Group Tours Are Now Free at the Science History Institute

The Science History Institute is pleased to announce that our school tours, group visits, and field trips are now free! Educators are invited to book an in-person or virtual visit to our museum, where students can enjoy a unique learning experience in the history of science. Best suited for middle school, high school, and college students in history, social studies, environmental studies, general science, or chemistry courses, topics range from fireworks and alchemy, to textiles and waterborne diseases.

The Institute is also excited to announce the launch of a new Transportation Fund for the 2026–2027 school year. Teachers in the School District of Philadelphia can request funds to cover the cost of transportation when booking a guided tour. Funds are limited, so book your trip soon.

Advanced registration is required for all tours and are subject to availability.

Guided Gallery Tours and Activities

Please allow one hour for your guided gallery tour or activity, which are available Wednesday through Friday, from 10am to 3:30pm. Other times may be possible by special appointment. Our museum can accommodate up to 20–25 individuals per tour group. Larger groups will be asked to stagger their tour times. School groups require an 8:1 student-to-chaperone ratio.

We currently offer the following activities for in-person group and school field trip visits:

• Artisans, Alchemists, Chemists: Highlighting Minerals & Us
• Women in Chemistry
• Fireworks
• From Nature to Nylons: Highlighting the History of Textiles
• Scavenger Hunt Activities
• Science & Activism
• Unwell Waters: Highlighting Health & the Environment

Self-Guided Field Trips

Available Wednesday through Friday, from 10am to 3:30pm, self-guided visits to the Science History Institute Museum are most appropriate for students 12 and older. Explore our permanent exhibition, which traces the history of science—from medieval alchemy to modern plastics, and everything in between—or view our latest temporary exhibition, Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks, to learn about the sparkling spectacle behind pyrotechnics. Visitors are also encouraged to play with our Object Explorer, an interactive touch table that highlights the fascinating science behind everyday objects like lightbulbs and ice cube trays. Most visitors spend about an hour in our museum.

Virtual Programs and Virtual Classroom Visits

Dates and times for virtual programs and classroom visits may vary by request. The average length of a virtual program is 35–45 minutes.

We currently offer the following topics for interactive virtual programs or virtual classroom visits:

• What’s Behind a Nobel Prize?
• Women in Chemistry

The Institute also offers free tours for adult, senior, and non-school groups, clubs, and organizations of all kinds, including a touch-based tour designed specifically for guests who are blind or visually impaired. There are also several options for booking charter bus, minibus, and shuttle bus rentals for in-person tours.

For more information and to book a tour, please visit sciencehistory.org/tours.