The Atwater Kent Museum
The Atwater Kent Museum
A. Atwater Kent, a wealthy inventor who manufactured early radios in Philadelphia, bought the building, the original home of the Franklin Institute, in 1938. He then gave it to the city to establish a museum dedicated to Philadelphia's cultural and industrial history. Kent aimed to celebrate the city's past and inspire the future. This museum is devoted to the history of Philadelphia, and shows how people worked, played, lived and struggled on the city streets and suburban towns of Greater Philadelphia during the last three centuries.
As you travel through time, you'll see more than 100,000 objects on display, including the wampum belt that the Lenni Lenape Indians gave to William Penn in 1682, furniture used by George Washington during his presidency in the 1790s, and a Phillies jersey worn by Mike Schmidt. The museum also holds a full collection of reproductions of Norman Rockwell's homespun covers for the Saturday Evening Post. John Haviland, who was also the architect of Eastern State Penitentiary, designed the 1826 Greek Revival building.
Its exhibits mostly concern the Industrial Revolution and showcase many aspects of urban archaeology. Some assorted items of interest include models of the old street and railway patterns of the city, as well as maps and exhibits showing the Philadelphia's evolution into the city it is today. The children's wing, which is excellently maintained, holds old dolls, toys, carousels, and other items of that nature. Of particular interest is the "City Beneath Our Feet" gallery, featuring artifacts unearthed literally beneath the streets of Philadelphia.
Atwater Kent Museum is the City's Official History Museum. The museum is known for its object-based, interactive history lessons for children and youth from public, parochial and private school groups across the Philadelphia region.
Other helpful information for the visitor:
Admission:
Adults $5
Seniors and children 13-17 $3
Members and children 12 and under Free
Hours
Open 1-5 P.M., Wednesday - Sunday
