Wagner Free Institute of Science

05/29/2026

Philadelphia is home to many landmarks that built a nation. But beyond it's political history, the city was also the site of one of America's earliest museums—Charles Willson Peale’s Philadelphia Museum, which combined art and natural science.

Join us Thursday, June 11th from 6 - 7:30pm for Ordering the Cosmos—Charles Willson Peale and The Philadelphia Museum, an America 250 edition of Weeknights at the Wagner by Robert McCracken Peck.

In 1790, Charles Willson Peale opened a museum containing "objects of natural history and things useful and curious" to represent the culmination of a long and distinguished career in art and science that made Peale one of the most remarkably versatile figures of his age. Using images of Peale's collections of paintings and artifacts, Peck will place the museum in its broader cultural, artistic and scientific context in post-revolutionary America.

After the lecture, attendees are encouraged to stay for the Wagner’s Annual Member Reception with wine & nibbles in the Exhibit Hall. Enjoy refreshments, exchange ideas with fellow members, and explore the Wagner's vast natural history collection at this special evening event. The lecture is free for everyone. The reception is free for current members and $15 for guests.

Learn more and register for the lecture, the reception, or both here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ordering-the-cosmos-charles-willson-peale-and-the-philadelphia-museum-registration-1987137235965?aff=fb

05/19/2026

Are you attending the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo this year? Us too! The Wagner will be open from 9:30 - 4:30pm this Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 1:00 - 4:30pm this Wednesday. As a part of AAM's program, annual meeting attendees receive free admission to the Wagner (as always!) and enjoy 10% off in the giftshop.

Now's your chance to browse our expansive natural history collection and take a souvenir home with you! See you soon!

05/12/2026

get a girl that can do all 3

05/06/2026

A big thank you to all who came to our open house last Saturday! We made colorful owl masks, learned birding tips from our friends at , and even spotted some flying friends in the yard like a Northern Flicker! (Some, like the Great Blue Heron, or the Red-Tailed Hawk, were made of cardboard. But that's beside the point.)

We hope to see you in the museum again soon!

04/28/2026

Birdwatching requires a combination of skills: a watchful eye, a patient demeanor, and a working knowledge on what local birds look like, sound like, and where you might best find them. At this First Saturday Open House, be an ornithologist by practicing your bird watching skills in the Wagner’s Teaching Garden!

Visitors can imitate bird calls, learn about nest building, and even join us at 1pm for a talk in our lecture hall on Philadelphia area birds and where to find them by expert birder Holger Pflicke. The Wagner's 100,000+ natural history collection will also be available for self-guided exploration throughout the day. Browse our extensive collection of feathered friends, ancient fossils, glowing minerals, and animals from around the globe.

This event is also a part of , a national celebration of innovative experiences and opportunities for youth to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance and curiosity.

Admission is free to everyone and donations are welcome to support our mission. Registration is recommended but not required. Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-first-saturday-open-house-go-birds-registration-1986637931532?aff=IG

04/09/2026

Fridays in the Field is back!

The Wagner‘s Teaching Garden will be open for independent educational exploration every Friday from 1 - 3pm starting this Friday, April 10th through September.

Visitors of all ages may borrow hand lenses for close observation of our urban ecosystem, use nature guides to help identify the different animals, trees, and rocks found in our yard, or take time to relax in the shade and draw from nature.

The museum will be open for regular hours on Fridays as well, so visitors will have full access to the museum AND the garden from 1 - 3pm on Fridays. Pre-registration is available but not required for this recurring event. Learn more at the link in our bio!

04/07/2026

04/02/2026

All About Bugs! Our April First Saturday Open House is happening this Saturday, April 4th from 12 - 4pm. In addition to waving around butterfly nets, visitors can explore the museum’s vast natural history collection (featuring fossils, bones, minerals, taxidermied animals, and yes, lots of insects) and listen to a brief presentation on entomological study and insect preservation by scientist Adam Knapp.

Admission is free to everyone and donations are welcome to support our mission. Registration is recommended but not required. Learn more and register at the link in our bio.

04/01/2026

PRESENTING: THE WAGNER INSTITUTE OF FREE SCIENCE!

After months of consulting designers, hiring focus groups, and much deliberation among staff, we are changing our name from The Wagner Free Institute of Science to.......drumroll......The Wagner Institute of FREE Science! We hope you like our new look, and can appreciate how much time and energy went into making this momentous shift.

03/27/2026

The Wagner's Entomology Collection boasts a lot of bugs: iridescent beetles, pinned butterflies, millipedes in ethanol, and more—with a significant selection collected right here in Philadelphia. Browse our collection and participate in activities at our April First Saturday Open House: All About Bugs!, on Saturday, April 4th. from 12 - 4pm.

Visitors may even pick a specimen from our jar of dead bugs and learn how to pin their insect with the help of an entomologist!

Admission is free to everyone and donations are welcome to support our mission. Registration is recommended but not required. Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/april-first-saturday-all-about-bugs-registration-1983976976544?aff=IG