From left: The store at the Fabric Workshop and Museum (photograph by Carlos Avendaño); inside TileWorks in Doylestown (photograph by Corey Miller)
Philly museums do more than put things on the wall. They host after-hours events, offer hands-on classes, welcome kids at play, and hide some of the city’s most overlooked collections in plain sight. Whether you’re planning a date night, a family outing, or a quiet winter afternoon, here’s how to experience museums on your terms.
Beyond the Galleries
Through March, you can book a sauna session outside the American Swedish Historical Museum. / Photograph by Mike Persico
There’s so much more to Philly museums than just the galleries. Here, the classes, cafes, bars, boutiques — and a pop-up sauna?! — to experience now. Keep reading …
6 Underrated Philly Museums — Based on What You’re Already Into
Second Bank of the United States / Photograph by Dalibor Briek/Alamay
Philly is full of surprising cultural spots that don’t always make the usual museum lists. Whether you love nature, photography, craftsmanship, or stories that aren’t often told, these six underrated institutions are worth a visit. Keep reading …
Nights at the Museum: Where to Visit After Hours
Visit the rooftop observatory at the Franklin Institute at a special nighttime event at the science museum. / Photograph courtesy of the Franklin Institute
From adults-only dance parties to kid-friendly adventures, museum night events let you experience familiar institutions in totally a different way — see some old favorites in a fresh light. (Moonlight!) Here, how to turn your culture into an unforgettable night out. Keep reading …
Little Wonders: The Best Museum Experiences for Kids
On the water at Independence Seaport Museum’s summer camp / Photograph courtesy of Independence Seaport Museum
One of the best parts of raising a kid in Philly is how easy it is to try something new. Don’t miss first Sundays at PhAM and the Barnes: Both offer free admission and a family-festival atmosphere including performances, tours, and art-making activities. The always-free Science History Institute has its Stories of Science Saturdays, tackling topics like forensic mysteries inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. School-age kids can explore the Penn Museum by flashlight at Up Late With the Sphinx evenings. Maybe they want to discover future museum items? Sign up for a 75-minute dig at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum Quarry in Mantua this spring. (You can also hit the playground — deemed “amazing” by one Philly Mag staffer.) And even the littlest ones can be inspired: Go to the American Swedish Historical Museum’s monthly themed Toddler Time Tuesdays — then step into Pippi Longstocking’s Villa Villekulla play space. Or head to the Academy of Natural Sciences’ third-floor Outside In exhibit, a hands-on space tailored for preschoolers. And you must visit the Museum of the American Revolution’s family discovery center, Revolution Place: From Three Tun Tavern to a military encampment, kids can pretend play to explore 18th-century Philadelphia. And if they don’t want to leave, some museums, including PAFA and the Independence Seaport Museum, offer summer camps. — L.S.
6 Imaginative Exhibits at Philly Museums This Season
An illustration from Eric Carle’s The Tiny Seed, on view at the Michener Art Museum beginning February 14th / Image courtesy of Penguin Random House LLC, The World of Eric Carle
Right now, museums across Philadelphia are quietly doing what they do best: helping us see familiar stories in unfamiliar ways. Artists and curators are rethinking everything from American art and craft to childhood classics and our relationship to the natural world. And as the country edges toward its 250th birthday, some of these exhibits ask the harder, more interesting questions about who gets to shape the American story. Keep reading …
Published as “Artistic License” in the February 2026 issue of Philadelphia magazine.