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The news of the impending closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University’s museum at the end of this month shocked many when it was announced Tuesday morning. The Academy is the country’s first scientific society of natural history, established in Philadelphia over 200 years ago. Its museum opened to the public in 1828.
In a statement, the Academy said that it will continue with some of its other activities – such as scientific research and public education.
However, Drexel University said in a statement that the museum itself has seen declining numbers in attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It became clear that these were not temporary pressures, but fundamental changes in the economics of the Academy’s operational model,” the statement said.
The last day the museum will be open to the public is Sept. 27.
Reactions from Philadelphians have ranged from alarmed outrage and denial to helplessness and calls to activism.
There’s also been a wave of nostalgia for favorite exhibits and resources.
With less than a month left to enjoy the Academy’s museum, we compiled a list of exhibits to check out before they close.
Exhibits
Dinosaur Hall
One of the museum’s most beloved spots is Dinosaur Hall — a spot that showcases a 42-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex, along with more than 30 other species. You can view fossils, life-sized models, paleontologists’ tools, dinosaur eggs and more at this hands-on exhibit.
Botany of Nations
This exhibit showcases some of the oldest plant specimens in the country that came from the Corps of Discovery – a specially established unit of the U.S. military that helped form the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Here, you can see old scientific instruments and journals, look through cultural artifacts, interactive media, and films about the time period, and explore a native plant garden on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Dioramas and Secrets of the Dioramas
The museum features 37 dioramas, or recreations of wildlife and wilderness in their natural ecosystems, throughout its space.
The first floor’s North American Hall features animals like bears, mountain sheep, moose, ox or bison. The second level features wildlife from Africa (like the lion, buffalo or gorilla) and Asia (like tigers, pandas and a yak). The third floor has the extinct passenger pigeon and Labrador duck.
The Secrets of the Diorama exhibit, which is on the museum’s second floor, shows how these dioramas are created. This selection shows how artistry and fieldwork are used to create the plants, animals and background paintings you see inside dioramas.
Outside In
This exhibit, designed with kids in mind, allows young children to climb in a nest, view different plant and animal species, meet live animals, and more. The feature welcomes all, but is designed specifically for children ages 3-8.
The Big Dig
Also kid-friendly, this exhibit allows you to try your hand at fossil excavating! Brush through sand and rocks to find dinosaur bones, and compare to matching graphics to see if you’re holding a skull, arm or claw!
Outside of galleries
The museum hosts knowledge around every corner.
Its What Eats What exhibit on the second level shows how consumers and producers make up the food chain in a stream. This includes a demonstration of which fish eat each other, what species eat plants, which species get their energy from the sun, and how it all ties together into a food chain.
The Science at the Academy exhibit outside of the auditorium highlights research on various species including fish, fossils, insects, mollusks and other species.
Up on the mezzanine, Marveling at Mollusks puts nearly 100 specimens on display, from clams and conches to land snails and other mollusks.
Programming
The museum also hosts events and has several on the books through September.
One event not to miss is the museum’s Saturday Workshop Series presented in conjunction with the Botany of Nations: Indigenous Ecological Knowledge exhibit. This allows visitors to participate in hands-on workshops and live demonstrations about practices such as seed swapping, natural dyeing and Native American cooking techniques.
Its recurring event, Dinos After Dark, will take place Friday, Sept. 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is family-friendly and features pay-what-you-wish admission, a beer garden and child-friendly activities and atmosphere.
Its weekly Nature at Noon meetups are from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursdays in and around Center City Philadelphia. These meetups explore the park’s biodiversity and allow opportunities for birding, social connection, and exploration.
And, on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the museum will co-host the Gender Minorities in the Sciences Panel at the Science History Institute on 315 Chestnut St. During the panel, speakers will share journeys, experiences, challenges and successes while building careers in science and technical fields. It will also provide for networking, community building and dialogue surrounding diversity and equity in the science space.
