-century Swedish manor, tells the story of the New Sweden colonists who settled the Greater Philadelphia area in the mid-1600s, even before William Penn arrived.
On Free Museum Day, explore the museum’s numerous galleries devoted to the history of the New Sweden Colony and the site’s vast collection of Swedish-related artifacts, including furniture, silver and fabrics.
Good for: Learning about Swedish contributions to Philly and America Don’t miss: The site’s current exhibitions: A Century in the Making: 100 Years of ASHM and From Taste to Tech: 100 Years of Nordic Innovation & Impact
Where: American Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Fred Simeone’s impressive collection of racing cars like Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Bugattis, Porsches, Aston Martins, and muscle cars including Corvettes and Mustangs led to the creation of Southwest Philadelphia’s Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, one of the world’s greatest collections of historic racing cars.
The collection features over 75 historic (and just plain cool) rides, along with rotating exhibits showcasing the history of sports cars and racing machines and an extensive automobile library, all available to view during Free Museum Day.
Good for: Car enthusiasts Don’t miss: Returning to the museum on a Demo Day
Where: Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, 6825-31 Norwitch Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Known as the mother church of the nation’s first Black denomination, Mother Bethel Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church sits on the oldest parcel of land in Philadelphia continuously owned by African Americans. Bishop Richard Allen founded the church in 1794.
Today, Mother Bethel remains open as an active church, archives and museum in Society Hill. During Free Museum Day, visitors can explore the Richard Allen Museum’s collection, including the tomb of the first Bishop of the A.M.E. Church and artifacts from the 1600s.
Good for: Exploring sacred Black history Don’t miss: A chance to see the church’s huge stained-glass windows with both religious and Masonic images
Where: Mother Bethel (A.M.E.) Church and Richard Allen Museum, 419 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Historic Arch Street Meeting House, founded in 1682 and deeded by William Penn, played a key role in two civil rights movements.
Early on, its congregation featured several outspoken abolitionists, and those who worshipped there voted to expel members who refused to free their enslaved laborers. In 1979, the site hosted over 300 LGBTQ+ activists who gathered to plan the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
Explore these stories and more throughout Free Museum Day.
Know before you go: Free Museum Day features two opportunities to watch a live performance: A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin & Sarah Mapps Douglass (11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.). Don’t miss: Checking out the site’s new permanent exhibit, The History of Quakers: A Religious Revolution
Where: Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
One of the world’s most infamous science institutions, the Mütter Museum was established to help the public understand the mysteries of the human body and appreciate the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Explore the weirdness on Free Museum Day with special pop-up exhibits and guided gallery talks. Dive into the 35,000-piece collection, including the death cast of conjoined twins Chang & Eng and slices of Albert Einstein’s brain. Then take a breather in the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden.
Good for: In-depth exploration of biology Don’t miss: The site’s Revolutionary Botany exhibition, timed to coincide with the Semiquincentennial
Pre-registration required (tickets coming soon)
Where: Mütter Museum, 19 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
North Philadelphia’s Wagner Free Institute of Science — one of the few remaining Victorian-era scientific societies — is an extensive library, natural history museum and educational institution founded in 1855 by “gentleman scientist” William Wagner.
While the name discloses its status as always free, Free Museum Day marks a great time to explore the building’s 100,000-item collection, featuring rocks, minerals, fossils, preserved insects, taxidermy, and mounted skeletons of a buffalo, an English draft horse and the first saber-tooth tiger bone discovered in America.
Know before you go: Pre-registration reserves a spot on the site’s Free Museum Day tour Vibe: Time seems to evaporate as you lose yourself in the vast collections
Where: Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W. Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Old City’s National Liberty Museum educates visitors on the diversity of Americans and respect for all people — and on the knowledge that the struggle for liberty is not just an American ideal.
Activities celebrate Independence Day season on Free Museum Day, along with access to the museum’s new major exhibition series showcasing three different exhibitions in one, each offering a different perspective on one of the United States’ most core freedoms: the First Amendment’s freedom of assembly — the right to protest, express opinions and gather peacefully for a shared cause.
Know before you go: The site’s permanent exhibit — The Heroes of Liberty from Around the World — is also on view on Free Museum Day Don’t miss: The stunning, 21-foot Flame of Liberty glass art sculpture by Dale Chihuly
Pre-registration required online or onsite
Where: National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Towering and majestic, the Masonic Temple has stood tall across from City Hall since 1873, representing the secret fraternity with 14th-century roots and a membership that included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, whose statues stand outside its entrance.
On Free Museum Day, visitors can see the site’s stunning collection of artwork, frescoes, stained glass, murals and sculptures from a variety of periods, plus read their way through an exhibit hall highlighting Freemasonry’s past.
Know before you go: Free Museum Day tours are offered every half-hour from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Don’t miss: A chance to explore one of Philly’s hidden gems
Where: Masonic Temple, 1 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Located in historic Rittenhouse Square, printmaking and photography gallery The Print Center — founded in 1915 — features events, exhibitions, artwork, publications and educational programs, supporting emerging and established artists alike.
Visit during Free Museum Day to view the museum’s Semiquincentennial exhibition — America Today: Voices in Contemporary Print — featuring 42 print works from 37 artists, including the designs of five artists from Philly’s Brandywine Workshop and Archives.
Good for: An intimate art viewing experience Don’t miss: Checking out the Gallery Store, which offers books and artwork from 100 local, national and international artists
Where: The Print Center, 1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA
Dedicated to the four most powerful pages in America’s history, the National Constitution Center is the country’s only museum devoted to the U.S. Constitution.
Impactful exhibits showcase the First and 19th Amendments, daily Freedom Rising multimedia performances and Signers’ Hall with life-sized bronze statues of the signers of the Constitution. The center’s Free Museum Day features an interactive show, Colonial-era craft making, workshops about the American flag and a Revolutionary War encampment on the front lawn.
Know before you go: The Constitution Center recently opened two brand new galleries — America’s Founding and Governing the Nation. Don’t miss: Wawa Hoagie Day outside the museum, where the beloved convenience chain honors local heroes by offering 25,000 free Shortis (i.e., a six-inch hoagie) on the attraction’s front lawn for all comers (while supplies last).
Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Historic Stenton, once owned by William Penn’s secretary James Logan, showcases scores of artifacts dating back to 1730, when the structure was first built as a plantation house.
The property — once home to six generations and a diverse community of enslaved laborers — sits on three acres and includes a Colonial Revival garden, early American textiles and furnishings, and 18th- and 19th-century family objects like Norris stools and needlework pocketbooks.
Good for: Visiting a stunning example of Georgian architecture with elegant red bricks and outward symmetry of windows and doorways Know before you go: To reserve a tour during Free Museum Day, please visit the site’s Programs page and choose a tour time.
Pre-registration recommended (see above)
Where: Stenton, 4601 N. 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Ever since Andy Warhol and his entourage caused a near-riot here in 1965, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) has been shaking up the city with shows revealing the hottest and coolest trends in contemporary art.
The museum’s mission to bring underrepresented artists into the spotlight has earned an international reputation among contemporary art museums. During Free Museum Day, visitors can explore ICA’s latest exhibit: A World in the Making: The Shakers, which places original Shaker objects next to Shaker-influenced contemporary works.
Vibe: Cutting-edge art Don’t miss: Taking some time to enjoy Xenobia Bailey’s cool Entryways exhibit
Where: Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Old City’s St. George’s United Methodist Church is the nation’s oldest Methodist house of worship, dating back to 1769. The church also maintains the Historic St. George’s Museum & Archives, which displays thousands of photographs, documents and artifacts related to the development of Methodism in America.
Come for Free Museum Day and tour the museum’s collection — which includes artifacts like the communion chalice sent by Methodism founder John Wesley to Francis Asbury in 1785 — plus new, interactive exhibits.
Know before you go: Toys, games, crafts and more will also be available for the kids, including water marbling and doll making. Don’t miss: Be one of the first to see the museum’s renovated space, re-opening this summer
Where: Historic St. George's Museum & Archives, 326 New Street, Philadelphia, PA
Located in the renovated 1902 firehouse of Engine Company Number Eight — a descendant of Benjamin Franklin’s 1736 Union Fire Company — Fireman’s Hall Museum offers lessons in the history, art and science of firefighting through exhibits featuring historic fire trucks dating back to the 1800s.
On Free Museum Day, view exhibits featuring the nation’s earliest hand- and horse-drawn firefighting equipment, Philadelphia’s early “Franklin’s Volunteers,” a when-to-call-911 interactive quiz, and firefighting gear like coats and boots to try on.
Good for: Exploring Philly’s firefighting history Know before you go: The museum is operated by the Philadelphia Fire Department, whose members serve as docents.
Where: Fireman's Hall Museum, 147 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
At the Science History Institute, visitors explore the amazing successes, astonishing failures, strange surprises and oft-overlooked historical stories behind the science that shapes our world.
The Institute’s permanent exhibition takes you on a journey through more than 500 years of scientific inquiry into the material world, exploring the knowledge and technology that give us cleaner air, safer foods and effective vaccines. For Free Museum Day, visitors can also check out the site’s explosive new exhibit: Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks.
Good for: Deep dives into the science of everyday life Don’t miss: The outdoor exhibit, First Class Flora: A Stamp Collection of Medicinal Plants
Where: Science History Institute, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Chester County’s Historic Waynesborough gets in on the action for this year’s Free Museum Days, with opportunities to explore the National Historic Landmark in Paoli where General Anthony Wayne (whose personality and actions earned him the moniker “Mad Anthony”) once lived.
The 10-plus-acre estate, anchored by its historic Georgian-style house, served seven generations of Wayne’s family. Explore that history on a tour during Free Museum Day, featuring a short intro video and a 45-minute house tour.
Know before you go: Tours run every 45 minutes, starting at noon. Don’t miss: Strolling the home’s sprawling gardens and green space
Where: Historic Waynesborough, 2049 Waynesborough Road, Paoli, PA
To escape summer’s heat, Benjamin Chew built a plantation for his family in Germantown in 1767. A decade later, the British seized Cliveden during the Battle of Germantown before Chew reclaimed the estate.
On Free Museum Day, learn the history of the site where Chew and his family lived for seven generations, from musket-ball-pocked walls to authentic 19th-century furnishings, along with a retelling of the important history of Africans enslaved by the family and efforts they made to escape.
Know before you go: Free Museum Day visitors can also see Cliveden’s newest exhibit, Procuring Liberty in the Emerging Nation. Don’t miss: Strolling the estate’s green space, now an arboretum
Where: Cliveden, 6401 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
One of the nation’s finest and best-preserved examples of Georgian architecture, the Powel House once hosted elegant parties for elite Philadelphians, including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and George Washington. Fun fact: The Washingtons celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary at the house.
Once the home of 18th-century power couple Elizabeth and Samuel Powel, the mansion still oozes elegance, furnished with museum-quality clocks, portraits and other treasures.
Know before you go: After spending the day toiling over drafting the Constitution, many Founding Fathers headed to the Powel House afterward for informal discussions. Don’t miss: Taking a stroll through the surrounding gardens
Where: Powel House, 244 S. 3rd Street #3811, Philadelphia, PA
Nearly every topic in American history is represented at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The century-old, brick and marble building in Midtown Village houses approximately 560,000 printed books and 19 million manuscript items, including William Penn’s archives.
On Free Museum Day, check out the Historical Society’s newest exhibition: Paths to Independence: 1765-1787 — curated to coincide with the Semiquincentennial celebration — featuring more than 140 items that help tell the story of America’s origins.
Good for: Understanding the history surrounding American independence Don’t miss: Checking out the Historical Society’s other 250-themed programs
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA
In addition to Wawa Welcome America’s Free Museum Days, the Barnes Foundation and Calder Gardens mark the Semiquincentennial by welcoming all Philadelphia residents to explore these iconic museums for free throughout the entire month of July. The promo is their way of saying thanks to Philly’s residents.
Here’s how it works: Walk up to the ticket window at either museum and show a valid Philadelphia ID. Then, get free admission. Easy peasy.
Know before you go: Want to see both museums in one day? Ask for the free PLUS ticket, granting same-day admission to both spots. Don’t miss: Non-residents can check out other free general admission days at both spots in July.
Where: Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
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Calder Gardens, 2100 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Looking for more free things to see and do in Philly?
Check out quintessential historic attractions (like the Liberty Bell Center and Independence National Historical Park); outdoor waterfront hangs (like Schuylkill Banks and Cira Green); world-renowned murals and public art (Rocky Statue and the LOVE sculpture); and much more.
Click here for our comprehensive guide to more than 40 of the best free things to do in Philadelphia.
Where: Various locations in Philadelphia, including Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA
Contributing Writer
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