Back to museums

Please Touch Museum

ChildrenHistoryScienceOpen until 4:30pmFrom $24SEPTA Bus Route 38 (stop at Please Touch Museum)

Founded in 1976 as one of the first museums built entirely for children, Please Touch Museum has occupied Memorial Hall in West Fairmount Park since 2008 — the only major building left from the 1876 Centennial Exposition, and a National Historic Landmark. Two floors of hands-on galleries let under-eights pilot boats down a miniature Schuylkill, run a supermarket, climb through an indoor tree house and wander a life-size Alice in Wonderland hedge maze. The centrepiece is the restored Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel of 1908, still turning under its own pavilion. Big travelling shows built around children's television characters rotate through several times a year.

What's On

Now
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

Memorial Hall, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131, United States

Nearest station: SEPTA Bus Route 38 (stop at Please Touch Museum), SEPTA Bus Routes 40, 43 and 64 (short walk), Suburban Station (Regional Rail, then Route 38 bus)

Show on map

Hours

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed09:00–16:30
ThuToday09:00–16:30
Fri09:00–16:30
Sat09:00–16:30
Sun09:00–16:30

Admission

From $24

$24 per person ages 1+ (adults and children alike); $22 military, firefighters and police; $12 ACM reciprocal members; $5 out-of-state EBT; $2 ACCESS cardholders; free for members. Carousel rides and parking are extra.

Nearby

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Architecture35 min walk

Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia

ArtFree37 min walk

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

Architecture41 min walk

Rodin Museum

Architecture43 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Please Touch Museum cost?
Standard adult admission to Please Touch Museum is $24. $24 per person ages 1+ (adults and children alike); $22 military, firefighters and police; $12 ACM reciprocal members; $5 out-of-state EBT; $2 ACCESS cardholders; free for members. Carousel rides and parking are extra.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Please Touch Museum?
Please Touch Museum is open Wednesday to Saturday 9:00-16:30; Sunday 9:00-16:30, except the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month when it opens at 11:00. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Closed Thanksgiving (26 November 2026), Christmas Day and New Year's Day; early close at 14:00 on 25 November and 24 December 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Please Touch Museum?
Please Touch Museum is located at Memorial Hall, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131, United States, in the West Fairmount Park area of Philadelphia. The nearest stations are SEPTA Bus Route 38 (stop at Please Touch Museum), SEPTA Bus Routes 40, 43 and 64 (short walk), Suburban Station (Regional Rail, then Route 38 bus).
What can I see at Please Touch Museum?
Philadelphia's children's museum, where hands-on play fills a grand 1876 World's Fair palace. Current highlights include Character Quest: Building Character Skills Through Play, Wonderland, PAW Patrol: Adventure Play.
Do I need to book Please Touch Museum in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Please Touch Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Davidt8 via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

DirectionsVisit Website