I love popping in here when I'm in old city. The first weekend of the month is free if you have a…read moreBank of America credit/debit card. I walk through the new exhibit on the declaration of independence. It was very interesting and I learned a few new facts. I didn't get a chance to see the regular exhibit, but I'll go back again to see those. The children's area that was previously in the basement has moved upstairs to the ground floor. I didn't even know they had one. It's very nicely done with a lot of hands-on activities for the Littles. The gift shop is nice with some unique items related to history. There's also a café. The bathrooms are our being also very clean. The lobby is a grand space the grand staircase. It's nice to sit in. The entrance to the museum has a nice big space out front with some concrete sort of benches that you can sit on

I love museums and I love history, so this place is an easy five stars for me…read more I first came here a few years ago when chaperoning my son's 4th grade class field trip. I didn't get nearly enough time to absorb the information while surrounded by psychotic ten-year-olds, so I decided to come back today for round 2. Dragged my girlfriend and now 6th grade son with me. I am a high school teacher and was pleased to see they offer a discount for teachers. My girlfriend paid the student price and my son paid the youth price. All together for the three of us it cost $56. We were told the tickets were good for both today and tomorrow if we wanted to come back. The museum is excellent. Two floors with a kids area, museum shop, cafe, theater and special exhibit on the first floor, and main exhibit plus Washington's war tent on the second floor. The exhibits are so well laid out with so much interesting information. The 12 minute film about Washington's war tent was definitely a highlight, with chills at the end when the screen came up to reveal the actual tent behind it. So glad I came back and was able to take my time. This museum is an absolute must for any history buffs out there

Yet another reason to love Philadelphia - the theater! Had the chance to see Dear Evan Hansen today…read moreand Goodness run don't walk! Incredible performances by a truly gifted cast!

This was my first time visiting Arden theater. The show was Rent and it was fantastic. Nine actors…read morewere making their theater debut. The set was impressive and the camera work with the character, Mark, was impressive. Not a bad seat in the house and they had beverages and snacks on sale in the lobby. They open doors 30 minutes before a show and be prepared to wait in line for the restroom at intermission. I'll definitely be back for more performances. Additionally, there's a parking lot less than a block away you can book in advance on apps like Spot Hero for less than $20.

The PDA staff is professional, welcoming, and encouraging to my young ballet dancer who started at…read more3 years old and who has big dreams and ambitions of performing on stage when she's older.

My almost 3 years old daughter had her first dance class today and I can't begin to tell you how…read moregreat an experience this was for her and me. I had so much anxiety about her having separation anxiety or having a total meltdown but Lori and her staff were absolutely amazing and patient. My daughter went off to class without a fuss which was an absolute miracle!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

This free museum is a hidden gem. It's located in the middle of the historic district. It has lots…read moreof cool science exhibits that interest both adults and kids. Be sure to check out the Lunchtime exhibit that is all about the science and history behind school lunches . The museum is on the smaller side. It can be explored in an hour or two. The staff are super nice and knowledgeable. The museum hosts lots of events too! First Friday events are free. Exhibit openings and other events also happen through the year and are usually free.

Free!! It's only about one floor of stuff with a ton of scientific history where you can browse and…read morelearn the origins of each invention. Free admission! Nice bathrooms!!!

I come here all the time for First Fridays and it's honestly one of my favorite small museums in…read morePhiladelphia. The fact that it's generally free makes it even better. What I really appreciate is how often they rotate the exhibits on the first floor. It gives you a reason to keep coming back because there's usually something new to see. The second floor houses the permanent collection, which is thoughtfully curated and showcases just how creative artists can be when working with wood and natural materials. The pieces range from traditional woodworking to contemporary art that really pushes the boundaries of what you expect from the medium. Some are incredibly intricate, others are playful, and some are just plain impressive. It always makes me stop and look a little longer than I planned. The gift shop is also dangerous for my wallet. It's filled with beautiful handcrafted wood pieces, jewelry, home goods, and small art objects that feel more like gallery pieces than souvenirs. Every time I walk through, I find something I want to take home. If money were no object, I'd probably buy half the store. The staff are consistently friendly and welcoming too, which adds to the experience and makes the space feel approachable. It's definitely a niche museum, but that's exactly what makes it special. There aren't many places dedicated to this kind of art, and it's fascinating to see how artists transform wood, fiber, and other natural materials into something completely unexpected. Always a fun visit and one of those hidden gems I find myself coming back to again and again.

The Museum for Art in Wood in Old City is a fun little museum. It's free to visit (although they…read moresuggest a $5 donation), so it's great short stop if you're in the area. It is - as the name suggests - a museum dedicated to art made from wood. There are bowls and vases and sculptures and trinkets and furniture and more. Some of the pieces are beautiful. Some of the pieces made me laugh or smile. And they have a great shop. But since the museum is small and free, I'd suggest popping into the museum, not just the shop. A quirky little art museum, worth fitting into your Old City itinerary if you need a break from revolutionary history, early American history, and the Constitution!

Went for a 52 Firsts event and had such a good time. The staff here really made the experience…read more Everyone was warm, welcoming, and just genuinely happy to be there, which makes a big difference in a smaller space like this. Also didn't realize this is part of the National Park Service, which is pretty cool. The museum itself is on the lower level. You walk in through a gift shop, then head downstairs where there's a compact exhibit space and a small auditorium. It's definitely on the smaller side, but it's done in a really thoughtful way. The interactive exhibits were my favorite. There's something about pressing buttons and getting a dramatic "huzzah" back that just makes it fun. It leans a little dry in terms of humor, but in a way that actually works and feels very on brand. Best part for me was the printing studio. Getting to see old-style printing techniques in action was really cool and not something you see every day. It made everything feel a bit more hands-on and real. It's also right next to the post office, which is a nice little bonus stop if you're already in the area. Only thing is I do wish it were bigger, but for what it is, it's a really enjoyable visit. Small, interactive, and full of personality. Definitely worth stopping by.

I never realized Ben Franklin was responsible for so many of the sayings I heard growing up!!!…read more I'm also very happy to experience this part of American history then I'm so proud of. I loved seeing Ben Franklin's printing press , and Stories about his time in Philly. I'm happy to see how he enjoyed his life and made such interesting observations . The staff here is very friendly and great, and best of all it super cheap to come here. I'm really glad I came !!!

Time travel back to the early 1700's Colonial times! Elfreths Alley is a must see for all those…read moreHistory lovers out there. Beautiful street/alley filled with history. Walking down this alley you will appreciate the brick houses, red and blue doors and windows and cobblestone street. Very calm vibe and you can enjoy listening to birds chirping. Lovely flower boxes through out making this alley a colorful experience. Two of the houses are converted into a museum worth stopping by. I hear that Elfreths Alley celebrates the holiday season with a Christmas theme event Deck the Alley. Homes are decorated and they even have Colonial carolers. Would love to see on my next visit.

Museum wasnt open, but the street of course was. It was quaint, and cute. Would I go out my way,…read moreprobably not. Would I take 5 or 10 mins yeah. It was cool see the history. You were also just a stones throw away from the Betsy Ross home.

Fireman's Hall Museum is a fire department museum and historical preservation society that opened…read morein Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1967. It was founded by the Philadelphia Fire Department. The building that houses the museum is a historic firehouse that was built in 1898. It was the home for Philadelphia's Engine 8 until 1952. At that time, the company moved to 319 Race Street with Ladder 2. Engine 8 moved again in 1968 and was officially disbanded in 2009. The old firehouse on N 2nd Street was turned into a museum by the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1967. Fireman's Hall Museum is one of the nation's premier institutions focused on the preservation of firefighting history and the promotion of fire safety. The museum also features the first exhibit commemorating the firefighters who died from the tragic events of 9/11. Philadelphia firefighter Brian Anderson serves as the museum's curator. My wife and I first visited Fireman's Hall Museum in 2015. At the time, we were still dating and didn't have children, yet we both really enjoyed visiting the museum. Jump to 2025, we visited the museum a second time... only now we have two little boys who love the fire department! Both of our sons had an absolute blast exploring the museum's collection. It features a number of vintage hand-drawn, horse-drawn and motorized fire apparatus, vintage firefighting gear and artifacts, a fire boat exhibit, an area where visitors can try on a firefighter uniform, and much more! We also enjoyed learning how Philadelphia's first volunteer fire company was founded by none other than Benjamin Franklin. In addition to being a Founding Father, scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, statesmen, and postmaster general, he is also credited as the "Father of the Fire Service". We think that Fireman's Hall is one of the best fire museums we've ever visited and also one of the most underrated museums in the city.

Hidden gem of a museum over in old city. Very informative with plaques and many vintage pieces from…read morehistory of firefighters in Philadelphia. Entry is pay what you can / free for suggested donation. Two floors full of different things from tools, patches, pictures, old fire trucks, etc. The second floor has a beautiful stained glass remembrance piece for fallen firefighters.

I've been doing a lot of cultural things lately, because apparently not drinking frees up a lot of…read moreyour time. I am SO glad I decided to take a study break and see Mazeppa Productions' (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mazeppa-productions-philadelphia) production of Avenue Q tonight because I am so giddy and happy and excited and relaxed that I almost forgot how much work I have to do! AMAZING cast. Seriously sometimes forgot those puppets weren't actually singing. And the guy who voiced Trekkie Monster AND one of the bad idea bears AND Nicky. Best facial expressions/voice ever. And the girl who played Lucy the Slut and Kate Monster had an incredible voice. Let's just say...I just saw Wicked at the Academy of Music in a theater about 30 times as big as this and 4 times as expensive, and the acting and singing and entertainment value of Avenue Q was on par. and I LOVED Wicked. It was great to be in a small theater and feel like you were IN the show and that the actors were so close. HILARIOUS. I was seriously cracking up and laughing so hard I should probably apologize to the people around me. Runs through July 27th. Tickets are $25. We went for Young Friends night (free booze!) and there's another special night coming up for a pre-show drinks and snacks deal (same price): LGBT night the 25th. If you're not familiar with the show, GO. If you're easily offended...maybe..loosen up? With songs like "Everyone's a little racist" and "The Internet is for PORN," this show may not be the best thing to take your grandmother/niece too. BUT IT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE BEST THING EVER.

Fantastic place! Loved the exhibits and the staff, Malik, Karl Ciera , were wonderful in helping…read moreus get the most out of the experience.

Museum of Illusions - Philadelphia We visited today at the…read more10:00 AM time slot with our family of four (my wife, myself, and our two 13-year-old boys). Overall, the experience felt underwhelming for the price, but here's a fair breakdown. Pros: There were some genuinely cool illusions. A few brought back memories of things I remember seeing as a kid, while others were new to me. The exhibits cover a variety of illusion types, and most have simple explanations that make it easy to understand how they work. If you enjoy optical tricks and brain teasers, there are definitely a few moments that make you stop and think. Cons: The biggest issue was the size and crowding. The museum is very small, and when we visited it felt packed--almost elbow to elbow. I'm not upset that a lot of people want to visit, but the whole point of reserving a timed entry is usually to control crowd size. Instead, it felt like there were around 60-70 people squeezed into a pretty small area, even at the 10 AM entry time. Because of that, we had to wait for most of the exhibits, and it was common for kids to jump in front while people were trying to take photos or try the illusions. Despite all the waiting and congestion, our family still managed to see and do everything in about 30 minutes. That really shows how small the space is--even with the crowd slowing us down, we still finished the entire place very quickly. I think the experience could be much better if they limited the number of people per time slot, so visitors actually had space to enjoy the exhibits. For the price--over $100 for our family--it just didn't feel like a good value. If tickets were closer to half that price, it might feel more reasonable. As it stands, it's a short and crowded experience for what you pay. Summary: I can see this being fun for some people--especially if you get a group discount, have younger kids who want quick photo opportunities, or just need something short to fill a little time. It can also be fun if you're feeling nostalgic and want to revisit some classic optical illusions. But if you're deciding between this and other things to do in Philly--like a 90-minute bus tour or another attraction--you'll likely get more time, more space, and better value elsewhere.