Wagner's May First Saturday Open House: Space Rocks!

May the Fourth be the day you visit the Wagner! Inspired by a certain legendary franchise, we’re looking to the stars for May’s First Saturday to celebrate the ways space can be even more fascinating than in science fiction. At 1:00 and 3:00, hear from Dr. Alexandra Krull Davatzes from Temple University’s Earth & Environmental Science department about on her work as a part of the HiRISE Camera Team. HiRISE is taking photos of the surface of Mars from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to understand major flooding events.

If you’re ready to head to space yourself, get ready for stomp rockets. Hear about some of the tools scientists use to launch vehicles into space and what’s on board. After you launch a rocket, head over to the telescopes for some solar observing! See sunspots through a mylar filter.

Participate in a design challenge to create your own Mars Rover. Learn about the challenges that face scientists when exploring rocky extraterrestrial landscapes, and see how your ingenuity can overcome the terrain.

All afternoon, you can also explore what’s here on earth in the Wagner’s exhibit hall filled with 100,000 specimens that range from tiny insects to giant dinosaurs bones. There are scavenger hunts to guide you or you can draw from the collections. Can you find our meteorite? Search your feelings, you know it to be true. This is one First Saturday you don’t want to miss!

This event is a part of Remake Learning Days, which is a festival of events and experiences for children to celebrate innovation, curiosity, and creativity. Events are held at museums, libraries, schools, universities, and industry sites throughout Pennsylvania. More local events can be found here: https://remakelearningdays.org/southeasternpa/

• Walk-in visitors are welcome. Advance registration is appreciated and will speed up your entry to the museum.

• Masks are recommended but not required.

• There is no coat check or place to stow personal items – please travel light.

• To protect the specimens and our historic interiors, photography is not allowed in the museum and food and drink are not permitted in the building.

•The Institute does not have a parking lot. Street parking on Montgomery Avenue and 17th Street is free and metered parking is available on Bouvier Street and Cecil B. Moore.

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.

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 [email protected] or call 215-763-6529 x17.

If you would like to check your membership status or become a member, please email [email protected] or call 215-763-6529 x11.

Image: NASA

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W Montgomery Ave, Philadelphia, United States