Museums in Old City (Philadelphia)

Arch Street Friends Meeting House

This meeting house of the Quakers has been in existence since 1693. Built on the land Philadelphia founder William Penn gave to the devout Christian denomination, today it educates visitors about the history and beliefs of the Quakers. Guides are on hand to present a fifteen minute slide show and give tours of the various Quaker artifacts and dioramas depicting William Penn's contributions and importance to the development of the region.

Library Hall

In 1789, Library Hall became the first library which opened to the public, the predecessor to the Library of Congress. The hall was refurbished during the 1950s and today holds an excess of books from the Philosophical Hall collection. Rare manuscripts of groundbreaking scientific and historic importance are on hand. The original journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and first editions of Sir Isaac Newton's Principia and Charles Darwin's Origin of Species are exhibited. The Declaration of Independence in Jefferson's own handwriting is here.

New Hall Military Museum

New Hall Military Museum has two floors of exhibits commemorating the Army, Navy and Marines in early American history. A permanent display called "Marines in the Revolution" documents the role of leathernecks from the years 1775-1781. Also in the collection, a scale model of the man-of-war Raleigh merits inspection. It was the first ship to hoist "Old Glory"(the American flag) in battle. Six other scale models of frigates (including the USS Constitution) are also on display. The Army exhibit contains sabers, muskets and uniforms from the Colonial Era. Other displays educate visitors about the plight of the common solder and military tactics of the time. Guided tours and multi-media information is also available.

Indigo Arts

The smell of incense hits you as you walk through the door of this one-of-a-kind shop in Old City. With jewelry, textiles, antiques, soaps, and pottery from various parts of the world, Indigo has captured the feeling of shopping in a local store in Mexico or Africa. An art gallery featuring paintings and sculptures from around the globe is located on the second floor. Founded in 1986, the owners of Indigo Arts wanted to share their enthusiasm for world culture with the public and pride themselves on purchasing work directly from artists, cooperatives, and arts organizations.

Betsy Ross House

American schoolchildren have all heard the story: The first American flag was made by Betsy Ross. It's not true, but it's a great story. This house is still worth a visit as an example of Colonial living conditions. Betsy Ross mainly used this colonial abode to rent rooms to travelers and wayfarers. According to the Philadelphia Historic Society, more people visit the Ross house than any other historical attraction. The house is located in Old City adjacent to many shopping and eating destinations.

United States Mint

For a free and interesting diversion, witness the currency making process at the US Mint. The entire mechanized coinage operation is visible from an enclosed gallery designed to accommodate 2,500 visitors an hour. The David Rittenhouse Room, named after a well-known colonial merchant, contains a montage of historic artifacts, coins and medals detailing the evolution of American currency. Visitors can tour the mint themselves, supported by audio-visual material, or take the 45-minute guided tour. A sales area is located in the lobby, where visitors may purchase commemorative souvenirs.

Bishop White House

William White became the first consecrated bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America during the American Revolutionary War. He was the rector of the historic Christ and St. Peter's Churches—a very public and important position for the era. White then went on to become the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania. The Bishop was a beloved Philadelphia figure, in large part due to his charitable church work. His Federal style home was built in 1787 and stands today in Independence Park at the nexus of Old City Philadelphia. Around 150 books from the bishop's personal library are on display along with his original bed and personal affects. George Washington dined here in November of 1798. The home was White's abode until his death in 1811.

The Athenæum of Philadelphia

The Athenæum, founded in 1814, is a not for profit, member-supported library and historic site museum that provides research collections, public education and community outreach. This three-story building also sponsors lectures and changing exhibits, publishes books and administers grants that encourage distinguished scholarship in architectural history. In 1977 the Athenæum was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks. It is furnished with American fine and decorative arts from the first half of the 19th century. The library contains a nationally significant collection of architectural and interior design materials.

Second Bank of the United States

The Second Bank of the United States was chartered to combat the debt and inflationary pressures, the U.S. Government faced from the War of 1812. President Madison signed a bill authorizing the 2nd Bank in 1816 with a charter lasting 20 years. Today the neo-classical structure houses an extraordinary Portrait Gallery. Many of the works are by Charles Wilson Peale, the leading American portrait artist of the time, capturing the magnificent visages of 18th Century war heroes and statesmen of the day. All the signers of the Declaration of Independence are here, and members of the First Constitutional Congress. George Washington's death mask is part of the Portrait Gallery collection.

Painted Bride Art Center

The outside of the building indicates that patrons are in for a unique experience—and (thankfully) the inside lives up to the expectation. This visual art and live performance gallery has long been a revered institution for those looking to avoid the mainstream, and hosts the city's longest continually running Jazz series. Free admission to the Painted Bride Art Center is available year-round. Live performances inside the center's 250 seat theatre take place at various times. All in all, a great place to admire awe-inspiring art forms.

Memorial Hall

Situated on a meadow in Fairmount Park, its high copper dome is visible for miles. Built in 1875, Memorial Hall was conceived as an international art gallery but became the central facility for the United States' Centennial celebration. President Ulysses S. Grant opened the Centennial proceedings in Memorial Hall's 150 foot-high 'Great Hall' on May 10, 1876. This is the only significant structure remaining from the Centennial festivities. An exhibition in the basement pays homage to the Centennial fairground, the first World's Fair ever held in America. Admission is free.

Transit Museum Store

After a long day of enjoying Philadelphia's public transportation, why not stop off at SEPTAs Transit Museum Store and see how things got the way they are today? There's a restored PTC (Philadelphia Transportation Company) trolley that kids can board, as well as historical photographs and artifacts from one of the country's oldest public transportation systems. There's also a gift shop selling shirts, hats, postcards and a lot of books and models.