Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences Closing

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia is permanently closing its physical museum doors on September 30, 2026, after more than two centuries of public operation.
History & Legacy

•   Founded in 1812: Established by leading naturalists, it stands as the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas. 

•   Public Opening: Began sharing its extensive natural history collections with the public in 1828.

•   Drexel Affiliation: Formally affiliated with Drexel University in 2011 to secure long-term financial stability.

Caught it just in time: the Academy of Natural Sciences is going the way of the  dinosaur and closing its doors on Sept 30 after nearly 200 years of operation. Apparently, running a physical museum isn't "financially sustainable" anymore, so they’re packing up the skeletons and sticking strictly to research and "public engagement" (whatever that means once the doors are locked).

A natural history museum going extinct right before its 200th birthday. RIP to the oldest science museum in the Americas!

 🦕📉👋