There’s a museum in the Delaware Valley for every kid—whether they’re interested in science, history, the arts or transportation. These 10 museums are open now with COVID-19 safety protocols in place. Many require tickets or reservations ahead of time, so check their websites before planning your family outing.
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
The “Permian Monsters” exhibit open now at the Academy of Natural Sciences is all about the creatures that existed before the dinosaurs—290 million years ago. Fossils, artistic renderings, models and interactive activities give visitors of all ages an exciting look into these fascinating beasts.
Franklin Institute
222 North 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 448-1200
Packed with personalized, engaging activities, the “Crayola IDEAworks” exhibit currently on view at the Franklin Institute is designed to inspire imagination and creativity. This partnership with the popular crayon company is innovative and, of course, very colorful.
Battleship New Jersey
62 Battleship Pl, Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 966-1652
Anchored in the Delaware River, the Battleship New Jersey offers informative and interactive tours geared towards all ages. Visitors will climb ladders, maneuver through passageways and navigate the decks to experience the battleship’s rich history.
American Helicopter Museum
1220 American Blvd, West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 436-9600
This museum devoted entirely to helicopters provides hands-on experiences for those fascinated by rotary flight. Kids can get behind the controls of a real helicopter and try out a flight simulator while admiring the over 35 helicopters on display.
Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum
1155 Easton Rd, Horsham, PA 19044
(215) 990-2366
If your kids can’t get enough of flight machines, the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum currently has 19 aircrafts on display, in addition to an eclectic assortment of historic artifacts including aviation gear, models and military service medals.
The Christian C. Sanderson Museum
1755 Creek Rd, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
(610) 388-6545
Call ahead to schedule a tour of the historical house of Christian C. Sanderson, a collector of objects and art that date back 200 years. The museum offers a scavenger hunt list of items for children, including “Easter eggs from 1886,” “piece of wood from Lincoln’s coffin” and “melted ice from the South Pole.”
Wonderspaces
27 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(267) 424-2278
The wide variety of immersive, interactive art installations at Wonderspaces are designed to enchant and intrigue adults and kids. Spinning sculptures, plants that respond to human contact and robots that sketch visitors are only a few of the extraordinary art pieces on display.
Mercer Museum
84 South Pine St, Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 245-0210
This six-story castle in Bucks County holds over 50,000 pre-Industrial tools and offers activity sheets and scavenger hunts for kids. Designed by Henry Mercer, an archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar and antiquarian, the museum is chock-full of regional history.
Fonthill Castle
East Court St & Route 313, Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 348-9461
A mile away from the Mercer Museum sits another castle that looks like it’s straight out of a Disney movie. Fonthill Castle, the home of Henry Mercer, is filled with handcrafted tiles and prints for the more artistically-inclined visitors and welcomes families on its guided tours.
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
6825 Norwitch Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19153
(215) 365-7233
For car-loving kids, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, with a collection of over 75 sports cars, is the place to check out. The museum welcomes families and has a variety of activities and educational resources available for kids.
