- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Academy of Natural Sciences
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
1900 Benjamin Franklin PkwyPhiladelphia, PA 19103
Neighborhoods: Penn Center, Art Museum District, Logan Square
(215) 299-1000
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 4:30 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
24 reviews for Academy of Natural Sciences
Review Highlights
-
"...of dinosaur bones and stuffed animals in dioramas, and I..." In 3 reviews -
"The Butterfly Exhibit is simpy amazing." In 6 reviews -
"One of the largest museums of dinosaurs bones." In 5 reviews
Loading...
24 reviews in English
-
Review from Marissa B.
Philadelphia, PA
4/23/2012
Another one of my favorites. I wish I had friends that'd be interested and/or a really awesome nerdy guy to go with me sometime. Can't get enough of those dinosaurs and dioramas....and everything else in-between.
Just a tip: don't be afraid to try the insect candy in the giftshop! I've had cricket taffies and chocolate covered ants in the past. Both were excellent. It's good for you. :] -
Review from Scott T.
4/15/2012
While walking among the dinosaur bones and stuffed animal dioramas of the Academy of Natural Sciences, I mentioned to my companion that not long ago, I'd wandered through the same type of exhibits at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. She asked which one was better. I told her the museum in Los Angeles was newer and bigger, but that this one held a greater sentimental value for me because it's the museum I basically grew up in.
From the time I could barely read til I eventually moved from Pennsylvania as a restless ten year old, my parents and I were regulars at the museum. My childhood imagination was filled with dinosaurs and sharks and National Geographic TV specials and, of course, stuffed animals against painted diorama backgrounds. Yes, these details are extraneous and really who cares about my childhood, except for my testifying that the Academy has not only survived, but continued to thrive.
In addition to the dinosaurs and stuffed animals, there was a butterfly exhibit (your camera lens will fog up in there) and a "discovery" hall full of the kind of animals-in-jar goodness that would've sent ten-year-old me into a frenzy. The Academy has regular events geared towards kids vis a vis their "Academy Explorers Camp" and presentations and talks on a variety of topics. In other words, the museum is still a not only a local cultural landmark but also an active center of knowledge for kids and adults alike.
Not bad for a museum celebrating its bicentennial. -
Review from Kate T.
Feasterville-Trevose, PA
3/26/2012
A great way to spend a Saturday, whether your 9 or 29. I recently went back to this muesum for the first time in over a decade, and it was even more awesome then I remember as a kid. The displays have a great mix of science and fun. Plenty of good stuff to foster learning in children and adults alike.
As an adult going into this, some of the hands on exhibits were a bit too juvinile, but all of the kids I saw that day were having a blast.
Must sees: the Dinosaur fossels, the butterfly exhibit, and the amazing dioramas.
Since the Academy is celebrating it's 200th anniversary this year, there are even more exhibits and specialized "talks" about the history of the Academy itself and its members. They're even offering free Birthday Cake to all their visitors. All in all this is an enjoyable day for the whole family. And even a couple looking for a unique date idea.
The only negatives I can provide is the food in the Academy's cafe. I bought a burger, it looked like that "pink slime" stuff that has been in the news lately. Was not enjoyable at all. I suggest bringing a lunch or snack, or hitting up one of the many resturants around the museum area BEFORE you go to the Academy. -
Review from Sarah B.
1/19/2012
The Academy of Natural Sciences is a small but interesting museum. I loved seeing and learning about the true-to-size animals in replicas of their natural habitats. The dinosaur exhibit is also great; we were able to see folks work on a yet-to-be-named dinosaur's fossils!
A video about squirrels was playing throughout my visit to the museum, but because of a traumatizing childhood experience with a squirrel, I avoided it. I also didn't spend much time looking at the many (gulp - live) bug species the museum has on display. Some volunteers offered to let me hold a cockroach - no thanks. I'm also terrified of butterflies so I didn't check out the live butterfly exhibit. (If you choose to check it out, it costs a few more dollars and you'll need to make sure your admission "tab" is visible.)
The Academy is a great place for young and old to learn all about bugs, dinosaurs, and animals. -
Review from Niyant S.
7/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is definitely one of those places that probably seems like heaven in a 5-15 year old's eyes, but for those a little more grown up it may not be as exciting. Don't get me wrong, some of it was interesting, but I felt like the higher up in floors you get, the less they seemed to put into impressing you. Of course, the whole museum is rather small, so I guess there isn't a lot they could have done with the place.
Many of the diaramas were pretty impressive, but without much interactive attractions, it all gets played rather quickly. The saddest part of the museum is probably the "live animal room", which was really nothing more than a back room where the keep live animals in cages far enough away that you can't really see any of them. The only animals we really saw were a couple of ducks (which you can pretty much see anywhere), a couple of macaws, and an what I believe was an Iguana.
All in all, we were in and out of here in about an hour, although I'm sure if I had kids along with me it would have been a lot longer of a trip -
Review from Phillip Y.
Des Moines, IA
2/9/2011
I just recently joined as a member since there seemed to be more adult programs than the Franklin Institute. The last time I visited a month ago, I was pleasantly surprised with a member's preview of the Bizzare Beasts. The artist came to talk about how he molded and build the life-sized beasts. He also talked about his collaborations with scientists, paleontologists, and fossilist to get everything as accurate as possible.
A few years ago, I did an adult program with building a bee house with some power tools. It was alot of fun to learn about different pollinators and then get to build my own bee house. I would recommend this place for everyone since it has everything for everyone. Franklin Institute has great success with traveling exhibits as well as provide some great IMAX films both documentaries and blockbusters. However, it lacks in adult programs but makes up with family programming. If you are a science nerd/geek like me, then you will appreciate this more than the Franklin Institute.
Besides the adult, family, and member programs, the Academy also holds seminars from their scientific community which is really great. It is pretty much a research institute where you can learn more about birds, fishes, etc. from their staff. Parking is a bit hectic around Logan Square with all the snow this year. But, I found a great place on the weekends behind the Free Library (Callowhill and 19th Street) for only $6.50 all day. For a short seminar, you can just find a parking meter during the day closer to the Academy.
Member Benefits and More
* Access to special exhibit previews
* Discounts to adult and family programs
* Lectures and seminars throughout the year
* Reciprocal science museum admission with ASTC museumsListed in: Must See Science Museums, Philly's Culture Vultures
-
Review from Jamie S.
Philadelphia, PA
2/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I haven't been to the Academy in a very long time and it was just as fun as when I was a kid. Unlike other museums, they seem to udate their exhibits and displays and the decor doesn't seem dated.
Brought my four year old son today and he enjoyed the Bizarre Beasts exhibit and T.Rex skeleton. Skip the Ecology Cafe since it is way overpriced for chicken nuggets and fries,etc.
Downside, we had to wait in a 45 minute line outside in the cold just to get in the doors because only one cashier was working. She was doing a great job, but it was ridiculous since it was also Paleopalooza weekend and it was mobbed with toddlers and other kids screaming in the line!!! -
Review from Elizabeth D.
Philadelphia, PA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
When here for the Geek Awards I was able to wander around for a bit. There are some very cool exhibits - from dinosaurs to wildlife. The new mini-golf exhibit is very cool. I couldn't maneuver with a beer, but the "holes" are educational while still being really fun. It's spacious museum and seems like a great place for a field trip on a rainy day. All the staff were helpful and friendly. Plus, they even had some very cool live animals out - including an owl!
-
Review from Lisa M.
5/20/2011
I recently went here for the first time since I was in elementry school. The thing I quickly realized is that it seems so much bigger when I was younger. The first floor is great, lots of dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts. You can even stop and see a real palentologist working on fossis. The rest the museum seemed to be made up of diaromas of animals from around the world. I am a huge fan of the polar bear and bison.
We were out of here within a hour so... I"m assuming its a better place when you have younger kids around. But still a lot of fun. -
Review from Laura S.
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Academy of Natural Sciences is one of my favorite places in the city. Admission prices are incredibly reasonable - $12 for adults, $10 for students and kids. Even better, I was recently able to get a LivingSocial deal for $6 tickets. Compared to similar museums in other cities, prices are low and absolutely worth it.
I recently brought my 10-year-old sister here, and she loved the exhibits. I've also come with groups of friends and gone on my own to wander. Most people come with kids, but it is the kind of place that everybody should be able to find something they enjoy. My favorite exhibit is the dinosaur hall. They have some great finds, including the first mounted fossil. There is also a lab in the back where you can talk to people working on actual fossils - at my last visit they were working on a fossil found in Patagonia. They'll answer your questions and show you what they're working on. My sister is not as big of a dork as I am, but even she thought that watching a real paleontology lab was really exciting!
There is also a great exhibit of butterflies. It is $2 extra, but absolutely worth it. It is basically a large butterfly garden where the butterflies are flying free. My sister was lucky enough to have a gorgeous butterfly land on her! There are many different kinds of butterflies and they are all over. There is also a case of chrysalises and we could see one butterfly emerging. Way cool!
Since the Academy is primarily a family attraction, there were a lot of educational things geared toward kids. We watched a live animal show that was very interesting - they showed us some of the animals that live at the Academy because they cannot be released to the wild. There was a great horned owl who was missing a wing and a (white!) red fox. The presenter did a great job of getting the audience involved and answering kids' questions. We were able to go downstairs and view the live animal center, where we could see more of the Academy's animals (including some loud, chatty birds!).Listed in: That'll Learn You
-
Review from Maddy V.
Philadelphia, PA
10/10/2010
Why you should take a toddler here?
1. Membership pays for itself in 3 visits. You can visit often.
2. Easy accessability for strollers and those who push them.
3. Large glass cases with the not so scary stuffed lions, tigers and bears.
4. Wide halls that young ones can roam with few obstacles or hazards.
5. The "Outside In" area for yound kids on the top floor.
6. Its educational, but best of all its fun!!! -
Review from L. L.
Orlando, FL
9/10/2010
This was a really quite excellent natural history museum. They have dinosaurs, of course, and a section where you can talk to a paleontologist who's working, which always makes me feel like I'm interrupting. They also have the classical dioramas with stuffed animals- some of these looked a bit dusty- including extinct and endangered species, which was sad.
There was a very good traveling exhibit here about the deep sea. We'd have spend a lot of time here, except we were trying to see two museums in just a day, and were short on time.
Finally, this is an esoteric interest, but if you are at all into diatoms, this is the place to be! (Though if you're into diatoms, you should know that the Patrick Center is the diatom Mecca for the US, and why am I even bothering telling you this?) They get an extra half-star for letting us geek out on our unicellular algae friends (which makes up for the library being closed so we couldn't see the Audubon book). -
Review from Karen F.
10/13/2008
4.5 stars. We love it here and are members. Our 4 year old adores the "Big Dig" exhibit and everyone (even bug-phobic me) likes the butterfly area. (Wear light weight clothing - it's hot and very humid in there.)
This year the Academy had a free Members night for the members and it was great fun! Membership pays for itself if you visit more than 3 times.
Bring food/snacks - the Cafe has a limited selection - but better than some.
Pizza was dried out & nasty - but they did have yogurt, frui8t and other healthier options. -
Review from Bill M.
9/12/2007
This is the Philadelphia museum that often gets overlooked. It was another place that overwhelmed me as a child. all of the incredible dinosaur skeletons are especially worth checking out. They even have a fun dinosaur robot that should impress the kids 9it's been awhile since I've been, but it was there the last time).
The only flaw to the place is the size. It's worthy of getting as much attention as the Franklin Institute and The Art Museum. But it's freakishly small by comparison and often gets overlooked by result. And while it does get in some interesting special exhibits, they aren't as big league as what the Franklin Institute and Art Museum gets.Listed in: Culture Vultures
-
Review from Michael O.
Philadelphia, PA
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
An asset to the educational and cultural side of Philadelphia. A fantastic collection and the special events are really worth checking out.
-
Review from Mike C.
Howard, MD
4/21/2011
I mean no disrespect with a 3 star review. It's a fine museum with a nice staff! Our 6 year old and 3 year old enjoyed the visit, but they preferred other Philly sites, such as the zoo, Franklin Institute, and Please-Touch museum.
Tourists will get the most bang-for-your-buck if they get City Passes. Otherwise, a visit here (as of April 2011) will cost a family of four $44, plus parking (we found $5 weekend parking), plus optional exhibits, plus possibly the non-essential food and gift shop.
The highlights for our visit were the dinosaur displays and the large number of dioramas with stuffed animals in their environments. Our kids liked "diggiing for dinosaurs" which only involves them wearing goggles and using a chisel to scrape dirt off fabricated "bones". It was neat seeing workers tediously putting together a real fossil. -
Review from Kelly S.
Anchorage, AK
9/12/2007
I haven't been to the Academy of Natural Sciences since I was about 13, but it's a really good museum. I went a few times when I was little during family museum trips, and the last time I went was with an art class because the teacher wanted us to sketch things in the museum. From what I recall, they've got a great collection of dinosaur bones and stuffed animals in dioramas, and I believe that it's got a "please touch" area upstairs with star fish and stuff. It's a great place to take kids. It's no Smithsonian, but it's a pretty great little museum.
-
Review from Joyce Y.
Newtown Square, PA
What a gem! This place is great for kids and adults. Although seeing animals at the zoo is great but this place provides a different experience for kids. Up close view of realistic animal figures was fascinating for my toddler. We heard a lot of WOWs!! The butterfly room was great too.
-
Review from Jacquelin K.
PA
3/4/2007
Sometimes I feel bad for little ANS, which is shadowed by the gigantic Franklin Institute. But there's no need for my concern b/c ANS is holding its own on 19th Street as it has been for years. It has gargantuan dinosaur skeletons. What else do kids want in a museum? As long as ANS stands, kids will want to come see the bones, & to mix things up, ANS hosts and markets temporary exhibits like the famous butterly thingy and the new, disgusting poop show. They have educational programming, and I actually like the smaller scale of this building. It's no matchbox; it's just that pretty much anything across the street from FI looks small in comparison.
-
Review from Bob K.
Updated - 4/7/2010 7 photos
Just a quick note to let you know I was contacted by an individual from the Academy who appreciated my overall review, and commented that their cafeteria fare has been upgraded. It wasn't a big factor in my review, but I appreciate the concern.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/13/2009
After spending a little too much time at the Delaware Natural History Museum, we remembered that… Read more »
-
-
Review from Milena G.
Chicago, IL
8/18/2010
The Butterfly Exhibit is simpy amazing. They have a very wide variety of exhibits and a large t-rex. I've been coming here since elementary school and everytime I find something new.
-
Review from Kevon G.
Rosedale, NY
8/14/2010 4 photos
Great place to visit for children and adults. $10 museum parking all day. You learn so much while having fun. One of the largest museums of dinosaurs bones. We went during the bug fest. Which included the butterflies exhibit, bug tasting ( cricket cookies, red beans and rice with tree worms) free bug tattoos and various bug exhibits. Very educational and a wi variety of fun and interesting exhibits. We will definetly come back when we visit Philadelphia.
-
Review from Pamelalynne R.
Philadelphia, PA
8/23/2010
Where else can you go in the city that entertains both young, old and every age and taste in between but the city's own historic natural history museum! (Yes, folks, it exists!) For science lovers, naturalists, historians, and museum goers, this place caters to all and for a very nominal admission fee in comparison to other venues on the scenic Parkway. The changing exhibits are continually updated, but the permanent collections, library, archives and Butterflies! habitat are consistently maintained as well. And for a real bargain, there are Town Square events sponsored by the Academy and it's community partnerships in the evenings which host a variety of guest lecturers and panels on a number of topics! Truly a gem in this city and not to be missed.
-
Review from Hannah T.
Philadelphia, PA
10/11/2008
i really like the academy of nat. sci. i havnt been there in ages but i lov their butterfly exhibit.. even tho its real humid in the room.... and then they got fun activities to do but its a lot more of a learning experience here....
