How Philadelphians can see the Academy of Natural Sciences for free

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and the Free Library of Philadelphia, two institutions that have been opposite each other on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for over a century, have further solidified their relationship.

The Academy has gifted the Free Library at Parkway Central with free one-week passes to the Academy. The program, which offers free entry to all exhibitions at the Academy during regular operating hours, begins on July 1, 2024, and will run until June 30, 2025.

No matter your age, a trip to the Academy is the perfect summer activity for escaping the heat and learning something new!

More details about the free pass program

Each pass allows entry for up to two adults and five children, with no time tickets required. The passes can be checked out and returned, in person, to the Central Children’s Department at Parkway Central.

This initiative comes as a celebration of the longstanding relationship between the Free Library and the Academy of Natural Sciences. Additional details about the pass program can be found here. For more information, you can contact Joe Shemtov at [email protected].

What to do at the Academy of Natural Sciences

There is plenty to do at the Academy this year. One of the most unique experiences is the opportunity to meet a sloth!

Current exhibits include:

• Under The Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest
• Life Onto Land: The Devonian
• Dinosaur Hall
• Outside In
• Dioramas

The Free Library and the Academy also share a unique connection to the real-life James Bond, a renowned bird scientist who worked at the Academy. Bond’s wife, Mary Wyckham Bond, donated her collection of papers on the “real” James Bond to the Free Library after her husband’s death. These items can be viewed at the Rare Book Department by appointment.

Also of note, the Academy of Natural Sciences will also be hosting its annual Bug Fest 2024 on Aug. 10 and 11, where Free Library patrons receive a $4 discount upon presenting their Free Library cards. To see all upcoming programs and events, click here.