Top 10 museums you've (probably) never heard of

By Carrie Caine
Collegian Staff
September 27, 2006

Finding a museum in Philadelphia is like finding a cheesesteak place—everyone’s heard of Pat’s, Geno’s, and Jim’s, but Dalessandro’s on Ridge Avenue and Leo’s in Delaware County are rumored to have some of the best cheesesteaks in the city.

Likewise, the museum scene in Philadelphia isn’t just about the Parkway museums, like the Please Touch Museum you saw when you were three, the Academy of Natural Sciences you visited for your fourth-grade field trip or the Philadelphia Museum of Art that you started visiting on Sundays to avoid entrance fees. The list offered here is only a partial list, as I couldn’t fit the American Swedish Historical Museum or the Polish American Cultural Center Museum into the top 10, but after you explore these, look around for more.

10. Philadelphia Doll Museum—Dedicated to the preservation of doll history and culture in America, this Avenue of the Arts museum boasts a broad collection of dolls that include over 300 African and African-American dolls, American folk dolls and internationally and domestically manufactured dolls. (www.philadollmuseum.com)

9. Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Adolph & Rose Levis Museum—As the name suggests, this museum displays some of the achievements of Jewish people in various athletic arenas, including the boxer Lew Tendler and Flyers owner Ed Snider. Interestingly, the building was once a gymnasium where many of these athletes trained. (www.pjshf.org)

8. Philadelphia Beauty Showcase National Historical Museum—This museum explores the industry of hair and beauty and also functions as a research center for the history of this area. American Studies majors, among other students, would probably enjoy learning more about the origins of American beauty and engaging in some of the projects that this museum undertakes.

7. Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia—The official history museum of our fair city includes a permanent exhibit where visitors explore Philadelphia, from South Philly to Montgomery County. Museum visitors can learn about who lives in Philadelphia, where people came from and what people do around here. Rotating exhibits currently on display include Norman Rockwell illustrations from the World Wars and the Insurance Company of North America’s vast array of American artifacts and memorabilia. (www.philadelphiahistory.org)

6. Fireman’s Hall Museum—In the city where fire companies began, thanks to our own Ben Franklin, this museum showcases the history of firefighting and artifacts from different eras, as well as fire prevention and protection tips. Their interactive exhibits are great for kids, but college students are sure to love them as well. (www.firemanshall.org)

5. Rosenbach Museum and Library—As is often the case with private collections-turned-museums, the Rosenbach’s exhibits and collections are more eclectic than anyone could imagine. The three-story townhouse is hidden on tiny Delancey Street and is a museum in itself. Alongside the facsimile manuscript of James Joyce’s Ulysses is the exhibit of Maurice Sendak (author of Where the Wild Things Are) and his art. The current main exhibit is “Look Again: African-American History is American History.” (www.rosenbach.org)

4. Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia—The oldest institution collecting Civil War artifacts, this museum explores the history of the 19th century in a traditionally abolitionist city with several Underground Railroad locations. The gallery and library together hold the largest collection of Civil War materials outside of the government. (www.cwurmuseum.org)

3. The National Museum of American Jewish History—This museum explores the social relationship between minority groups and the American majority by focusing particularly on the Jewish ethnicity, both on social and individual levels. The museum promotes a celebration of freedom that extends to broader ethnic and social groups, such as African-Americans and women. (www.nmajh.org)

2. The Institute of Contemporary Art—This University of Pennsylvania museum seeks to bring the contemporary art scene to the everyday Philadelphian. Whether you’ve wandered into the Modern Art gallery at the Museum of Art and wanted more or have never had an interest in a canvas with one line on it, current exhibits like John Armleder’s “About Nothing: Works on Paper” and Irene Fortuyn’s “Ramp Project” might pique your interest in the cutting-edge art world. (www.icaphila.org)

1. National Liberty Museum— This interactive and exciting museum uses glass and personal stories to promote tolerance and diversity in contemporary America. One room features international figures who fought for freedom, another focuses on the heroes of Sept. 11, and the exhibit “From Conflict to Harmony” has information, art and activities that children and adults love. This Philadelphia must-see is available to students for only $3 and currently features a celebration of Hispanic Heritage. (www.libertymuseum.org)

cainecl1@lasalle.edu