Philly’s Academy of Natural Sciences to Close Public Museum, Keep Research Alive

Philly’s Academy of Natural Sciences, now affiliated with Drexel University, will shutter its public museum on Sept. 30, 2026, after decades of exhibits and about 73,000 specimens and 75,000 literature items; the change comes amid pandemic-driven attendance declines and ongoing financial pressures. Drexel says research and public education will continue, with leadership changes and a focus on preserving the collections and pursuing new ways to display them. The institution is engaging with state and city officials to chart its long-term future, while dozens of museum staff are expected to be laid off.