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Museum Hours:Wednesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm

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Events

The Science History Institute produces a wide range of in-person and virtual events that are free and open to the public. From exhibition openings and talks, to museum tours and late-night activities, our programming is aimed at science history lovers, students, industry professionals, scholars, educators, and the scientifically curious.

Featured

Educator Night: Flash! Bang! Boom!

Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 4pm-6pm EDT

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Event Types

Beckman Center
Classes & Workshops
Conferences & Symposia
Drop-In Tours
Fellow in Focus
First Fridays
For Families
Free
Hybrid
Joseph Priestley Society
Library Programs & Activities
Museum Programs & Activities
Online
Performances
Programs, Lectures & Talks
Science and Society
Science on Tap
Stories of Science
Touch Tours

illustration of a knight on horseback

Jul

11

Sat

10am-5pm

Museum Programs & Activities

Stories of Science

Stories of Science: Revolutionary Science

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

woman with glasses, standing, showing a short blue nylon dress

Jul

14

Tue

10:30am-12pm

Museum Programs & Activities

From Nature to Nylons: A Touch-Based History of Textiles

This touch-based tour offers guests a private learning experience that combines a personally guided exploration of select gallery exhibits and a hands-on study of objects from our collections.

A library information desk with books, pamphlets, and an adjacent Rare Book Room.

Jul

15

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

painting of an alchemist doing an experiment that caught fire

Jul

18

Sat

10am-5pm

Museum Programs & Activities

Stories of Science

Stories of Science: Revolutionary Science

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

engraved print of a fireworks show in a book

Jul

18

Sat

2pm

Museum Programs & Activities

Fireworks Tour

Join our Gallery Guides for a drop-in tour of our special exhibition on the fascinating history and science of pyrotechnics.

illustration of a colonial-era man behind a boiling kettle

Jul

25

Sat

10am-5pm

Museum Programs & Activities

Stories of Science

Stories of Science: Revolutionary Science

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

Research fellow Eva Hemmungs Wirtén.

Jul

29

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Chinese world map, drawn by the Jesuits (early 17th century).

Aug

06

Thu

Aug

07

Fri

Conferences & Symposia

The Global History of Modern Science, 1400–1914

The 2026 Cain Conference will address the major issues involved in understanding how modern science has been created through a process of global cultural exchange.

A library interior with tall bookshelves, large columns, and seating area.

Aug

07

Fri

5:15pm-6pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Museum educator Laura Prewitt speaks out the nylon exhibit with a man who using a white cane.

Aug

11

Tue

10:30am-12pm

Museum Programs & Activities

From Nature to Nylons: A Touch-Based History of Textiles

This private learning experience combines a personally guided exploration of select gallery exhibits and a hands-on study of objects.

Book cart decorated as a woolly mammoth

Aug

12

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Oral history bound copies, recorder, microphone

Aug

17

Mon

Aug

20

Thu

10am-1pm

Classes & Workshops

Oral History Training Institute

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

Aug

26

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

man doing research in a library

Sep

04

Fri

5:15pm-6pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

woman crouching to feel lower part of Bakelizer

Sep

08

Tue

10:30am-12pm

Museum Programs & Activities

From Nature to Nylons: A Touch-Based History of Textiles

This private learning experience combines a personally guided exploration of select gallery exhibits and a hands-on study of objects.

person doing research in a library

Sep

09

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

cover of a notebook

Sep

19

Sat

10am-5pm

Museum Programs & Activities

Stories of Science

Stories of Science: CollegeFest 2026

All Philadelphia-area college students are invited to visit us during CollegeFest, Campus Philly’s annual “Welcome to Philadelphia!” celebration.

View inside the Jacobs Reading Room

Sep

23

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Research fellow Eva Hemmungs Wirtén.

Oct

02

Fri

5:15pm-6pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Science History Institute Othmer Library

Oct

21

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

A library information desk with books, pamphlets, and an adjacent Rare Book Room.

Nov

04

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

A library information desk with books, pamphlets, and an adjacent Rare Book Room.

Nov

06

Fri

5:15pm-6pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Research fellow Eva Hemmungs Wirtén.

Nov

18

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Book cart decorated as a woolly mammoth

Dec

02

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

A library interior with tall bookshelves, large columns, and seating area.

Dec

04

Fri

4:15pm-5pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!

Dec

16

Wed

12pm-12:45pm

Library Programs & Activities

Othmer Library Tour

Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History!