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The oldest institution of natural history in America is right here in Philly – and it’s been sparking curiosity and scientific discovery for over 200 years now.
The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University came together before natural sciences were particularly popular in the U.S., said Amber Redfield, the STEM & Outreach Coordinator at the Academy.
“Think about 1812,” she said. “Sciences, natural history and all that was more of a hobby. It wasn’t a profession.”
The group of seven men who founded the institution came from a mix of different backgrounds – but they were all enamored with natural history.
“They were importers and distillers of whale oil,” Redfield said. “They were bankers, or they were Quakers working on farms or bake shops. There were so many people back then that wanted to make this part of who they were, but it was a little harder, too.”
The institution has humble beginnings. It first housed a meeting space, a reading room and a space for their initial collection – and it was exclusive, requiring membership nominations from two existing members.
In 1828, it became a public space. “So it took a little while longer, but that’s also because they had just a little bit of stuff to go on, [mostly] from private collections,” said Redfield.
One of its first collections included minerals sold to the Academy for $750 – or $18,000 in today’s dollar.
The Academy’s evolution
As it grew, the Academy moved venues and its collection grew along the way.
The society quickly became known for its extensive ornithology collection, and in 1868, it became the first place the public could see a mounted dinosaur on display.
“They created the first mount in 1868 for the public to see,” she said. Soon, “they realized that it’s kind of a big deal, because it’s the first true dinosaur ever discovered in North America, described and then mounted. So they start charging, I think, 10 cents for people to go see it, and that was a lot back in the day.”
The group moved to its permanent spot on 19th and Race streets in 1876, from which they continued to grow the society’s reach.
“We went about describing brand new species of dinosaurs and other animals. We’re pretty known for paleontology,” Redfield said.
The Academy continued to grow its extensive collection of millions of plant and animal specimens, becoming an important part of national and international scientific research. In the 1900s, they continued to sponsor expeditions to other continents to conduct original research in several fields, and focused on studying ecology.
Redfield said that, today, the museum has many unique displays – such as a chair from Charles Darwin’s home and materials from Audubon.
“We have one of the biggest collections of diatoms [algae] in the entire world,” she said. “We also have Lewis and Clark’s herbarium. We’ve got an exhibit right now called Botany of Nations, which is all about the Lewis and Clark expedition, as well as the indigenous people that helped make that possible.”
She said those with the Academy also still go on trips to other continents to further scientific understanding, study water and air quality and expand knowledge of different species.
The Academy will be celebrated this Saturday, August 1 at a Firstival featuring free swag, a fossil dig, access to the museum and more. Admission for that day will be pay-as-you-wish.
It will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Academy of Natural Sciences at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
And here is your full guide to all of this year’s firstivals – including where you can find this upcoming Saturday’s Firstival dates and location.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America (1690)
Week 27: Bank of the United States (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team (1831)
Week 29: Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
Week 30: American art school (1805)
Upcoming
• Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Aug. 1, at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Zoo in America (1874)
Aug. 8, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.
• U.S. Mint (1793)
Aug. 15, U.S. Mint, 151 N. Independence Mall East
• Selfie (1839)
Aug. 22, Franklin Square, 6th & Race Streets
• Slinky (1943)
Aug. 29, American Philosophical Society, 104 South 5th Street
• Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.
• Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut St.
• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall
• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
