Skip to Content

Philadelphia Museums with FREE Admission And Pay What You Wish Days

We created this list of Philadelphia museums with free admission in 2019, based on information we’ve been sharing for years. We update this at least twice a year so you’ll always have the most up-to-date information on free museums in Philadelphia. Which free museums in Philadelphia will you visit with your kids?

With Philadelphia so easy to get to and there being so many things to do in Philly, it would be wrong of us to not share with you about all the free things to do with kids in Philadelphia. Not only are there free activities but on weekends and holidays, kids can travel for free into Philadelphia on NJ Transit.

If you haven’t been to Philadelphia before with the kids or recently, get out the calendar. Take a look at this list of Philadelphia museums with free admission and start planning where you want to go and when.

Some of these Philadelphia museums have FREE admission, some have a suggested admission. That suggested admission is just that; a way of getting a set donation from everyone that comes through the door. You will often hear it called Pay What You Wish. It is your decision as to what to give for entry.

Some Philadelphia museums offer select days when admission is completely free. Keep reading and start making an itinerary of free things to do in Philadelphia!

Not interested in Philly yet? Would you rather go to NYC? To find out about FREE New York City museums, visit our New York City Museums with FREE Admission & Pay What You Wish Days.

Philadelphia-museums-with-free-admission

Sign up for our FREE newsletters to get great articles like this delivered to your inbox or visit our Calendar of New Jersey events to find things to do TODAY in New Jersey with kids.

Philadelphia Museums with FREE Admission Everyday or Pay What You Wish

There are over 10 free museums in Philly for free places to go in Philadelphia.

Fireman’s Hall Museum

Confirmed for 2024

The museum is housed in a renovated 1902 firehouse. Fireman’s Hall Museum is one of the nation’s premier fire museums focused on the preservation of Philly fire history and promoting fire safety.

  • Fireman’s Hall Museum Hours
    • Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM
    • Closed Sunday, Monday and all city holidays.
  • Admission is free.
  • The museum kindly requests that visitors wear a mask while inside the museum.
  • The Fireman’s Hall Museum is located at 147 North 2nd Street in Philadelphia.
  • Parking for the Fireman’s Hall Museum is available at Old City Parkominium 231 N 2nd Street. Bring your parking stub to the front desk for validation and receive a discount.
  • For more information about the Fireman’s Hall Museum at their website or contact them at (215) 923-1438.

U.S. Mint at Philadelphia

Currently open for 2024

View the coining operations from 40 feet above the factory floor. See the first coining press, used to strike our nation’s first coins in 1792, and other historic artifacts. Marvel at the seven glass mosaics created by Tiffany of New York to celebrate the opening of the Third Mint building in 1901. These five foot treasures highlight the coining processes in ancient Rome. Meet Peter the Mint Eagle, a real Bald Eagle who made the First United States Mint his home. Today’s Mint artists still study Peter when working on new eagle designs.

  • U. S. Mint at Philadelphia Museum Hours
    • Monday through Friday 9 AM –  4:30 PM
    • Entrance closes at 4:15 PM
    • Closed Federal Holidays including Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday and President’s Day.
  • Admission is free.
  • Reservations are not required for self-guided tours.
  • Photography is not allowed.
  • U.S. Mint at Philadelphia is located at 151 N. Independence Mall East (5th and Arch street), Philadelphia, PA 19106.
  • Parking for the U.S. Mint is available at local garages. The U.S. Mint does not provide parking.
  • For more information about the U.S. Mint at their website or contact them at (215) 408-0112.

Independence National Historical Park Properties

Confirmed for 2024

The National Historical Park includes Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were both debated and signed inside Independence Hall. Nearby sits the Liberty Bell, an international symbol of liberty.

  • Independence Hall Hours
    • Daily 9 AM – 5 PM
    • Entrance is by tour only; timed entry tickets are required. Learn how to obtain tickets on the park’s ticketing web page.
  • Liberty Bell Hours
    • Open daily: 9 am – 5 pm
    • Security screening closes 5 minutes before the building closes
  • Admission is free.
  • The Independence Hall is located on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th in Philadelphia. The Liberty Bell is located at 6th and Market Streets.
  • Parking for the National Historical Park may be available (fee applies) at the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s AutoPark at Independence Mall, an underground garage located directly below the Independence Visitor Center.
  • For more information about Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell visit the Independence National Park website here or contact them at (215) 965-2305.

Christ Church

Confirmed as still no longer free since 2021

Christ Church, the birthplace of the American Episcopal Church, was founded in 1695 as a condition of William Penn’s Charter. Known as “The Nation’s Church,” it hosted members of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution and Presidents George Washington and John Adams in the first decade of the newly established Republic. Dating to 1744, the current building has been cited as “our finest Early American church” and one of the finest Georgian structures in America. For 56 years, the steeple made Christ Church the tallest structure in North America. Christ Church is a privately managed historic site that is an official component of Independence National Historical Park. An active Episcopal parish, the church hosts daily historical talks and tours.

  • Unfortunately, admission at Crist Church is no longer free.
  • You can visit The Christ Church website here or contact them at (215) 922-1695.

Carpenter’s Hall

Confirmed for 2024

Carpenters’ Hall hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was home to Franklin’s Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States. The Hall has been continuously owned and operated by The Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, the oldest craft guild in America, since 1770. Today, Carpenters’ Hall is free to the public and welcomes over 150,000 world-wide visitors to this wonderful Georgian building. Admission has been complimentary since 1857, when it became the first privately owned American building to be opened as a historic monument.

  • Carpenter’s Hall Hours
    • Tuesday- Sunday from 10 AM – 4 PM
    • Closed Tuesdays in January and February.
    • Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
  • Admission is free.
  • Carpenter’s Hall is located at 320 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.
  • Parking for Carpenter’s Hall is available in nearby garages and lots.
  • For more information visit the Carpenter’s Hall website here or contact them at (215) 925-0167.

Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site

Confirmed for 2024.

The site includes the unfurnished home where Poe resided and an adjacent home with exhibits and the Reading Room. Many visitors stay at the site for several hours, exploring the home, reading the exhibits, and listening to Poe’s tales and poems on CD in the Reading Room.

  • Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site Hours
    • Open Fridays – Sundays 9 AM – 5 PM, closed 12 PM – 1 PM for lunch.
  • Admission is free.
  • The Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site is located at 532 N. 7th Street in Philadelphia.
  • Parking for the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site is available on street.
  • For more information visit Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site website here or contact them at (215) 965-2305.

The Rodin Museum (pay what you wish)

Confirmed for 2024

The Rodin Museum offers a verdant, intimate setting in which to enjoy some of the world’s most renowned masterpieces of sculpture. With nearly 150 bronzes, marbles, and plasters, the distinguished collection housed in the Rodin Museum represents every phase of Auguste Rodin’s career. Located on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway—which was intended to evoke the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris—the elegant Beaux-Arts–style building and garden offer an absorbing experience.

  • The Rodin Museum Hours
    • Friday–Monday, 10 AM – 5 PM
    • Closed July 4, Thanksgiving & Christmas
  • Admission to the Rodin Museum is Pay What You Wish; the garden is free year-round.
  • The Rodin Museum is located at 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.
  • Limited metered parking is available on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, N 21st Street, and N 22nd Street. Parking is also available at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Parking Garage (located across from the main building on Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive).
  • For more information visit The Rodin Museum website here or contact them at (215) 763-8100.

The Fabric Workshop and Museum (Suggested Donation)

Confirmed for 2024

The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art museum devoted both to the creation and presentation of innovative works of art. They offer family programs as well.

  • The Fabric Workshop and Museum Hours
    • Wednesday through Friday 12 PM – 6 PM
    • Saturdays and Sundays 12 PM – 5 PM
    • Closed on select holidays.
  • Free with $5 suggested donation. Visitors are asked to make a donation when visiting.
  • The Fabric Workshop and Museum is located at 1214 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
  • Parking is available at the museum for a fee.
  • For more information about the Fabric Workshop and Museum visit their website here or contact them at (215) 561-8888.

Science History Institute

Confirmed for 2024

Explore the amazing successes, astonishing failures, and strange surprises behind the scientific discoveries that have changed our world at the Science History Institute.

  • Science History Institute Hours
    • Wednesday–Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
  • Admission is free.
  • Science History Institute is located at 315 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106.
  • There are several parking garages located near the Institute.
  • For more information about the Science History Institute visit their website here or contact them at (215) 925-2222.

Polish American Cultural Center Museum Exhibit Hall

Confirmed for 2024

The Polish American Cultural Center and Museum Exhibit Hall are a focal point for many Polish American affairs in the greater Philadelphia area. The Cultural Center’s Exhibit Hall, located in the heart of this district allows thousands of tourists to experience Polish history, culture, and pride.

  • Polish American Cultural Center Museum Exhibit Hall Hours
    • Open 10 AM – 4 PM
    • January through April – Monday to Friday
    • May through December – Monday to Saturday
    • Closed on holidays
  • Admission is free.
  • The Polish American Cultural Center is located at 308 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
  • Limited metered parking available on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, N 21st Street, and N 22nd Street.
  • For more information about The Polish American Cultural Center visit their website here or contact them at (215) 922-1700.

Ryerss Museum

Confirmed for 2024

Located in Burholme Park, Ryerss Museum has an extraordinary and eclectic collection that includes generations of family heirlooms, paintings, sculptures, decorative art, and a vast array of Asian art and artifacts. The Ryerss Library has a wide variety of current best sellers, children’s books, periodicals, and popular non-fiction.

  • Ryerss Museum Hours
    • 10 AM – 4 PM, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
  • Admission is free.
  • The Ryerss Museum is located at 7370 Central Ave Philadelphia, PA 19111.
  • There is a free parking lot behind the building.
  • For more information about The Ryerrs Museum visit their website here or contact them at (215) 685-0544.

Institute of Contemporary Art

Confirmed for 2024

The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania believes in the power of art and artists to inform and inspire. Founded in 1963 ICA has developed an international reputation as a preeminent venue for contemporary art and culture. A non-collecting museum, ICA is also one of the only kunsthalles in America. They offer family programs as well.

  • The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania Hours
    • Open Wednesday – Sunday 12 PM – 6 PM
  • Admission is free. Timed tickets must be reserved in advance.
  • The Institute of Contemporary Art is located at 118 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
  • Parking is available at the museum for a fee.
  • For more information about The Institute of Contemporary Art visit their website here or contact them at (215) 898-7108.

Wagner Free Institute of Science (Suggested Donation)

Confirmed for 2024

Founded in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is dedicated to providing free public education in science. Its programs include free courses and lectures, field trips and lessons for children and museum tours for all ages.

  • Wagner Free Institute of Science Hours
    • Tuesday – Friday, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    • The 1st Saturday of the month from 12 to 4pm (September through May).
    • The Institute will be closed on certain holidays.
  • Visitors are asked to make a donation when visiting.
  • Walk-in visitors are welcome. Advance ticket reservations are appreciated and will speed up your entry to the museum. Tickets can be reserved through eventbrite. For free admission use WAGNERFREE code at check-out.
  • The Wagner Free Institute of Science is located at 1700 West Montgomery Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19121.
  • Garage parking is available at Temple’s Liacouras Center; the garage entrance is on 15th Street, below Montgomery Avenue.
  • For more information about The Wagner Free Institute of Science visit their website here or contact them at (215) 763-6529.
Philadelphia Museums with FREE Admission And Pay What You Wish Days


Philadelphia Museums with FREE Admission days or hours:

FREE Admission Days at the Franklin Institute

At this time we do not believe there are any free admission days for 2024

Who doesn’t love going to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia?

We certainly do! When I’ve taken my boys to this beloved Philadelphia attraction, we can’t help but stay the whole day. Every exhibit offers another area of indoor fun. From the planetarium to the walk-through giant heart, the permanent exhibits don’t disappoint. The rotating exhibits are extra special, and the free admission nights are the best way to explore these new features at the Institute.

During special community nights, you can go to Franklin Institute for Free! We’ve been telling you about these free evenings at the Franklin Institute since 2014, and we’re so glad that sponsors continue to support this community initiative.

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is one of America’s most celebrated museums—a renowned leader in science and technology. Read more about this museum in our articles listed here.

FREE Admission Days At the Franklin Institute

Schedule of Franklin Institute Free Admission Evenings

Have your kids been to the Franklin Institute for a Philadelphia day trip? These evenings, with free admission, to this local museum for kids, are a great way to have your first visit.

  • At this time we do not believe there are any free admission days for 2024
Ways our Family Experiences the Franklin Institute SportsZone Exploring Experiences Mom Jennifer Auer

More about FREE Admission Days at the Franklin Institute

  • Franklin Institute Hours during free admission events
    • Doors open at 5 PM – 8 PM for free admission.
  • No advance registration is required for these evenings with free admission at the Franklin Institute.
  • The Franklin Institute is located at 222 North 20th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Parking is available on the street and other nearby Philadelphia parking garages.
  • Read more about our experiences with the Franklin Institute in our series of articles found here or learn more by visiting their website, or contacting them at (215) 448-1200.
View the Rosklilde at the VIKINGS: BEYOND THE LEGEND at the Franklin Institute
Rosklilde at the VIKINGS: BEYOND THE LEGEND was at the Franklin Institute UNTIL March 2019.

Discount Admission Days at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia

Confirmed for 2024

While the Please Touch Museum doesn’t offer free admission, you can visit our schedule of Please Touch Museum Discount Admission Tickets Days to find out when you can get admission for $2 per guest.

Please Touch Museum Discount Admission Tickets Days

Pay What You Wish Days at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Confirmed for 202

  • Discover works of art at one of the largest and most renowned museums in the country, the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Find beauty, enchantment, and the unexpected among artistic and architectural achievements from the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. 19130. Parking is not included.

 Schedule of Philadelphia Museum of Art Pay What You Wish Admission Days for 2023

Pay what you wish admission tickets can be reserved at philamuseum.org/visit/admission. Keep in mind tickets are only needed for those older than 18 years old as guests 18 years old and younger receive free admission.

  • First Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm
    • January 7, 2024
    • February 4, 2024
    • March 3, 2024
    • April 7, 2024
    • May 5, 2024
    • June 2, 2024
    • July 7, 2024
    • August 4, 2024
    • September 1, 2024
    • October 6, 2024
    • November 3, 2024
    • December 1, 2024
  • Fridays 5 pm to 8:45 pm
Philadelphia Museum of Art Art Splash 1
Inspired by the art, Jenn’s youngest sketches one of the sculptures at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

More information about the free admission/pay what you wish days at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

  • Philadelphia Museum of Art Hours during free admission days
    • On Pay What You Wish Sundays, often called Philadelphia Art Museum free Sundays, the museum is open from 10 AM – 5 PM and pay what you wish is all day.
    • On Fridays, this Philadelphia art museum is open from 10 AM – 8:45 PM. The pay what you wish hours begin after 5 pm.
  • The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located at 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Parking for the Philadelphia Museum of Art is available at the garage on Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive or Waterworks Drive. Museum visitors: $12 for first 4 hours, $2 for each additional hour. $5 Parking on Wednesday and Friday Nights. Parking ticket must be validated inside the Museum to receive these rates.
  • For more information about the Philadelphia Museum of Art visit their website or contact them at (215) 763-8100.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
One of Jenn’s favorite exhibits at the Philadelphia Museum of Art |Photo Credit Jersey Family Fun

Free Admission Days at the National Constitution Center

At this time there are no free admission days for 2024, but there are some discounted admission days.

The National Constitution Center features hundreds of interactive exhibits, engaging theatrical performances, and original documents of freedom. As America’s town hall, the National Constitution Center hosts constitutional debates across a range of broadcast and digital media platforms. As a national and international center for civic education, the Constitution Center offers cutting edge constitutional seminars, discussions, course materials, and interactive and digital resources for students of all ages.

Schedule of National Constitution Center free admission days

  • Schedule of National Constitution Center Free Admission Days
    • Traditionally the National Constitution Center offers free admission on President’s Day and Independence Week.

Schedule of National Constitution Center discount admission days

  • From January 3 – March 24, 2024 visitors can enjoy discounted admission of $15 for adults (usually $19) and $12 for youth ages 6-18 (usually $15). Discounted admission is available online and will automatically be applied at checkout starting on Wednesday, January 3.

More information about the National Constitution Center

  • National Constitution Center hours
    • Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm.
  • National Constitution Center is at 525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
  • Parking is available at the National Constitution Center Parking Garage – enter from Race Street between 5th Street and 6th Street.
  • For more information about the National Constitution Center visit their website here or contact them at (215) 409-6600.
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia offers so many hands on activities for kids.
The National Constitution Center offers so many hands on activities for kids.

Free Admission Days at the Benjamin Franklin Museum

Confirmed for 2024

Explore Franklin’s life and character in the Benjamin Franklin Museum. The museum features artifacts, computer animations, and interactive displays. The exhibits are geared toward visitors of all ages, with displays that are educational, challenging, and fun.

Schedule of Benjamin Franklin Museum free admission days

The Benjamin Franklin Museum participates in National Park Service Free Admission Days which for 2024 include

  • Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Saturday, April 20: First day of National Park Week
  • Sunday, August 4: Great American Outdoors Day
  • Saturday, September 28: National Public Lands Day
  • Monday, November 11: Veterans Day
  • 4th Graders are eligible for the Every Kid in a Park program which admits the student and up to three adults.

More about FREE Admission Days at the Benjamin Franklin Museum

  • Benjamin Franklin Museum hours during free admission days
    • 9 AM – 5 PM
  • The Benjamin Franklin Museum is located in Franklin Court. Entrance to the courtyard is from Market or Chestnut Streets, between 3rd and 4th Streets.
  • Parking may be available (fee applies) at the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s AutoPark at Independence Mall, an underground garage located directly below the Independence Visitor Center. Entrances to the garage are available on both 5th and 6th Streets, between Market and Arch Streets. There is also an AutoPark at Olde City garage (fee applies) on 2nd Street between Chestnut and Walnut Streets.
  • For more information about the Benjamin Franklin Museum visit their website here or contact them at (215) 965-2305.

Pay What You Wish Wednesdays at Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion

Updated for 2023, Unfortunately the Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion has permanently closed.

Philadelphia’s only all-bug museum, and the largest insect museum in the nation! They have thousands of live and mounted insects, tons of interactive displays, a movie-room, fun stuff for kids, and a whole lot more!

Since 1992 the Insectarium has been educating adults and children in Northeast Philadelphia, about the fascinating world of arthropods. Hundreds of thousands of kids have toured the three floors of museum space, seen countless creepy-crawlies, played in their man-made spider web, and had a great time while learning all about insects in a way that is fun and exciting to their active minds.

Free Admission Days at the Barnes Foundation

Confirmed for 2024

The Barnes is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern European paintings, with especially deep holdings in Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Assembled by Dr. Albert C. Barnes between 1912 and 1951, the collection also includes important examples of African art, Native American pottery and jewelry, Pennsylvania German furniture, American avant-garde painting, and wrought-iron metalwork.

Schedule of Barnes Foundation free admission days

At Barnes Foundation the first Sunday of a month is a free admission day. You can visit this page of their website to register for the free admission and family program.

  • January 7, 2024
  • February 4, 2024
  • March 3, 2024
  • April 7, 2024
  • May 5, 2024
  • June 2, 2024
  • July 7, 2024
  • August 4, 2024
  • September 1, 2024
  • October 6, 2024
  • November 3, 2024
  • December 1, 2024

More about FREE Admission Days at the Barnes Foundation

  • Barnes Foundation Hours during free admission days
    • 10 AM – 5 PM
  • The Barnes Foundation is located at 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19130.
  • Parking is accessible from Pennsylvania Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets.
  • For more information about the Barnes Foundation visit their website here or contact them at (215) 278-7000.
Peco Free First Sunday family day at the Barnes Foundation on March 4, 2018. (Photo/Michael Perez)
Peco Free First Sunday family day at the Barnes Foundation on March 4, 2018. (Photo/Michael Perez)

More ways to get into Philadelphia’s museums for free

  • Don’t miss the Wawa Welcome America free events, which include free admission to many Philadelphia area museums. This event happens yearly the week of Independence Day. Check out our article Wawa Welcome America Free Events for more details.
  • Visit our 10 Ways to Get into Museums for Free article.
10 ways to get into museums for free

Click over to see the rest of our Family Travel to Philadelphia series.

Grab one of these Philadelphia maps or travel guides before your next trip into Philadelphia.

Looking for more local museums with free admission? Visit these posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Alex Felix

Tuesday 7th of June 2022

The Center for Art in Wood in Old City is always free!

Free Ann Arbor Museums | Ann Arbor with Kids

Thursday 30th of April 2020

[…] Philadelphia – Jersey Family Fun […]

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Alert: Content is protected !!