The Science History Institute will be closed on Wednesday, December 31 and Thursday, January 1.

All new and returning Philadelphia-area college students are invited to visit the Science History Institute’s museum during CollegeFest, Campus Philly’s annual city-wide, weekend-long, “Welcome to Philadelphia!” celebration featuring free experiences, fun activities, contests, entertainment, giveaways, and more.

The Institute joins more than 25 of the City of Brotherly Love’s most iconic cultural organizations and attractions offering free admission exclusively to college students. Your official ticket also includes free SEPTA rides right to our front door in Old City.

Check out our special programming highlighting the science we use every day! Explore the science history behind your favorite cup of tea, join a drop-in tour all about the “Stuff from Your House,” or participate in a food science scavenger hunt.

Students can experience our outdoor exhibition The Story of Ramie: From Seed to Finished Garment, which explores the natural textile’s fascinating history through stunningly detailed watercolors; uncover the fine line between deadly and lifesaving in the world of modern medicine with Poisons and Panaceas: Inside the 19th-Century Medicine Cabinet; and discover the connections between rare earth elements and glass art with Enabling Transparency. And don’t miss our permanent exhibition, which will take you on a journey through more than five centuries of scientific inquiry into the material world.

CollegeFest is organized by Campus Philly. Tickets are required.

More events

illustration of a strawberry shortcake
January 3, 2026
For Families

Stories of Science: Last Bite of School Lunch

Join us in our museum EVERY SATURDAY for a family-friendly program that highlights strange and surprising stories from the history of science!

cover of comic book
January 3, 2026
Drop-In Tours

School Lunch Tour

This interactive drop-in tour reveals how food scientists, the government, and the public have shaped in-school nutrition.

Oral history bound copies, recorder, microphone
January 5, 2026
Classes & Workshops

Oral History Training Institute

This virtual training workshop introduces researchers to oral history and research interview methodologies.

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