Philadelphia Free Museum Days (2025 Calendar)

Due to the limited visibility of some of the animals during the winter months, the Brandywine Zoo opens their gates with free admission from December through February. This zoo is home to many animals such as mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates and the 12-acre venue is ideal for families with young children.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art offers pay-what-you-wish admission on the first Sunday of each month. Youth aged 18 and under are always free. They have the largest collection of art in Philadelphia including Asian, European, and American works with a beautiful outdoor sculpture garden.

Dinos After Dark is a pay-what-you-wish event, with a suggested donation of $10. There's a kid-friendly atmosphere with scientist-led activities and a Dino Drafts Beer Garden for the adults in Dino Hall.

The Barnes Foundation has free days on the first Sunday of each month. Explore the galleries and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities like arts & crafts, musical performances and interactive workshops. This museum boasts a huge amount of impressionist and post-impressionist works along with Matisse, Picasso, and others.

From February–November, the Brandywine Museum of Art offers free admission on the first Sunday of the month. Surrounded by rivers, hiking trails, and breathtaking natural beauty, the Brandywine Museum hosts modern art in a beautiful setting in the Brandywine Valley. First Sundays for Families is a free program offering hands-on workshops designed to engage visitors of all ages in creative art activities and performances. Pre-registration is required for art activities.

The Woodmere Art Museum free days happen on Sundays. This museum features art and cultural exhibits including the Helen Millard Children's Gallery, which contains artwork created by children. The Museum provides family friendly programs and events including art, storytelling, holiday specials, music and performances throughout the year.

Visit Please Touch Museum on select First Wednesday nights of the month when, from 4 to 7 p.m., admission is only $2 per person.

The National Constitution Center hosts free days on select days each year. Visitors of all ages can enjoy an in-depth museum to explore the history & relevance of the Constitution & embrace their role in the story of "We the People." The museum proudly displays 1 of the 12 surviving copies of the Bill of Rights, among other national artifacts.

The Delaware Children's Museum offers $2 admission on the third Wednesday of each month from 5-8pm (excluding September). This is a fun and interactive museum which features STEM activities, sports, pretend play, fitness and fun.

The Delaware Art Museum offers free days every Thursday evening from April to December. The Museum boasts various cultural and art history exhibits as well as family programs, performances, Kids' Corner and much more.

The James Wilson Marshall House always offers free admission. Explore history at the Marshall House, the boyhood home of James Wilson Marshall. A carpenter and sawmill operator, Marshall discovered gold in California in 1848. The home's parlor and bedroom are furnished with pieces similar to those at the time of Marshall's death. The home is on the National and New Jersey Registers for Historic Places.

The Rutgers Geology Museum always offers free admission and features natural history, geological and anthropological specimens dating back to the 1800s. Collection highlights include an Egyptian mummy, dinosaur trackway, mastodon skeleton, and mineral exhibits. Be sure to ask one of the museum employees about their free scavenger hunts.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The Fireman's Hall Museum, which always offers free admission, is our family favorite for everything firemen related. There are many firetrucks from the old days, photos, memorabilia of fire fighting equipment and more. The kids love the interactive sections where they can try on real fire fighter gear and boots, learn when it is appropriate to call 911 through interactive phones and computer generated quizzes, explore fire safety, see a fireman's pole and more. The gift shop also sells firefighting-themed kids books, puzzles, toys and more.

The Ryerss Museum is always free to visit. They have an impressive collection of art, family heirlooms, sculptures, paintings, minerals and artifacts from Europe, Asia and Native America. The Ryerss Library features adult and children's books along with a Kid's Corner with arts and craft supplies and board games.

A chapter in nearly every school-aged child's history book, here you can view the actual assembly room where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed. Independence Hall admission is by tour only, and timed entry tickets are required for most of the year. Admission is free, though there is a $1 administrative fee per ticket.