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Museum membership guide
Top 50 NARM locations in Pennsylvania
byShiry
Live update: Updated July 26, 2021Copy link
Copy link1. Friends of Valley Forge
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
ShiryRecommended this place!
2. Independence Seaport Museum ("IDs)
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryIndependence Seaport Museum deepens the understanding, appreciation and experience of the Philadelphia region’s waterways through history, science, and art, plus experiences on the water. Dive into River Alive!, a new exhibit that brings the wildlife, science, and wonder of the Delaware River up close. Raise the sails and discover the history of the U.S. Navy aboard Schooner Diligence and our National Historic Landmark ships, Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna. Observe live demonstrations in the Museum’s boatbuilding workshop and get hands-on with science, technology, engineering, and math in our Citizen Science Lab and MakerSpace. Uncover the past with one of the largest maritime art and artifact collections in North America and experience the river with seasonal boat rentals and on-water tours. With so much to explore, Independence Seaport Museum is the premier, family-friendly destination on the Penn’s Landing Waterfront.
3. Reading Public Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
4. Adams County Historical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Adams County Historical Society is a research archives located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is the home of the Battle of Gettysburg research center.
5. African American Museum in Philadelphia
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe African American Museum in Philadelphia engages diverse communities in appreciating the Black experience through the narrative of art, history, and culture.
6. Allentown Art Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
7. America On Wheels Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
8. Arts & Education at the Hoyt
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryIgnite your imagination in Hoyt East! Every inch of the 7500 sq. ft. building houses classrooms, galleries and studios. Be inspired by arts, language and music classes throughout the year. Or check out the website for a robust schedule of exhibits, concerts, festivals, school programs and after-school programs. Guests are often enchanted by our collection of Shenango China, once produced for royalty, presidents, hotels, and railroads. The display also features Shenango’s museum line debuted by Eva Zeisel at the Museum of Modern Art in 1946. Other public spaces boast the contemporary works of Wolf Kahn, Romare Bearden, Robert Motherwell, Ed Eberle and many others. Lastly, shop the museum gift shop while you are here for original, handcrafted wares by area artists and artisans.
9. Beth Sholom Synagogue Visitor Center
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
10. Chester County Historical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryLocated in beautiful West Chester, outside of Philadelphia, and nestled between such sites as historic Brandywine Valley and Longwood Gardens, CCHS boasts a collection of more than 90,000 artifacts spanning four centuries of history, a research Library, an Archives, a History Lab for children, a Museum store, and permanent and changing exhibits. Programs, lectures, special events, book signings and group programming will appeal to history lovers of all ages.
11. Eastern State Penitentiary
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryEastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Eastern State Penitentiary is open every day, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission includes “The Voices of Eastern State” Audio Tours, guided tours, Hands-On History interactive experiences, and a critically acclaimed series of artist installations.
12. Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
13. Erie Art Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Erie Art Museum is a great cultural treasure in Northwest PA, presenting 15 quality exhibitions and a rich array of programming and performances.
14. Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Everhart Museum is one of the region’s leading resources for educational and cultural opportunities. With a multidisciplinary and diverse approach, the Everhart creates extraordinary experiences. Our programs stimulate creative expression and active engagement between art and science. Whether you attend a lecture, workshop, or studio course, our classes are designed for all ages, interests, and abilities.
15. Glencairn Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryGlencairn Museum, housed in the castle-like former home of Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn (1939-1980), presents religious life through the ages by means of a remarkable collection that illustrates religions as varied as ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman, medieval Christian, Islamic, Asian, and American Indian.
16. Hanover Area Historical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Hanover Area Historical Society’s mission is to protect and promote the historical heritage of the greater Hanover area. In 1974 the Society purchased and restored the Neas House. In October, 2007 the Society was given the Warehime-Myers Mansion at 305 Baltimore Street
17. Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
18. LancasterHistory
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
19. Museum of the American Revolution
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Museum of the American Revolution tells the complete story of the American Revolution using its distinguished collection of objects, artifacts, artwork, and manuscripts. Permanent and special exhibition galleries, theaters, and large-scale tableaux bring to life the original “greatest generation,” and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution. The Museum is located steps away from Independence Hall, Carpenter’s Hall, Franklin Court, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolution. It serves as a portal to the nation’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context and encouraging explorations that begin at the Museum’s doorstep.
20. National Museum of American Jewish History
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
21. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
22. Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks/Grumblethorpe Historic House and Garden
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks is an 87 year old non-profit that is dedicated to maintaining and preserving its four historic house museums: the Powel House, Grumblethorpe Historic House and Garden, Hill-Physick House and Historic Waynesborough.
23. Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks/Powel House
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Powel House, built in 1765, was home to Samuel Powel who was the last mayor of colonial Philadelphia and first mayor of the city after the revolutionary war and his wife, Elizabeth Powel, confidant of General Washington.
24. Simeone Automotive Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
25. The Brandywine River Museum of Art
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
26. The Frick Pittsburgh
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryExperience the culture and refinement of the Gilded Age at The Frick Pittsburgh, located on beautifully landscaped gardens in Pittsburgh’s East End. The museum and its multiple collections are the legacy of Helen Clay Frick, daughter of Henry Clay Frick, one of America’s greatest industrialists and art collectors. Here, one can view fine and decorative arts and artifacts, magnificent exhibitions and vintage cars and carriages, take part in educational programs and concerts, enjoy fine dining and more.
27. The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
28. Woodmere Art Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
29. James A. Michener Art Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
ALSO FEATURED IN:Top 23 places in Pennsylvania for Art
30. Laurel Hill Cemetery
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryIn 1978, Drayton and Jane Smith, and John Francis Marion founded the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. The Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and was established to support the cemetery. The mission of the Friends is to preserve, protect, and promote the historical and visual character of Laurel Hill Cemetery through progressive interpretation, education, and fundraising. In addition to developing and implementing educational programs at the cemetery, the Friends sponsor special events, including Laurel Hill’s famous Halloween festivities, and offer both public and private tours of the site, often in collaboration with local school, nonprofit groups, and historical organizations.
31. National Constitution Center
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
32. National Museum of Industrial History
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe mission of the National Museum of Industrial History is to forge a connection between America’s industrial past and the innovations of today by educating the public and inspiring the visionaries of tomorrow. Housed in a restored 100-year-old former Bethlehem Steel facility on the largest private brownfield in America, the Museum is home to exciting exhibits and engaging programs which tell the story of America’s industrial achievements and the accomplishments of our workers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
33. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
34. Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks/Hill-Physick House
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Hill-Physick House, built in 1786 by Madeira wine importer Henry Hill, was home to the father of American surgery, Dr. Philip Syng Physick from 1815-1837. Built in 1786, this square, four-story brick house is the only free-standing Federal townhouse remaining in Society Hill. With its huge doorway fan light (the largest in any Pennsylvania residence in 1786) plus grand proportions and straight, classical lines, Physick House is an exceptional example of the Federal style. It is decorated with outstanding examples of French-influenced Neoclassic furnishings, popular during Dr. Physick’s time in the house. The unusually large city garden also contains plants popular in the 19th century.
35. Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryPhiladelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) is a mosaicked visionary art environment, gallery, and community arts center that preserves, interprets, and provides access to Isaiah Zagar’s unique mosaic art environment and his public murals. The Magic Gardens site, Zagar’s largest artwork, includes a fully tiled indoor space and a massive outdoor mosaic sculpture garden that spans half a block on Philadelphia’s famous South Street. Inside, visitors can view folk art statues, bicycle wheels, colorful glass bottles, Zagar’s hand-made tiles, and thousands of glittering mirrors. The installation pays tribute to Zagar’s artistic influences, along with community and personal experiences.
36. Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Sordoni Art Gallery is an innovative educational exhibition space. The gallery offers students and the local community a creative learning experience by providing rich programming, workshops, lectures, and year-round exhibitions featuring diverse, internationally recognized artists.
ALSO FEATURED IN:Top 23 places in Pennsylvania for Art
37. The Demuth Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Demuth Museum is dedicated to developing awareness, understanding and appreciation of the artwork and legacy of American Modernist Charles Demuth. Located in the former home and studio of this renowned American Modernist painter, the museum features rotating exhibitions, permanent collection, special events and education programs.
38. The Print Center
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryIn 2015 The Print Center celebrated a century of encouraging the growth and understanding of photography and printmaking as vital contemporary arts through exhibitions, publications and educational programs. Free and open to the public, it presents changing exhibitions which highlight established and emerging, local, national and international contemporary artists. It mounts one of the oldest art competitions in the country, now over 90 years old and the Gallery Store offers the largest selection of contemporary prints and photographs available for sale in Philadelphia.
39. Thomas T. Taber Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society is ‘where history comes alive.’ Explore the pre-history, history, and culture of the largest County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through a series of exhibits, galleries, period rooms, and temporary exhibits. And, a highlight of any tour, the LaRue Shempp Model Train exhibits over three hundred model trains and two working layouts.
40. Wagner Free Institute of Science
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
41. Lancaster Museum of Art
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Lancaster Museum of Art fosters artistic expression and understanding by supporting and advancing the visual arts through exhibitions, education, and establishment of a permanent collection.
42. Mattress Factory
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art that presents art you can get into — room-sized environments, created by in-residence artists. Located in the historic Mexican War Streets of Pittsburgh’s North Side since 1977, the Mattress Factory is one of few museums of its kind anywhere.
43. National Liberty Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe National Liberty Museum brings Liberty to life through stories of people whose character and courage have expanded liberty for all in order to educate and inspire visitors to think about liberty as an ongoing human quest.
44. Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Sigal Museum property tells an interesting history common to the evolution of old downtowns; with its design and function changing with the times: from family home to Opera House to Bridal Salon to history museum.
45. Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryFor 75 years, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen has served as a meeting place for craft and artists in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Now the 7th largest all craft organization in the nation, the Guild reaches more than 100,000 people annually. Located in the heart of downtown Lancaster, our Center of American Craft hosts more than 75 workshops and classes annually, organizes 5 fine craft fairs per year and is home to our beloved Guild Store and Gallery. People are drawn to the Guild by the opportunity to immerse themselves in viewing, making, collecting, and learning about craft. Through innovative exhibitions, enticing craft and fun, diverse programming, the Guild celebrates the handmade legacy.
46. Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks/Historic Waynesborough
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryBuilt in 1724, Historic Waynesborough was home to “Mad” Anthony Wayne, famous general of the Revolutionary War. When Captain Anthony Wayne arrived in Pennsylvania with his family in 1724, he was likely looking for a bit of peace in the land he purchased in Chester County after his valiant service to William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. His son Isaac would serve as an officer in the French and Indian War. But it was Isaac’s son Anthony who would earn the legendary moniker “Mad” Anthony Wayne as he served with General Washington and Lafayette, helping lead the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. The Valley Forge encampment was a mere five miles from his doorstep. By the end of the War for Independence, General Wayne became a bonafide national hero, and is today still credited as one of the greatest fighting generals in American History. In all, seven generations of Waynes lived on site until 1965. Visitors to this beautiful Georgian manor will find a fascinating collection of 18th and 19th C. family items, including General Wayne’s personal map from the Paoli Massacre.
47. Susquehanna Art Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
48. The Fabric Workshop and Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) encourages international artists at all stages of their careers to experiment with new materials and media in a veritable living laboratory working with studio staff, educators and apprentices. Through its renowned Artist-in-Residence Program, FWM’s collaborative process continues to build a collection and archive that preserve and document the course of artistic production from inspiration to realization. An ambitious program of exhibitions and publications, a dynamic website, and wide-ranging educational programming enhance FWM’s commitment to conveying a story of contemporary art that highlights process with finished works of art for a broad national and international audience.
49. The Rosenbach
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryThe Rosenbach offers exhibits, programs, tours, and researching opportunities centered on rare books, manuscripts, and art.
50. Tyler Arboretum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:ShiryRecommended this place!
ALSO FEATURED IN:Top 50 places in United States for Gardens
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