Independence Seaport Museum and Historic Ships
add photosPay-What-You-Wish admission 10 am-12 pm every Sunday!
3 Reviews for Independence Seaport Museum and Historic Ships
4
40 families found this helpful
"Seaport Museum & Penns Landing"
Hello, been awhile since I've posted/reviewed.
My sons (6 & 11 y/o) and I had a lot of fun here. Value tidbit: On Sundays, arrive before 12 noon and you 'pay as you wish' which was very nice. We all learned something.. slinky exhibit... was surprisingly cool.. interesting. My eldest is interested in WW II and history in general..my youngest loved the scuba/submarine area. Could not believe we were there nearly 3 hrs! Checked out the cute trinket/souvenir shop- escaped w/ little damage to my purse ;) Then took a walk around the waterfront..lovely day. Bonus: India's Independence Day was being celebrated here and the aroma of Indian food enticed to stay just a bit longer... scrumptious! Lovely wares /clothing on display for sale and all the while there was a lively show performing on stage!
Overall: I would go back again. I would go on Sun before 12 noon for sure..otherwise the entrance for the three of us would have been $27.00 P.S. The gentleman at the shipbuilding area was very patient and allowed some of the models to be gently touched/ viewed closely. My sons and other children asked some great questions and he couldn't have been nicer.
Give it a try! Have fun!
Send a Message 
Send a Compliment
It's helpful
1 family found this helpful
"More interesting to my 9-year old than I thought it would be"
I chaperoned my 9-year old's fourth grade field trip to the Independence Seaport museum and was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the kids really enjoyed the museum. Granted, because it was a field trip there were some extra presentations, etc. that the staff made to the kids, but they really had a great time exploring the first floor of the museum in particular. There are several boats of various sizes that kids can climb in and over and interactive smaller exhibits as well. I highly recommend going on the USS Olympia and the Becuna submarine to round out the adventure.
0 families found this helpful
"Family-oriented interactive exhibits"
Start your visit to Penn’s Landing with the Independence Seaport Museum, which uses exciting family-oriented interactive exhibits to tell the story of four centuries of maritime history. The collection of nautical artifacts and ship models that were formerly housed in the old Philadelphia Maritime Museum have been incorporated into a panorama and are enlivened at every turn by audiovisuals and multimedia computers. Kids can try out an immigrant’s steerage bunk or a rowing machine or learn about the history of underwater exploration. This is a great place for any folks with a taste for the nautical.
In exhibits like Home Port Philadelphia, children can chart a course for Penn’s Landing and navigate underneath the three-story replica of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Protecting the Nation features the bridge of the guided-missile destroyer USS Lawrence, most recently used in the Persian Gulf Conflict. Divers of the Deep explores the development of diving technologies such as helmets and scuba gear.
The Independence Seaport Museum also includes Historic Ship Zone, where you can see two real vessels: the Olympia and the Becuna (319 Delaware Avenue, at Spruce Street; 215–922–1898). Step aboard the Olympia, flagship of Admiral Dewey’s Asiatic fleet, and see the bronze impressions of the admiral’s feet in the exact spot where he stood in 1898 and said, “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.” Then take the kids aboard the Becuna, a guppy-class submarine from World War II, where sixty-six men shared the tight living quarters.
If you purchase a RiverPass, it includes round-trip passage on the RiverLink Ferry from Penn’s Landing to Camden, New Jersey (a twelve-minute trip), plus admission to the Independence Seaport Museum on the Philly side and Adventure Aquarium on the Jersey side. The recently revamped aquarium features “breakfast with the hippos” in the West African River exhibit and a “swim with the sharks” encounter. For RiverPass tickets call (215) 925–LINK or visit www.riverlink.org.
What's Nearby? Hotels » Activities »
Find Hotels near Independence Seaport Museum and Historic Ships »
Find Activities near Independence Seaport Museum and Historic Ships »
Find Restaurants near Independence Seaport Museum and Historic Ships »
Get the inside scoop from parents who have been there!
