The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University - Natural history museum in Philadelphia - 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, USA

Brought our elementary aged daughter and it was equal parts informative and interactive. She had a great time seeing the various fossils, dioramas, and live insects and animals. I was a bit sad about not getting to see butterflies - hoping that returns soon!

The dinosaurs really make this place! Very child friendly, the interactive items worked (unlike other nearby museums). It is well worth checking out if you've never been if you have children.

I had a wonderful experience visiting the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University with my wife and 2-year-old son. It turned out to be a fantastic outing for our little one, as he absolutely loved all the animal displays. He was fascinated by seeing creatures from various continents and different places in North America. The presence of live animals, arachnids, turtles, and bugs captivated his attention. One of the highlights was the availability of live animals to observe up close. The Academy truly offers an educational and engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Moreover, parking was hassle-free, with plenty of street parking available and parking garages nearby. It made our visit even more convenient. We had a memorable time at the Academy of Natural Sciences, and I would highly recommend it to families seeking an enriching and enjoyable day exploring the wonders of the natural world.

FASCINATING! Could easily fill up an entire afternoon studying these dioramas and displays. The information is really well-written and exhibited in riveting ways. Some of these dioramas are almost 100 YEARS OLD! And yet the fur, the poses, the eyes, the seamless blending of hardscape with backdrop is so well-maintained, lifelike, dramatic, fierce, and realistic! One of the most mind-blowing facts of nature I learned about on my visit here was about this Devonian-era creature called a Tiktaalik, which is one of the earliest ancestors of tetrapods (4-legged animals), looks almost like a cross between an ENORMOUS mudskipper and a salamander, and is believed to be one of the earliest animals to leave the water and come up on land. The time elapse between this creature and the dawn of our own species - 380 million years! - is just boggling. And that was only ONE of the things I learned about at this marvelous place! The glacial and yet unstoppable evolution of species is astounding, and the diversity of life on our amazing planet is staggering. The museum really does a good job of making you FEEL this wonder by integrating the beautiful preservation of thousands of specimens, astute spotlighting, ambient sounds, fact-laden placards, and visually pleasing arrangements, all housed in a sumptuous, marbled, jewel box of classical architecture. Make sure you advance-order tickets online for a $2 discount off each. Coupon codes are not difficult to find either! So a visit here is very reasonable - about $22 per adult, and well worth it. Lot parking is abysmal, of course (not associated with Drexel are two lots just a few hundred feet behind the building); be prepared to pay $20 for a 2-hour spot if you don't want a long hike. Two minor flaws are that the gift shop could have more artifact-style souvenirs for adults and maybe fewer clothes and drinking vessels, and the lady at the front desk check-in had a bit of an attitude. Otherwise, we had a blast, and all the other museum workers we encountered at the museum were lovely and helpful and excited to share their knowledge. Museums like this do not exist in my area, so I guess I'll have to be content with (gladly) funding this Philadelphia institution for the time being!

Enjoyed an afternoon here. There is tons to see and read. Kids will thoroughly enjoy the dinosaur exhibits.

Our 2 (coming 3 yr old) LOVED this musuem. Interactive exhibits - dinosaur took the cake. Bug week was fantastic. Made a butterfly & our picky eater happily tried flavored grasshoppers & chocolate coated bugs!

My friends and I went to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and it was dope! They've got tons of cool stuff from all over the world, like over 18 million insect and plant specimens, along with fossils, minerals, and other natural artifacts. The museum has a bunch of exhibits that are super interesting and interactive. The Dinosaur Hall was definitely my favorite, with huge dinosaur skeletons and cool displays that taught me all kinds of stuff about these ancient beasts. Overall, the Academy of Natural Sciences is definitely worth checking out if you're into nature and science. The exhibits are really well done, and the people working there are really friendly and know their stuff. So if you're in Philly, make sure to swing by!

As soon as you step into The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, you will be greeted by an impressive collection of exhibits that showcase the wonders of nature. ⁠ ⁠ From towering dinosaur skeletons to beautifully preserved specimens, the museum has it all. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated and presented in a way that makes learning about science both fun and engaging. Whether you're interested in botany, zoology, or geology, there's something for everyone here.⁠