Our museum will reopen at 12:30pm on Wednesday, March 19. Pardon our appearance as renovations continue.

All new and returning Philadelphia-area college students are invited to visit the Science History Institute’s museum during CollegeFest, Campus Philly’s annual city-wide, weekend-long, “Welcome to Philadelphia!” celebration featuring free experiences, fun activities, contests, entertainment, giveaways, and more.

The Institute joins more than 25 of the City of Brotherly Love’s most iconic cultural organizations and attractions offering free admission exclusively to college students. Your official ticket also includes free SEPTA rides right to our front door in Old City.

Check out our special programming highlighting the science we use every day! Explore the science history behind your favorite cup of tea, join a drop-in tour all about the “Stuff from Your House,” or participate in a food science scavenger hunt.

Students can experience our outdoor exhibition The Story of Ramie: From Seed to Finished Garment, which explores the natural textile’s fascinating history through stunningly detailed watercolors; uncover the fine line between deadly and lifesaving in the world of modern medicine with Poisons and Panaceas: Inside the 19th-Century Medicine Cabinet; and discover the connections between rare earth elements and glass art with Enabling Transparency. And don’t miss our permanent exhibition, which will take you on a journey through more than five centuries of scientific inquiry into the material world.

CollegeFest is organized by Campus Philly. Tickets are required.

More events

Book cover image for "Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America"
March 19, 2025
Programs, Lectures & Talks

Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America

Professor and author Beth Linker reveals the surprising origins of our concerns over poor posture.

Illustration of sheep in a meadow
March 22, 2025
For Families

Stories of Science

Join us in our museum EVERY SATURDAY for a family-friendly program that highlights strange and surprising stories from the history of science!

cover of comic book
March 22, 2025
Drop-In Tours

School Lunch Tour

This interactive drop-in tour reveals how food scientists, the government, and the public have shaped in-school nutrition.

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