Three Decades of Fun: The Philadelphia Please Touch Museum
30 years after its grand opening, the Philadelphia Please Touch Museum is still brining knowledge, fun and a whole new world of excitement to young children – and their parents – who make the trek from all over the country to the revolutionary museum, which was the first of its kind in the U.S.
Kathleen Miller, who has been employed by the museum for the past six years and is now the public relations manager, explained some of the history of how museum originally began.
“We were originally started by a group of Montessori educators in a room at the Academy of Natural Sciences” Miller said. “The Please Touch program became so big that they had to move and ultimately became the first museum in the nation designed for children 7 years of age and younger. It was really just a great idea.”
On the 2nd of every month from January through October, the museum, which features a wide array of activities for children, will host birthday celebrations counting down to its actual 30th birthday on October 2nd.
“We want parents to enjoy their day with us and take an active part in playing along with their children,” Miller said. “We are open 7 days a week and we are a great first-museum experience for all young children.”
The museum’s exhibits and programs have been recognized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Child Magazine, The Observer of London, Zagat Survey and Peter Greenberg, travel editor for The Today Show. The museum has also gained an international reputation as the first museum for children under the age of seven.
“We teach the children through role-playing and social interaction,” said Miller. “The children also learn about science art and music while they’re here. Everything here is interactive so there is no “step-process” meaning, the kids can just go along as they please.”
The museum, which is currently located at 210 North 21st Street (At the corner of Race and 21st streets), in Center City, will be moving to another historical section of the city.
“We’re moving in the fall of 2007 to the Fairmount Park Memorial Hall which is three times bigger than our current building. We’re pretty excited about that and we’re proud that we have helped to enrich the lives of so many children and their parents throughout the years.”
The General hours for the museum are 9a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Summer hours (July 1 through Labor Day) are 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 7 days a week. The museum can also be reached by calling (215) 963-0667
