Museum of the American Revolution, Please Touch Museum make USA TODAY's 10Best list

Damon C. Williams, Bucks County Courier Times
·3 min read

USA TODAY readers have spoken, naming four Philadelphia museums to USA TODAY's "10Best" list of museums.

Readers chose the Franklin Institute, The Museum of the American Revolution, the Please Touch Museum and the Wagner Free Institute of Science as among the ten best in the nation.

Every week, USA Today invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories.

The voting public then had four weeks to choose their favorite museums.

Here's why these Philadelphia museums ranked among the nation's best.

The Franklin Institute merges science, history

The Franklin Institute, located at 222 N. 20th. St., opened on Jan. 1, 1934, and holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania's most visited museum, placing it among USA TODAY's ten best museums.

The Franklin Institute's a hands-on science museum that seeks to create a passion for science and tech in everyone. The Franklin Institute features many interactive exhibits that explore science — from sports to space — plus top-notch experiences and special exhibitions.

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Museum of the American Revolution nestled in birthplace of American history

The Museum of the American Revolution, at 101 S. Third Street in Philadelphia, is one of the newer museums on USA TODAY's "10Best" list, having opened on April 19, 2017. It is situated near Independence Mall, the Liberty Bell and National Constitution Center.

The Museum of the American Revolution, located near Independence Mall in Philadelphia. The Museum of the American Revolution is one USA TODAY's reader choice picks for best museums in the nation.
The Museum of the American Revolution, located near Independence Mall in Philadelphia. The Museum of the American Revolution is one USA TODAY's reader choice picks for best museums in the nation.

"The new landmark, which has already welcomed more than a million visitors, provides a permanent home for the museum’s rich collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and works of art," read a statement on the Museum of the American Revolution's website. "Immersive galleries, theater experiences, life-sized tableau scenes, and recreated historical environments bring to life the events, people, and ideals of our nation’s founding and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution."

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Please Touch Museum a haven for children to explore their imagination

The Please Touch Museum, located in Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, at 4231 Avenue of the Republic, is one of a handful of museums geared toward children to make USA TODAY's Ten Best list.

"Please Touch Museum’s mission is to change a child’s life as they discover the power of learning throughplay," read a portion of a press release from the Please Touch Museum. "Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and recognized locally and nationally as one of the best children’s museums in the United States."

To that end, the Please Touch Museum recently opened the "Namaste India" traveling exhibit, which runs through May 5.

“We are honored to welcome Namaste India, developed by our colleagues at The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum in partnership with the St. Louis Indian community, to celebrate Indian culture and community," said Please Touch Museum President and CEO Patricia D. Wellenbach in a press release. "This traveling exhibit advances our year-long theme, A Playful World, by providing purposeful learning opportunities that are approachable and filled with wonder for young children and families.”

Wagner Free Institute of Science a force for public education

Incorporated in 1855 and located at 1700 W. Montgomery Ave., the Wagner Free Institute of Science makes USA TODAY's "Ten Best" museums list, in part due to its collection of natural history specimens.

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The Wagner Free Institute of Science is housed in a soaring three-story exhibition hall, and much of the collection is laid out as it would have been during the Victorian era, complete with cherry wood and glass cabinets dating back to the 1880s.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Philadelphia-area museums USA TODAY 10Best Please Touch Museum