All High School, College Students Granted Free Access to a ‘Must-See' Cultural Icon in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA—As part of a back-to-school initiative, the Penn Museum is opening its doors to high school and college students for free during specific timeframes.
Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, individual students (aged 13-19) enrolled in any high school, including homeschooled teens, will be granted free admission to the Penn Museum, Tuesdays through Fridays from 3∶00-5∶00 PM. They will also receive free entry on Saturdays and Sundays from 10∶00 AM-5∶00 PM. Identification is not required, but teens must inform Visitors Services personnel of their birthdate, zipcode, and the school they attend.
“Teens are in a transitional moment, where they examine and test the world around them to help shape their identities. This free admission opportunity arrives at a time when teens crave outings away from their houses and neighborhoods,” says Ellen Owens, the Merle-Smith Director of Learning and Public Engagement, who adds the initiative is designed to encourage youth to visit cultural institutions independently, outside of school field trips. “By welcoming youth and supporting their understanding of diverse cultures, we embody our mission as a learning and research institution. But, we’re also providing an after-school safe space, where individual teens can explore the 10,000 years of history inside the Museum’s galleries, or use the artifacts and other content for school assignments.”
Students enrolled in any college or university are welcome to visit the Penn Museum at no cost, Tuesdays through Fridays from 3∶00-5∶00 PM. This benefit is open to both graduate and undergraduate students at any college or university. They will be required to show their valid school identification card to representatives at the entrance.
In addition, all teachers continue to receive free admission year-round with a valid school identification card.
Inside the Penn Museum, face coverings are required and guests are asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines while following a one-way journey through the building.
The free admission initiative will be valid through December 31, 2020.
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About the Penn Museum
The Penn Museum’s mission is to be a center for inquiry and the ongoing exploration of humanity for our University of Pennsylvania, regional, national, and global communities, following ethical standards and practices.
Through conducting research, stewarding collections, creating learning opportunities, sharing stories, and creating experiences that expand access to archaeology and anthropology, the Museum builds empathy and connections across diverse cultures
The Penn Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. It is open until 8:00 pm on first Wednesdays of the month. The Café is open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm. On Sundays, the Café is open 10:30 am-2:30 pm. For information, visit www.penn.museum, call 215.898.4000, or follow @PennMuseum on social media.
Editor’s note: This free admission initiative does not apply to groups. Organized groups of college students can go through the Group Sales Department to arrange for their free admission, while K-12 groups can contact education@pennmuseum.org.