Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!read more

Purchasing tickets online and the sign in at the welcome center was easy. our guide was Kieran and…read morehe did an excellent job of telling the story of the Henry Mercer and the castle. The one hour tour was fascinating and entertaining. The castle was so unique with the amazing ceilings of tiles and artifacts from all over the world and a myriad of rooms and doors that one could easily get lost in. I'm so glad we made the time to come here. We want to return to walk the trails on the property as we ran out of time.

This review is for the docent-led tour not the museum- which we thought was included in the $15 per…read moreperson fee. Our guide was a very sincere former employee of Bethlehem Steel who started our tour asking if we all were up for an hour and a half walk. We said yes. He started his presentation outside the door of the museum. An hour later we had walked maybe a block up a nondescript driveway as we listened to his stories of mismanagement, nepotism and greed within the company. He also showed pictures and told stories of some of the people who worked there over the years as well as some of the products produced. Some of the stories were interesting but an hours worth standing in the road? I finally asked if we were going to be able to go into some of the deserted fantastic looking buildings - he said no. We left the group and headed off by ourselves and found, across from the Arts Center, a stairway that headed up to the rusted gigantic steel stacks and accompanying infrastructure. Although it was fenced off, it was amazing walking along looking up, down, and around the place, almost close enough to touch. This is what we thought we were going to be learning about on the tour. Did we need to know what each gigantic piece did - not really - Did we waste $30 for the tour - sadly yes. Did we go back to see the museum - no. Will we, most likely not. Should you go? Take a look at the pictures and decide - you don't see this kind of scenery very often.

If you want to learn about industrial history, particularly that of the Lehigh Valley and Bethlehem…read moreSteel, this is the place. I love industry, building, construction, machinery, engineering, etc., so I loved this museum. It's a Smithsonian affiliate, which is great, and they are expanding to a second level. It's across from the old Bethlehem Steel mill, so if you are looking for milltown vibes, this is it. We started with a ~30 minute overview/history of industry in the U.S., which was helpful for context. The docent provides this overview for the lobby exhibits/pre-exhibits. Our docent was fantastic. After that, you are free to move into the main room, which is full of machinery. There was a section on silk-making, which was interesting, as well as about early hot air balloons. You can also go across the street to an elevator, to get great views of the mill and area, but we didn't have time for that. I really appreciated that the learning starts outside, with information plaques and exhibits before you enter. Also, there is a parking lot next to the museum, and the museum is (currently) one level, with a few ramps, so is very accessible, though more seating in the lobby might be helpful. I'm looking forward to returning when the addition is complete.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has one of my favorite balances in the city: it feels grand,…read morecosmopolitan, and genuinely important, yet somehow never intimidating. My art knowledge is limited, but the museum has a way of making curiosity feel like enough, whether I'm wandering through the galleries, people watching, browsing the excellent store, grabbing something at the café, or bringing our daughter to the terrific kids' areas. The building and its setting at the end of the Parkway are spectacular, and the staff consistently bring a warmth and approachability that feels distinctly Philadelphian. I also enjoy simply passing it on a run or walk and seeing it presiding over this beautiful part of the city. Friday evenings may be my favorite way to experience it. The happy hours are a fantastic deal, parking is deeply discounted, and there is something wonderfully civilized about having a glass of rosé or two in a world-class museum while a cool, diverse crowd settles in for the evening. We brought our daughter with us, and she felt completely welcome, which says a lot about what the museum gets right: sophistication without stiffness, culture without exclusion. One of Philadelphia's great institutions, and one I feel lucky to have nearby. Très bien!

Nice museum to see a bunch of paintings and history. The prices are $30 for an adult, $28 for a…read moresenior (65+ years old), $14 for a student with valid ID, and $0 for those 18 years old and younger. The fountain out front was turned off. Inside is a ton of American history. Also, Japanese art, European art, and well pretty much art all around the world. Oh, and I love all of the Japanese samurai stuff. It's so cool seeing the armor warriors wore way back in the day when going into battle. Claude Monet, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, amongst plenty of other famous artists have paintings here. We probably spent 90 minutes to 2 hours in here. That was enough for us. A fun way to start your morning.

What a cool hidden gem in Valley Forge National Park! I took a tour of this museum in November…read more2025. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and intriguing as he guided us around the property and inside the home/studio. Esherick was extremely talented and it was incredible to see his stunning creations. Tips: The tour is inside and outside so dress accordingly. There are steps inside the building. Booking ahead is required and tour group counts are limited.

Visiting the Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern had been on my to do list for a while, but the…read moretours sell out, and I've missed out on visiting a couple of times! Last week, I planned a last minute day trip to the Philadelphia area and noticed that they had exactly four tickets still open on tours for the rest of the month and they were for the upcoming Saturday at 11am. It was a sign, and I jumped on buying those tickets. How to explain the Wharton Esherick Museum?! Wharton Esherick was an American artist and designer (he's best known for his modernist wood furniture), and - while not a trained architect - he designed this house and studio compound (of four separate buildings) in Malvern to live and work in. By the time he was adding a workshop to the compound in 1955, building codes had made their way into law and Esherick got help from none other than Louis Kahn to help design that building. So what will you see if you visit? Just an incredible home and studio. Esherick was not into straight lines or right angles or wasting perfectly good wood, so the house and studio is an amazing sight: that staircase! the wood floor in the dining room! the concrete extension painted in colors that blend into the natural surroundings! the art and furniture pieces of Esherick's shown throughout the house! It's a hard place to describe, but our tour guide did a marvelous job of teaching us about Esherick and the buildings during our tour, while sharing some woodworking facts and passion, too! Reservations for the tours are required, and they do sell out. Regularly. There's an exhibit on Esherick at the Brandywine right now, and that might be generating more interest than usual in seeing his home and studio - or maybe tours of this amazing place are always this popular?! We did the Experiencing Esherick Tour, which takes you into the home and studio building and lasts about an hour. They offer some specialized tours of more limited days as well - I will definitely be visiting again for the architecture tour which takes you into at least one additional building you don't see on the general tour! The house? Fascinating. Our tour guide? Lovely. The grounds? Beautiful even in December. And a lovely little gift shop in Esherick's old garage where you can do some holiday shopping? Bonus. What's not to love about the Wharton Esherick Museum? I know I'll be returning to bring friends and family to this wonderful place in the future.

We used to always go to the cocktails at the castle event to support the museum. It was always a…read moreblast. The museum is a treasure right in our own backyard.

VERY INTERESTING!!! While visiting my daughter in PA from CA we checked out the Mercer Museum and…read moretruly enjoyed the experience. Plenty of free parking available and Admission @ $20 for adults and $ 17 for Seniors was fair. So much to see and learn, you literally had to look everywhere, no space was left unused! The staff was helpful and insightful and we learned a lot and were impressed with the collection. Down side was elevators we not working which was OK for us but might have been an issue for others. #2 issue was lack of air conditioning in parts of the building. I highly recommend you take the time to see this!

The America On Wheels Museum is an over-the-road transportation museum that opened in Allentown,…read morePennsylvania in April 2008. It was founded by a group of local civic and automotive enthusiasts in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Beginning in 1989, Allentown city officials announced plans to revitalize an old industrial area, which included the abandoned Arbogast & Bastian meat packing plant, along the Lehigh River. This redevelopment, which was to be known as "Lehigh Landing," was to include a museum, a brewery, walking trails, a footbridge across the river, and a promenade for festivals. After a number of delays, the museum finally opened in 2008. The museum's collection features over 75 bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles and trucks in exhibits telling the story of people and products on the move from the days of the carriage to the vehicles of tomorrow. My family and I recently visited the America On Wheels Museum while we were visiting our cousins in Pennsylvania. Initially we thought that it was a car museum, but it actually focuses on all sorts of road vehicles from 19th century horseless carriages right up to present day electric cars and everything in between. There were some really beautiful antique automobiles and bicycles on display throughout the entire museum. We especially loved how kind-friendly the museum was. There were a number of interactive exhibits where our sons were able to sit in miniature racing cars, load packages into a UPS truck, and dress up like automotive mechanics and "fix" a car. We also really liked seeing the huge miniature city crafted entirely of LEGOs. Overall, we had a fun time at the America On Wheels Museum and would recommend it to any automotive or vehicular enthusiasts who are visiting the Lehigh Valley area.

This place feels less like a traditional museum and more like a really cool collection of cars from…read moredifferent eras. There are plenty of photo opportunities, and the plaques give you a lot of interesting information about each vehicle. The old-time cars are fun to see, especially when you start calculating what they would cost today and realize cars ain't cheap no matter what era you at. You can comfortably see everything in about an hour. The staff is friendly, and there is plenty of parking along the side of the building. A fun stop for car fans or anyone who enjoys a quick trip through automotive history.

Museums are one of my passions. As far as this one goes, it's spectacular…read more Small in stature but packed with a multitude of original works, a few reproductions and personal mementos of the artist, Frank Frazetta. If you're not familiar with his name you've certainly seen some of his art. He was an illustrator and painter whose themes included fantasy and science fiction. His works can be seen on paperback covers, in comic books, album covers and posters. He has worked with Presidents and the Hollywood elite. The museum is run by his son Frank Frazetta Jr and Frank Jr's family. The tour was given by Laura, Frank Sr's daughter in law. His grandchildren work the gift shop counter. The grounds surrounding the museum are private property where Frank lived with his wife, Eleanor. As far as museum experiences go, this was one of my absolute favorites! Having the family telling the history of his life and works was an added bonus you rarely get. As Laura was speaking of her father in law, you got a sense of his humility and love for his family. What a gem, located in the picturesque Pocono Mountain area! Stop by, you won't be disappointed.

Interesting family run museum. Not very big but well curated and full of Frazetta original art and…read morehistory. Definitely take the tour from one of his relatives. Not often that you can get this close to multi-million dollar art and observe so much about one artist.

Very unique and interesting museum. You kinda need a strong stomach to view some of the exhibits…read more I spent about 2 hours here but I was very thorough haha. You could probably get through in closer to an hour if you don't spend the time to read every placard. Not a place I need to go to twice but I'm glad I went once Gift shop is cute! Worth a visit when you're there

With our North American Reciprocal Museum (ROAM) membership, entry to The Mütter was free. I…read morerecommend the museum for those interested in medical science. Preserved specimens dating back nearly two centuries ago are there for viewing and learning. There are a couple rooms that seem to rotate exhibits from today on the first floor. The upper level seems to be reserved as a meeting / reception area, within what may formerly was a medical library. Interesting.

Went with the wife after having a pre-art falafel at Mamoun's. While there I read some yelp…read morereviews where a small percentage of the reviewers were complaining about the quality of the art and giving negative reviews. Regardless, we decided to forge ahead with our visit! Primed with filling and inexpensive falafel, our first surprise was the really cool mosaic at the entrance. Our second surprise was the free admission. Free! We were off to a good start! We got the map from the delightful person behind the counter who refused to take our money, and headed up the stairs to the second floor where the majority of the art awaited us. Entrance to the stairs was included with the Free admission. Nice! The art on display runs across myriad regions and periods. The map will help you find your favorites, as the organization didn't seem to follow any particular theme. It might have a theme, but I didn't worry about it much. I had a map and it was free. Give yourself at least a couple of hours to view the second floor. There are a lot of small rooms, and many of the works have detailed information that helps explain their origins and history. If you want to look and not read, don't sweat it. It's not like it wasn't free to visit. Last of all, in case you missed it, it's Free. Every other museum in the region charges $20 just to walk in the door. This place is Free. Zero $. Gratis. How the heck can you get upset when it costs nothing! I'm glad I didn't get upset because my favorite Monet wasn't the one on display (They had a water lilies painting, and it looked great!) Go. Enjoy the place. Afterwards, take the money you saved with the free admission, and go get an inexpensive falafel at Mamoun's!

What a gem hiding on the campus! Can we talk about the artwork in the entranceway. That alone is a…read moreshowstopper. It's like two stories high and just beyond fabulous. If you go into the art museum and go upstairs, you can actually view it from the second floor as well, which is pretty cool and get a closer view of what's up higher. No, we showed up after closing. So we didn't actually get to see the whole collection, but they do have a number of pieces that are out and under a protective glass plane. We saw pieces from Andy Warhol, Singer Sergeant, Rothko, Lichtenstein just to name a few. I cannot even imagine what's in the main collection. If you are visiting Princeton or in the area, you owe yourself a visit to this museum.

VAMPA exceeded our expectations…read more The exhibits are immersive, thought-provoking, and often genuinely eerie, with an impressive collection that explores the line between faith, folklore, and the paranormal. We loved it... VAMPA was my wife's suggestion to check this out, though she was ready to leave before the museum was finished with us. There is an unexpected presence there. Not to be taken lightly. ‍

This is well worth the trip out to see this place!! This is not just a museum, it's a world history…read moretour of different places around the world and their folklore, their myths and legends! The artifacts are absolutely jaw dropping, and incredible to behold. Cursed items, haunted items, priceless items. The place the houses all of these items is just a walk-through history and through time. Fabulous adventure