ATTRACTIONS
Amusements
Adventure Aquarium
One Aquarium Drive • Camden, NJ 08103
Located on The Camden Waterfront
856-365-3300
Highlights of the amazing Adventure Aquarium include the 550,000-gallon Shark Realm with over two-dozen sharks, a 4-D Theater, the West African River Experience, which is home to the only two hippos inside an aquarium and a free-flight aviary; Rainforest Rendezvous, Penguin Island, Feather Ridge, Touch-A-Shark exhibit, and the Jules Verne Gallery. The Adventure Aquarium is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. more...Camden Waterfront
856-757-9400
Situated along the Delaware River, one mile from Philadelphia's historic district, the Camden Waterfront shares the river's banks with Penn's Landing. Visitors to the Camden Waterfront will find plenty of entertainment with the Adventure Aquarium, Camden Children's Garden, Battleship New Jersey, Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden Riversharks, RiverLink Ferry, Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts, Wiggins Park and more. more...New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences
1 Riverside Drive • Camden, NJ 08103
856-365-0352
"A leader in conservation-oriented research, environmental education, and community service both locally and globally," the New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences "promotes the understanding, appreciation and protection of aquatic life and habitats through research, education and youth development programs." more... mapShady Brook Farm
931 Stony Hill Road • Yardley, PA 19067
215-968-1670
Shady Brook Farm is a seasonal produce market where parties, picnics, tours, events, and more can be enjoyed. more... map
Historic Homes & Buildings
Betsy Ross House, The
239 Arch Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106
In Philadelphia's Most Historic Square Mile
215-686-1252
Hosting numerous Colonial-style and family-oriented programs designed to bring history to life, this historic house and gravesite of the famous Pennsylvanian woman who made the American flag offers much more than a self guided walking tour. It is educational and entertaining for all ages. Seven period rooms, including a kitchen, bedrooms, a parlor and the only interpretation of an 18th century upholstery shop in the United States, furnished with period antiques, 18th-century reproductions and objects that belonged to Betsy Ross and her family can be viewed. more... mapCliveden of the National Trust (circa 1760s)
6401 Germantown Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19144
Located in Philadelphia's Historic Northwest
215-848-1777
Originally built as a summer house for Benjamin Chew, the Colonial Chief Justice of Pennsylvania; whose family maintained it for over 200 years, Cliveden is a National Historic Landmark that was the scene of the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. The home sits on six beautifully landscaped acres and is filled with original furnishings and decorative arts. Owned by the National Trust, Cliveden is open to the public for tours from April through December. more... mapEastern State Penitentiary (circa 1829)
22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 16832
In the Fairmount Neighborhood in Center City
215-236-3300
A National Historic Landmark five blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this structure was built as part of a radical movement to rehabilitate criminals through solitary confinement. These walls have imprisoned such infamous criminals as Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton. more... mapEdgar Allan Poe National Historical Site
532 North 7th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-597-8780
Home to one of the most influential writers in America, this three-story brick building complex was Poe's home from 1843 to 1844. Here Poe wrote his famous short story “The Black Cat.” His only surviving residence in Philadelphia, it is filled with artifacts and memorabilia that portrays his life and work. more... mapGlen Foerd on the Delaware (circa 1850)
5001 Grant Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19114
215-632-5330
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this exquisite mansion is situated on a historic 18-acre riverfront estate, the last surviving riverfront estate in Philadelphia. The mansion features a rathskellar, an art gallery, elaborate stained glass skylights, and a pipe organ. Numerous other historic buildings and beautiful gardens are also on the grounds. more... mapMasonic Temple (circa 1873)
One North Broad Street • Philadelphia, PA 19107
Located in Center City
215-988-1900
Home of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, the oldest continuously existing fraternal organization in the world, the Masonic Temple is a National Historic Landmark that is across from Philadelphia City Hall. Guided tours of the Temple's seven ornate lodge halls and museum with more than 30,000 items are available. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the building's library contains one of the finest collections for the study of Freemasonry with over 75,000 volumes and 30,000 documents, prints, photographs and manuscripts. This includes Benjamin Franklin's 1734 printing of "The Constitutions of the Free-Masons," the first Masonic book printed in America. more... mapPomona Hall
Park Boulevard & Euclid Avenue • Camden, NJ 08103
856-964-3333
Considered "the finest example of a Georgian-style plantation house in New Jersey," Pomona Hall began as "a small wood-framed house in 1718, and evolved into a luxurious mansion by 1788 when it was the home of Marmaduke Cooper, one of the area's most prosperous businessmen." Restored to how it would have been following the American Revolution, Pomona Hall offers visitors a chance to step back into the 18th century. more... mapSt. Katherine Drexel Mission Center & Shrine
1663 Bristol Pike • Bensalem, PA 19020
215-244-9900
This over 100 year old home and the final resting place of Saint Katherine Drexel is a National Shrine, the seventh National Catholic Shrine in Pennsylvania. Saint Katherine Drexel used her $20 million family fortune to educate Native and African Americans. more... mapUSS New Jersey Battleship & Museum
62 Battleship Place • Camden, NJ 08103
Located on The Camden Waterfront
856-966-1652
"The U.S. Navy’s most decorated battleship," the USS New Jersey Battleship & Museum offers guided and self-guided tours, a 4-D flight simulator, dramatic videos of actual Tomahawk missile launches and the award-winning overnight encampment program. more...Walt Whitman House (circa 1848)
330 Mickle Boulevard • Camden, NJ 08103
856-964-5383
Purchased in 1884, Walt Whitman resided at this six-room, Greek-revival style home until his death in 1892. A New Jersey State Historic Site and National Historic Landmark, this was the only home ever owned by Walt Whitman. Whitman's original letters, personal belongings, the bed in which he died, a collection of rare 19th-century photographs, including the earliest known image of Whitman, an 1848 daguerreotype; and the death notice that was nailed to the front door have all been preserved. more... mapWharton Esherick Museum
Horseshoe Trail; P.O. Box 595 • Philadelphia, PA 19301
Located in Paoli
610-644-5822
A non-profit historic mountaintop institution near the southwest boundary of Valley Forge National Historic Park, the Wharton Esherick Museum is open for one-hour guided tours March through December by appointment only. more...
Historic Sites & Monuments
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
222 North 20th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-448-1200
Located in the rotunda of The Franklin Institute Science Museum, this colossal marble seated figure of Benjamin Franklin created by James Earle Fraser honors the inventor and statesman who filled a variety of positions in the country's early history. more...Fort Mifflin on the Delaware
1 Fort Mifflin Road • Philadelphia, PA 19153
Located in South Philadelphia
215-685-4167
Originally built in 1771 and used by the U.S. Army until 1952, Fort Mifflin is the only Revolutionary War battlefield completely intact. The “site of the largest bombardment the North American continent has ever witnessed,” it was here that the "garrison was ordered by General George Washington to hold off the British Navy so the Continental Army could make its way to their winter encampment at Valley Forge." This battle lasted five weeks. Tours of Fort Mifflin, a National Historic Landmark, include 14 authentically restored buildings which were constructed from 1778 to 1875. more... map
Libraries & Research Centers
Free Library of Philadelphia - Central Library (circa 1927)
1901 Vine Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-686-5322
Located between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway, Central Library contains more than seven million items and many special collections. Neighborhood branches can be found at 601 East Indiana Avenue, 6098 Rising Sun Avenue, 7810 Frankford Avenue, 68 West Chelten Avenue, 2851 Island Avenue, 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway, 501 Rhawn Street, 2320 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 2228 Cottman Avenue and 3501 Midvale Avenue, just to name a few. more... map
Museums & Galleries
Academy of Natural Sciences, The
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-299-1000
In operation since 1812, this museum of natural history includes such exhibits as Dinosaur Hall, live tropical butterflies, a live animal center, and wildlife dioramas. The Academy of Natural Sciences is one of the top cultural attractions in Philadelphia. more... mapAfrican American Museum
10 Arch Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106
Located in the Historic District
215-574-0380
Dedicated to collecting and exhibiting historical information concerning African Americans, this museum houses four exquisite galleries with collections of over 400,000 objects on display. more... mapAmerican Swedish Historical Museum
1900 Pattison Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19145
Located in FDR Park in South Philadelphia
215-389-1776
Dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Swedes and Swedish Americans in the United States from the 1638 establishment of the New Sweden colony to modern Swedish technology, this museum features 12 permanent galleries, a rotating exhibit gallery and a library, all representing an outstanding example of 20th century Swedish interior design. more... mapArthur Ross Gallery
220 34th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19104
Located in the Fisher Fine Arts Library
215-898-2083
Located in a National Historic Landmark Building designed by Frank Furness on the University of Pennsylvania campus, this gallery presents year round art exhibitions which include major public and private collections, traveling exhibitions, and objects from the University of Pennsylvania's collections. The Arthur Ross Gallery is also host to public lectures and tours and offers an array of children's programs. more...Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia
15 South 7th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-685-4830
Near Independence Hall, the Independence Visitor Center and the Liberty Bell, the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia "is the gateway to Philadelphia history." Established as the city's history museum in 1938, the Atwater Kent Museum is situated in the building that first housed the Franklin Institute. It features numerous exhibits and programs each year and with 100,000 objects, one of the most significant collections of Philadelphia material culture. more... mapCamden Shipyard and Maritime Museum, The
1910 Broadway • Camden, NJ 08104
609-280-7659
Being developed near the Delaware River in a historic 1881 church, the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum is a family-oriented, interactive, cultural and educational facility in the historic district of Waterfront South in Camden. The museum will collect, conserve, exhibit, and interpret artifacts relating to Camden’s maritime heritage. A variety of programs and exhibitions, including recreational boating programs; for all ages will be hosted by the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum. more... mapCivil War and Underground Railroad Museum, The
1805 Pine Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-735-8196
"The oldest chartered Civil War institution in the United States," this museum was founded in 1888, by veteran Union Army, Navy and Marine corps officers "to preserve the history of the Civil War and to promote public education through the collection, preservation and display of artifacts and written and photographic documents." Housed in a former private residence built in 1858, the museum’s nine galleries of displays and exhibits "maintain the largest single assemblage of Civil War related material outside government institutions." These include more than 3,000 artifacts, more than 7,000 photographs, hundreds of art works, and close to 400 cubic feet of archival material. The library contains over 7,000 volumes, "one of the foremost collections of material related to the Civil War." more... mapFabric Workshop and Museum, The
1214 Arch Street • Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-568-1111
The only museum in the United States that is devoted to traditional experimental art in fabrics and other materials, this museum features changing exhibitions, which include installations, sculptures, furniture, performance costumes, monoprints, paintings and works on paper, by emerging, nationally, and internationally recognized artists. more... mapFranklin Institute Science Museum, The
222 North 20th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-448-1200
The most visited museum in Pennsylvania, this museum features four floors of electrifying, interactive permanent exhibits, which include an authentic train factory, a giant model walk-through heart, space research station, the Joel N. Bloom Observatory, 25,000 square foot Science Park, a 5,500 square foot sports stadium, and Sir Isaac's Loft. more...Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library
4278 Griscom Street • Philadelphia, PA 19124
Located in the Frankford Section
215-289-6484
Often referred to as “one of the hidden treasures of Philadelphia,” the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library is found in a circa 1796 Georgian-style brick building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites as the “Ruan House.” The GAR Museum is filled with a "unique and historic collection of Civil War and Grand Army of the Republic artifacts, books, and memorabilia." more... mapIndependence Seaport Museum
211 South Columbus Boulevard & Walnut Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106
Located at Penn's Landing
215-413-8655
Learn about the region's maritime heritage at this family-oriented museum that features interactive exhibits, ship models, artifacts, art, and more. more... mapMummers Museum
1100 South 2nd Street • Philadelphia, PA 19147
Located at Washington Avenue
215-336-3050
Dedicated to the Philadelphia-style celebration of New Years Day, this museum presents extensive and colorful exhibits of memorabilia to demonstrate this local tradition. The Mummers tradition dates back to 400 B.C. and the Roman Festival of Saturnalia where Latin laborers marched in masks throughout the day and exchanged gifts. In Philadelphia, the tradition dates to before the Revolutionary War, with the first "official" parade held on January 1, 1901. more... mapMütter Museum
19 South 22nd Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103
College of Physicians of Philadelphia
215-563-3737
Founded to educate future doctors about anatomy and human medical anomalies in the 1850s, the Mütter Museum holds over 20,000 objects, which include fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens, skeletal and dried specimens, medical instruments, anatomical and pathological models in plaster, wax, papier-mâché and plastic, memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians, and medical illustrations, photographs, prints and portraits. Changing exhibits on a variety of medical and historical topics are featured. more...National Museum of American Jewish History
55 North 5th Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106
Located on Philadelphia's Independence Mall East
215-923-3811
The only National Museum in America devoted to telling the American Jewish experience, this state-of-the-art museum features the largest collection of Jewish Americana in the United States. Permanent collection items include a tzitzit, 1938 trading card, 1936 ad blotter, silver havdalah spice tower, boxing trunks worn by the Jewish prizefighter "Dangerous" Dana Rosenblatt in 1993, a shohet's knife and sheath, steamer trunk, and a Yiddish translation of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. more... mapPennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
118 North Broad Street • Philadelphia, PA 19102
Located at Broad and Cherry Streets
215-972-7600
Founded by artists and business leaders in 1805, this museum is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. Internationally noted for its collections of 18th, 19th and 20th century American paintings, sculptures and works on paper, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts presents special exhibitions, an outstanding permanent collection, and work by some of the region's most talented contemporary artists throughout the year. more... mapPhiladelphia Museum of Art
26th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
215-763-8100 or 215-684-7500
The third largest art museum in the United States and one of the greatest museums of the world, this museum showcase over 2,000 years of human creativity which include masterpieces of painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and architectural settings from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Family programs, lectures, films, and concerts are featured throughout the year. more...Please Touch Museum
210 North 21st Street • Philadelphia, PA 19103
Located in Philadelphia’s Parkway Museum District
215-963-0667
Specifically designed for younger children, this museum is dedicated to providing learning opportunities through hands-on, self directed and open ended experiences with interactive exhibits that include Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Barnyard Babies, Sendak, Story Garden, and The SuperMarket. more...Polish American Cultural Center Museum
308 Walnut Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106
Located in Philadelphia's Historic District
215-922-1700
Promoting Polish history and culture, the Polish American Cultural Center Museum provides educational programs and exhibits that depict the contributions of Poles and Polish Americans to world history and the culture of the United States. more... mapRosenbach Museum & Library
2008-2010 DeLancey Place • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-732-1600
Located in a historic townhouse, this museum and research center contains an extensive collection of rare books, fine art and antiques, manuscripts, and special exhibitions by two brothers, Dr. A.S.W. and Philip Rosenbach, both legendary dealers and collectors. more... mapWorld of Scouting Museum
P.O. Box 2226 • Valley Forge, PA610-783-5311
Located on the campus of Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge National Historic Park, the World of Scouting Museum houses an array of historic Boy and Girl Scout memorabilia. more...
National Parks & Natural Wonders
Independence National Historical Park
143 South 3rd Street • Philadelphia, PA 19106
Located in Center City
215-965-2305 or 215-597-8787
Spanning over 55 acres on 20 city blocks within the historic district of Philadelphia, Independence National Historical Park includes the Independence Living History Center, Second Bank of the United States, New Hall Military Museum, Congress Hall, Old City Hall, the Deshler Morris House, Liberty Bell Center, Washington Square, Christ Church, Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, City Tavern, Declaration House, the Dolley Todd House, and the Merchants' Exchange Building. more... map
Parks, Gardens & Zoos
Awbury Arboretum
One Awbury Road • Philadelphia, PA 19138
Located in East Germantown
215-849-2855
Dedicated to "connecting the urban community with nature and history," this arboretum features 55 acres of beautiful scenery. The English landscape style grounds were laid out in the 19th century with the advice of the celebrated horticulturist William Saunders. more... mapCamden Children's Garden
3 Riverside Drive • Camden, NJ 08103
Located on The Camden Waterfront
856-365-TREE
A Camden City Garden Club project, adjacent to the Adventure Aquarium, Tweeter Center, Battleship New Jersey and the Campbell’s Field, the Camden Children's Garden is a four-acre interactive garden that features the Philadelphia Eagles Four Seasons Butterfly House, a dinosaur garden, maze, picnic garden, tree house, an amphitheater and Storybook Gardens. The Storybook Gardens include the 3 Little Pigs Garden, Giants Garden from Jack in the Beanstalk, Secret Garden, Frog Prince Grotto, and the Alice in Wonderland's Garden. It also includes three amusement rides, the Commerce Carousel, Arrow River Train Ride, which is surrounded by the Railroad Garden; and the Spring Butterfly Ride. more... mapDr. Ulysses S. Wiggins Waterfront Park
Located at Wiggins Park • Camden, NJ 08034
Between the Delaware River and Mickle Boulevard
856-795-PARK
Adjacent to the Delaware River, the Dr. Ulysses S. Wiggins Waterfront Park contains a riverstage, promenade and the seasonal Wiggins Park Marina.Fairmount Park
282 North Concourse Drive • Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-683-0200
"Philadelphia's largest playground," this over 9,200-acre park owned by the City of Philadelphia offers 63 regional and neighborhood parks, playing fields, five golf courses, five indoor gyms, three outdoor swimming pools, 114 outdoor tennis courts, 100 miles of bike paths, the Horticulture Center and 75 miles of hiking and jogging trails. more...Historic Bartram's Garden
54th Street & Lindbergh Boulevard
215-729-5281
Overlooking the Schuylkill River, this National Historic Landmark site features America's oldest living botanical garden and John Bartram's 18th century house, barn, the oldest in Philadelphia; and other farm buildings. The Bartram House is a National Historic Landmark that is furnished and open for tours. more...Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
100 East Northwestern Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19118
215-247-5777
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this lovely arboretum is situated in a romantic 92-acre Victorian setting and includes colorful flowerscapes, rose gardens, unique fernery, winding paths, a swan pond, and many of Philadelphia's oldest rarest and largest trees. more... mapPhiladelphia Zoo, The (circa 1874)
3400 West Girard Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-243-1100
Nestled in a 42-acre Victorian setting, this zoo was the first zoo in America. It is home to over 1,300 exotic animals, including white lions, polar bears, elephants, reptiles and magnificent birds from around the world, many of which are rare and endangered. A variety of programs for families, schools, and adults are available. more... map
Tours & Cruises
Centipede Tours
1315 Walnut Street • Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-735-3123
Specializing in tours of Brandywine, Valley Forge and Philadelphia since 1974, this tour company offers candlelight tours through Society Hill, one of the oldest and most elegant neighborhoods in the country, by knowledgeable guides in Colonial costumes. Custom packages are available. more... mapFairmount Park House Tours
215-684-7582 (Group Tours)
Located in William Penn's suburban "Liberty Lands," the 18th and early 19th century historic houses situated along the Schuylkill River within Philadelphia's extensive Fairmount Park include Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill, Mount Pleasant, Lemon Hill, Strawberry Mansion, Woodford, and Sweetbriar. more...Ghost Tour of Philadelphia
5th and Chestnut Streets • Philadelphia, PA 19105
215-413-1997
Ghost Tour offers a candlelight walking tour of Independence Park and Society Hill. Tours depart from Signers Garden and last 90 minutes. more... mapLights of Liberty Show
215-LIBERTY, 877-GO-2-1776
Beginning at the 6,000 square foot PECO Energy Liberty Center in historic Philadelphia on Independence Mall at the corner of 6th and Chestnut Streets, the Lights of Liberty Show brings to life the story of the American Revolution through Independence National Historical Park with five-story hand-painted projections on historic buildings and 3D sound through headphones. more... mapPhiladelphia Trolly Works and 76 Carriage Company
1350 Schuylkill Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19146
215-389-TOUR, 215-923-8516 (Horse Drawn Carriage Info)
Enjoy fully narrated tours through historic Philadelphia in a horse drawn carriage or get a glimpse of the city's cultural history as trolleys drive the neighborhoods with this tour company. Services are also available for such special occasions as weddings, parades, and proms. more... mapSpirit of Philadelphia
Pier 3 on Columbus Boulevard • Philadelphia, PA 19106
Penn's Landing on the Delaware Riverfront
866-455-3866
The Spirit of Philadelphia cruise, the city’s most entertaining dinner cruise ship, offers wonderful dinner cruises in the harbor where you can enjoy a bountiful buffet and be treated to numerous fascinating views. more... map
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