27 Philadelphia Museums for Kids to Explore

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is a train lover's dream. They feature over 100 locomotives and cars from different eras as well as the state's historical collection. Hands-on activities and exhibits let kids explore, learn and get in on the action.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The National Toy Train Museum offers an old-time train station look with themed train displays and special exhibits featuring trains from the mid-1800s through the present day. Many exhibits are interactive and hands-on for children to experience.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  This museum, located in the heart of Lancaster, offers educational hands-on exhibits such as a post office, machine shop, farm, grocery store, land of make believe, outdoor play garden and more. The Hands-on House Clubhouse is an area for science and art exploration with various activities in the STEM category such as Jurassic Jungle and Kids City Science Fair.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The Delaware Museum of Natural History permanent exhibits feature dinosaurs, mammals, fossils, birds, sea life animals, shells and more. Head over to their special Nature Nook for interactive hands-on learning and exploring with special events, story time, crafts, live animal presentations and more.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  This museum offers children interactive hands-on exhibits with topics of sports, STEM, arts and vehicles. Kids can experiment with a real aquarium, weather making station, raceway track, pretend bank and restaurant and much more. The sports exhibit challenges you physically and mentally with fitness tests and quiz games.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Hay Creek Valley Historical Association provides an historical and living experience of Berks County’s agricultural and technological past. They offer demonstrations of early American crafts and trades throughout the year at special events such as Christmas at Joanna and Hay Creek Fall Festivals.

They also feature Joanna Furnace, a historic part of Berks County’s thriving early iron industry. The Furnace was in use from 1791 to 1898 as a single stack, charcoal iron furnace powered by water and later by steam.

Tim Ponisciak:  Have a little one who is really interested in racing cars? Or perhaps you have a child in cub scouts that just was a part of their first pinewood derby? Check out the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. The museum has an amazing collection of racing cars, including American made cars like Fords and Chevrolets and also foreign made cars like Ferraris, Jaguars and Bugattis.

Shila:   The American Swedish Historical Museum highlights the cultural identity of Swedes and Scandinavians in America. For kids, many enjoy the Pippi Longstocking exhibit – a small, but colorful and imaginary play house.

The Please Touch Museum is filled with interactive hands-on exhibits for children with a focus on pretend play, science, art, music, communication, building, reading and more to engage all five senses. They also have a full calendar of performances, special events, parades, non-permanent exhibits, a huge water play area and carousel.

Shila:  Signature galleries display many objects that come directly from the museum's own archaeological excavations & anthropological expeditions. In addition to ancient mummies & stone coffins, a monumental 13-ton granite sphinx is the centerpiece of one of the finest collections of Egyptian architecture in the USA.

Shila:  Climb the 72 front entrance "Rocky" steps and take a photo with Rocky Balboa's statue. Next, explore a wide-range of creative and interactive family & children's programs. Families can discover the world of art together at this world-class museum from large-scale family events to studio art creations, drop-in workshops & classes.

Shila:  Fun, science-based exhibits with interactive devices & attractions include: Train Factory, The Giant Heart, Sir Isaac's Loft and Escape Rooms. There's also a planetarium & theater with engaging shows & incredible special effects that educate young & old alike about astronomy.

Very popular is the Foucault’s 4 story Pendulum. The pendulum can be viewed from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors of the science museum.

Vanessa M.:  The Academy of Natural Sciences is a wonderful nature museum for families to explore; environmental education is offered in a fun, interactive way! Kids of all ages (and their parents!) will love the dinosaur and live butterfly exhibits, as well as live animal presentations, fossil prep lab viewing, and hands on Big Dig where you get to dig like a paleontologist.

Tim Ponisciak:  This is a truly "Philadelphian" museum. The Mummers Museum documents the story of this Philly mainstay. You can see some of the many different costumers worn by string bands like the Fralinger, Avalon and Quaker City groups. Kids love seeing the different sequined outfits! Come see many different artifacts and get to know this unique institution a little bit better.

A chapter in nearly every school-aged child's history book, here you can view the actual assembly room where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed. Independence Hall admission is by tour only, and timed entry tickets are required for most of the year. Admission is free, though there is a $1 administrative fee per ticket.