Wagner Free Institute of Science

Founded in 1855 in Philadelphia, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is dedicated to providing free public education in science. Its programs include free courses and lectures, field trips and lessons for children and museum tours for all ages. The evening science courses are the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States.  The Institute’s Museum houses more than 100,000 natural history specimens, a collection begun by founder William Wagner in the early 19th century and expanded by the renowned scientist Joseph Leidy in the 1880s. Completed in 1865, the Wagner’s National Historic Landmark building is essentially unchanged since the late 19th century and includes a Victorian exhibition hall filled with fossils, shells, minerals and mounted animal skeletons and skins displayed in original wood and glass cabinets. The Museum is currently open to visitors Tuesdays - Fridays, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on the first Saturday of every month from Noon to 4 PM. The Wagner also offers courses, lectures and events in the evenings, in person and online. Join us!

Upcoming (8)

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024 primary image

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

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All About Trees (Winter Course) primary image

All About Trees (Winter Course)

Tue, Jan 23 • 6:30 PM

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Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course) primary image

Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course)

Sat, Feb 17 • 10:30 AM

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The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course) primary image

The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course)

Thursday • 6:30 PM

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History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course) primary image

History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course)

Mon, Mar 25 • 6:30 PM

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All About Trees (Spring Course) primary image

All About Trees (Spring Course)

Tue, Apr 2 • 6:30 PM

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April First Saturday Open House &  Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott  Gilbert primary image

April First Saturday Open House & Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott Gilbert

Sat, Apr 6 • 12:00 PM

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Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party primary image

Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Mon, Apr 8 • 12:30 PM

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Visit the Wagner Museum 2024 primary image

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

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All About Trees (Winter Course) primary image

All About Trees (Winter Course)

Tue, Jan 23 • 6:30 PM

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Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course) primary image

Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course)

Sat, Feb 17 • 10:30 AM

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The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course) primary image

The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course)

Thursday • 6:30 PM

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History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course) primary image

History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course)

Mon, Mar 25 • 6:30 PM

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All About Trees (Spring Course) primary image

All About Trees (Spring Course)

Tue, Apr 2 • 6:30 PM

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April First Saturday Open House &  Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott  Gilbert primary image

April First Saturday Open House & Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott Gilbert

Sat, Apr 6 • 12:00 PM

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Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party primary image

Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Mon, Apr 8 • 12:30 PM

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Past (204)

Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson primary image

Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thu, Mar 14 • 6:00 PM

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Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells primary image

Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells

Sat, Mar 2 • 12:00 PM

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Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species primary image

Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species

Sat, Feb 3 • 12:00 PM

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Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives primary image

Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives

Sat, Dec 2 • 12:00 PM

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Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean primary image

Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean

Sat, Nov 4 • 12:00 PM

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2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon primary image

2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon

Thu, Oct 19 • 6:00 PM

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Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course) primary image

Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course)

Tue, Oct 17 • 6:30 PM

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Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest primary image

Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest

Sat, Oct 7 • 12:00 PM

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Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course) primary image

Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course)

Wed, Oct 4 • 6:30 PM

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Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course) primary image

Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course)

Mon, Oct 2 • 6:30 PM EDT

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Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House primary image

Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House

Sat, Sep 9 • 12:00 PM

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WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries primary image

WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries

Thu, Jun 8 • 6:00 PM

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Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson primary image

Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thu, Mar 14 • 6:00 PM

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Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells primary image

Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells

Sat, Mar 2 • 12:00 PM

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Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species primary image

Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species

Sat, Feb 3 • 12:00 PM

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Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives primary image

Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives

Sat, Dec 2 • 12:00 PM

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Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean primary image

Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean

Sat, Nov 4 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon primary image

2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon

Thu, Oct 19 • 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course) primary image

Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course)

Tue, Oct 17 • 6:30 PM

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Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest primary image

Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest

Sat, Oct 7 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course) primary image

Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course)

Wed, Oct 4 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course) primary image

Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course)

Mon, Oct 2 • 6:30 PM EDT

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Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House primary image

Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House

Sat, Sep 9 • 12:00 PM

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WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries primary image

WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries

Thu, Jun 8 • 6:00 PM

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Founded in 1855 in Philadelphia, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is dedicated to providing free public education in science. Its programs include free courses and lectures, field trips and lessons for children and museum tours for all ages. The evening science courses are the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States.  The Institute’s Museum houses more than 100,000 natural history specimens, a collection begun by founder William Wagner in the early 19th century and expanded by the renowned scientist Joseph Leidy in the 1880s. Completed in 1865, the Wagner’s National Historic Landmark building is essentially unchanged since the late 19th century and includes a Victorian exhibition hall filled with fossils, shells, minerals and mounted animal skeletons and skins displayed in original wood and glass cabinets. The Museum is currently open to visitors Tuesdays - Fridays, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on the first Saturday of every month from Noon to 4 PM. The Wagner also offers courses, lectures and events in the evenings, in person and online. Join us!

Events

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024 primary image

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

Check ticket price on event

All About Trees (Winter Course) primary image

All About Trees (Winter Course)

Tue, Jan 23 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course) primary image

Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course)

Sat, Feb 17 • 10:30 AM

Check ticket price on event

The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course) primary image

The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course)

Thursday • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course) primary image

History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course)

Mon, Mar 25 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

All About Trees (Spring Course) primary image

All About Trees (Spring Course)

Tue, Apr 2 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

April First Saturday Open House &  Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott  Gilbert primary image

April First Saturday Open House & Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott Gilbert

Sat, Apr 6 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party primary image

Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Mon, Apr 8 • 12:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024 primary image

Visit the Wagner Museum 2024

Check ticket price on event

All About Trees (Winter Course) primary image

All About Trees (Winter Course)

Tue, Jan 23 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course) primary image

Beyond Darwin: Evolution in the Modern World (Winter Course)

Sat, Feb 17 • 10:30 AM

Check ticket price on event

The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course) primary image

The Science of Cosmetics: What’s in the Bottle (and why)? (Spring Course)

Thursday • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course) primary image

History and Architecture of West Philadelphia (Spring Course)

Mon, Mar 25 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

All About Trees (Spring Course) primary image

All About Trees (Spring Course)

Tue, Apr 2 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

April First Saturday Open House &  Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott  Gilbert primary image

April First Saturday Open House & Westbrook Free Lecture w/ Scott Gilbert

Sat, Apr 6 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party primary image

Total Eclipse of the Sun 2024: A FREE Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Mon, Apr 8 • 12:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson primary image

Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thu, Mar 14 • 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells primary image

Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells

Sat, Mar 2 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species primary image

Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species

Sat, Feb 3 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives primary image

Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives

Sat, Dec 2 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean primary image

Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean

Sat, Nov 4 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon primary image

2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon

Thu, Oct 19 • 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course) primary image

Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course)

Tue, Oct 17 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest primary image

Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest

Sat, Oct 7 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course) primary image

Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course)

Wed, Oct 4 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course) primary image

Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course)

Mon, Oct 2 • 6:30 PM EDT

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House primary image

Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House

Sat, Sep 9 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries primary image

WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries

Thu, Jun 8 • 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson primary image

Weeknights at the Wagner: The Transparent Eye of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thu, Mar 14 • 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells primary image

Wagner's March First Saturday Open House: The Science of Shells

Sat, Mar 2 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species primary image

Wagner's February 1st Saturday Open House - Endangered Species

Sat, Feb 3 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives primary image

Wagner's December First Saturday Open House: A Peek into the Archives

Sat, Dec 2 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean primary image

Wagner's November First Saturday Open House: The Chemistry Of Clean

Sat, Nov 4 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon primary image

2023 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon

Thu, Oct 19 • 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course) primary image

Madness: A Brief History (Fall Course)

Tue, Oct 17 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest primary image

Wagner's October First Saturday Open House Event: FlightFest

Sat, Oct 7 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course) primary image

Hail the Mighty Insects! (Fall Course)

Wed, Oct 4 • 6:30 PM

Check ticket price on event

Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course) primary image

Stay Brighter Longer: Options to Meet Our Energy Needs (Fall Online Course)

Mon, Oct 2 • 6:30 PM EDT

Check ticket price on event

Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House primary image

Wagner's September Back-to-School Saturday Open House

Sat, Sep 9 • 12:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries primary image

WEEKNIGHTS AT THE WAGNER: Building for Books - Philadelphia’s Libraries

Thu, Jun 8 • 6:00 PM

Check ticket price on event