Museums and Culture
Science. Art. Medicine.
Philadelphia is home to over 100 museums
Philadelphia Art Museum
The Philadelphia Art Museum is home to the infamous "Rocky Steps". From the top, you have a beautiful view down Benjamin Franklin Boulevard into center city. The museum houses over 227,000 artifacts from Asian, European, and American artists. Pieces range from ancient artifacts to post-modern sculptures and paintings. Admission to the art museum gives you access to multiple museums: The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Perelman Museum, the Rodin Museum, and the historic house Cedar Grove.
Mütter Museum
Also known at the Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the Mütter Museum houses some of the world's strangest medical oddities. From drawers upon drawers of swallowed objects to skeletons that show the effects of specific diseases. It is also one of the two museums in the world where you can see pieces of Albert Einstein's brain. The museum is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you are interested in seeing some of these medical phenomenons it is worth the trip.
Eastern State Penitentiary
Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the country's most historic prisons, located right on Fairmount street. The prison officially shut down in 1971 but is open to the public for tours. Famous inmates of the prison include Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton. You can still view Al Capone's cell, perfectly preserved, on the prison tour. The penitentiary is said to be haunted, and has been featured on several paranormal shows such as Ghost Adventures. You can walk to the penitentiary, or get there quicker by taking the Broad Street Line and getting off at the Fairmount stop.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
Head down to Penn's Landing and check out the Spruce Street Harbor Park & Summerfest. The park is free to enter but you can pay to partake in specific activities. Relax in some hammocks along the waterfront, play some outdoor games, or enjoy a drink at one of the outdoor bars. Bringing kids? There's a Ferris wheel and roller skating rink to keep them entertained. Don't worry, we won't judge if you want to roller skate too.
