About this Event
OCTOBER FIRST SATURDAY OPEN HOUSE:
Turtles!
This First Saturday Open House, meet live turtles from Saint Joseph's University's Biodiversity Lab (including endangered species and hatchlings), use collage to learn about the different kinds of shells animals have, and browse the Wagner's collection of reptile specimens!
Grace Roth, Wagner GeoKids Fellow and Lab Manager of Dr. Scott McRobert's Biodiversity Lab at SJU, will give presentations at 1pm and 3pm on turtle life cycles, species differentiation, and what the Wagner's reptile collection can teach us about our shelled friends.
Family-friendly activities will be available throughout the day, including making collages inspired by the scutes on turtles’ shells and nature rubbings of various shelled animals from our teaching collection (turtle, armadillo, mollusks, etc.) to explore their textures. Themed scavenger hunts highlighting reptiles and amphibians in our collection will also be featured.
The Wagner's Exhibit Hall will be open for self-guided exploration throughout the day. Browse ancient fossils, glowing minerals, and animals from around the globe. Visitors can wander at their own pace, follow the path of one of our themed scavenger hunts, or even fill in a coloring page with images from the Wagner's library!
Admission is free to everyone and donations are welcome to support our mission.
Things to Know Before Your Visit
• Walk-ins welcome! Advance registration speeds your entry to the museum. Visitors who register in advance do not need to present a ticket at the desk—just your name!
• There is no coat check or place to stow personal items – please travel light.
• The museum is located on the second floor of the building. There are 5 steps at the entryway and a flight of stairs to access the museum. It is not wheelchair accessible.
• To protect the specimens and our historic interiors, photography is not allowed in the museum. Open containers of food and drink are not permitted in the building.
• The Institute does not have a parking lot. Parking along Montgomery Avenue and 17th Street is free and there is no time limit. There is 2-hour free parking on Bouvier Street and on many blocks near the Wagner; there is metered parking on Cecil B. Moore Avenue. The nearest parking garage is at the Liacouras Center on 15th Street and Montgomery Avenue.
A dream that keeps growing…
In 1855, William Wagner had a dream of providing free science education to anyone who wanted to learn, regardless of background or ability to pay. Today, the Wagner offers more programs to more people than ever before! Your support helps us provide free education, not only through the museum, but through a wide range of courses, lectures, field trips, and children’s science programs. Donations also assist us in caring for the museum and library collections and in preserving our wonderful building, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990. To learn more about what we do please visit our website.
Registration Information
In keeping with its original charter, admission is FREE—donations are suggested to ensure the future and quality of Wagner's free education programs and to preserve its National Landmark building and collections.
Suggested Donations
$25/Family
$10/adult
$5/student
For any questions, please email communications@wagnerfreeinstitute.org or call 215-763-6529 x17.
If you would like to check your membership status or become a member, please email abigailc@wagnerfreeinstitute.org or call 215-763-6529 x24.
Images:
Diamondback Terrapin from SJU's Biodiversity Lab. They're name is Swirl.
Wagner visitor admiring our repitle case.
Baby Diamondback Terrapin from SJU's Biodiversity Lab.
Florida Cooter from SJU's Biodiversity Lab.
Pile of turtles from from SJU's Biodiversity Lab.
Event venue & nearby stays
Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W Montgomery Ave, Philadelphia, United States
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