Wagner Free Institute of Science

Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum in North Philadelphia that houses about 100,000 specimens including fossils, minerals, and preserved animals displayed in original glass cases from the Victorian era. The collection remains arranged in its 19th-century display cases, showing how specimens were organized and presented during that time.

William Wagner founded the institute in 1855 to give free science education to Philadelphia residents, which was unusual at that time. The building and its collections show how a 19th-century educational idea has been preserved to the present day.

The place shows how people in the 1800s saw and studied the natural world through organized collections. The displays reflect a time when science education was meant to be open to everyone in the community, not just experts.

The museum is open during daytime hours from Tuesday to Friday, with additional Saturday hours during certain months. You should allow time to look at the many display cases and details, as there is a lot to explore and take in.

The collection includes one of the earliest saber-toothed tigers discovered in North America, found by museum researchers in the late 1800s. This discovery is one of the highlights of the paleontology section and shows the adventures of early naturalists.

Location: Philadelphia

Inception: 1860s

Address: 1700 West Montgomery Avenue

Website: http://wagnerfreeinstitute.org

GPS coordinates: 39.98056,-75.16306

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:45