Philadelphia's Oldest Natural History Museum Shuts Doors Amid City Council Fight and Funding Offer
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, the oldest natural history museum in the US, closed its public doors on September 30, 2026, after failing to secure long-term funding. While Drexel University, which absorbed the institution in 2011, cited post-pandemic attendance drops and rising costs as the reason for closure, supporters are fighting to keep it open. A William Penn Foundation offer to cover operating costs for one year is currently under review by Drexel, while Philadelphia City Council has introduced legislation to investigate the decision and protect the building from commercial sale.
