Welcome to the
Wagner Free Institute of Science
The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution. Founded by William Wagner in 1855, it is dedicated to free education in science.
Now a National Historic Landmark, the Wagner offers contemporary science programs and a rare experience of a Victorian natural history museum.
Visit the Wagner
The Wagner’s landmark museum is free to all and open all year round, Tuesday - Friday 9:30 - 4:30pm and on the 1st Saturday of the month (February-June & Sept-December). Our upstairs exhibit hall houses over 100,000 natural specimens, including ancient fossils, glowing minerals and animals from around the globe! Wander at your own pace or follow the path of one of our themed scavenger hunts. Feel free to pick up pencils and paper and spend some time sketching from the collection.
Accessibility note: The Wagner’s building is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is located on the second floor and requires climbing a flight of stairs to view. Contact us for more information about accessibility.
Our Next Program is…
MAY FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSE
Space Rocks!
Saturday, May 4, 2024
12:00pm - 4:00pm
May the Fourth be the day you visit the Wagner! Inspired by a certain legendary franchise, we’re looking to the stars for May’s First Saturday to celebrate the ways space can be even more fascinating than in science fiction. At 1:00 and 3:00, hear from Dr. Alexandra Krull Davatzes from Temple University’s Earth & Environmental Science department about on her work as a part of the HiRISE Camera Team. HiRISE is taking photos of the surface of Mars from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to understand major flooding events.
If you’re ready to head to space yourself, get ready for stomp rockets. Hear about some of the tools scientists use to launch vehicles into space and what’s on board. After you launch a rocket, head over to the telescopes for some solar observing! See sunspots through a mylar filter.
Participate in a design challenge to create your own Mars Rover. Learn about the challenges that face scientists when exploring rocky extraterrestrial landscapes, and see how your ingenuity can overcome the terrain.
All afternoon, you can also explore what’s here on earth in the Wagner’s exhibit hall filled with 100,000 specimens that range from tiny insects to giant dinosaurs bones. There are scavenger hunts to guide you or you can draw from the collections. Can you find our meteorite? Search your feelings, you know it to be true. This is one First Saturday you don’t want to miss!
This event is a part of Remake Learning Days, which is a festival of events and experiences for children to celebrate innovation, curiosity, and creativity. Events are held at museums, libraries, schools, universities, and industry sites throughout Pennsylvania.
More local events can be found here.
Walk-in visitors are welcome. Advance registration is appreciated and will speed up your entry to the museum.