Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA

The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA has been around since 1812. Its purpose is to encourage and cultivate the sciences and "advance useful learning." It is the oldest natural sciences institution in the Western United States.

The Academy is responsible for organizing some of the classic expeditions to explore the wilderness in the West. Some of the expeditions include the ones led by Stephen Long and Ferdinand Hayden. These two explorers were responsible for forming the foundation of the academy's scientific collections. They brought many new species and plants back to Philadelphia where the explorers studied and catalogued them.

Although officially established in 1812, the museum didn't open its doors to the public until 1828. From that time the academy has outgrown three buildings due to collection gifts, purchases and exchanges. It now contains 17 million specimens.

Expeditions to find specimens started out in the Western United States, but ventured to Asia, Africa, Central America and the Artic during the turn of the century.

Specimens are still displayed in dioramas, some which were built in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1932 the Academy of Natural Sciences established the School District of Philadelphia and later in 1948 the Environmental Research Division.

The museum has numerous programs available for children and families, as well as a few programs for adults.

Children and family programs include auditorium shows every day, special birthday pary packages, a Halloween sleepover, a safari sleepover, day scouting workshops, nature activities for children aged three and four with an adult, and wild weekends that have special presentations and children's crafts.

Programs for adults include guided tours behind-the-scenes (for ages 10 plus), facility rentals, and a series of lectures, debates and workshops on science and the environment. These discussions are called the Town Square.

 
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