Five Holiday Gifts That Keep On Giving: Virtual Experiences, DIY Kits & More, $5+

PHILADELPHIA — Gift experiences gain even more popularity this holiday season as people look for ways to unwind, learn, and get together—safely, from home. From a new DIY kit to a virtual wine tour, these Museum experiences make the perfect gifts for cultivating a lifelong love of learning among family and friends. Every purchase supports the Museum’s mission in expanding access to all through education and programs.

1. The Great Lecture Series focuses on Great Monuments and how their meanings have shifted over time. The remaining online lectures explore The Lasting Legacies of Mesopotamia; War Memorials of Imperial Rome; and Then and Now: Monuments, Memorials, and Public Art. Shoppers have the option to purchase one lecture for $5 or the remainder of the virtual discussion series for $30.


2. Ancient Alcohol: After Hours - Tour & Wine Pairing is an online excursion uncovering 9,000 years of wine culture. There are two upcoming dates: Saturday, December 12, 2020 or Friday, January 22, 2021.
   
   This virtual experience paired with a bottle of wine is the perfect present for lifting holiday spirits. Cost: $10 per person. BYO wine.


3. The Deep Dig is a series of online adult classes that encourages students to examine archaeology more closely with faculty experts from Penn. Students dig deeper into history with Unpacking the Legacies of Troy and Homer, African Independence, or How to Read Maya Hieroglyphs: A Beginner’s Guide. Cost: $175 for the entire four-week course.


4. The Penn Museum Shop is now online. Holiday shoppers can purchase one-of-a-kind accessories, jewelry, and other pieces inspired by diverse cultures represented in the galleries. The Shop will also carry a new line of Handmade History Kits, limited-edition “DIY” craft kits created in collaboration with local artisans.
   
   The first Handmade History Kit is a beeswax candle kit that includes all of the materials, assembly instructions, plus access to a 30minute live program with a museum expert who will share more about the featured craft’s origins.
   
   Each kit is created with Bethany Rusen of Stanley Chester & Albert Ceramics in West Philadelphia, plus Erika and Pete Gustavson of A Toy Garden in Bucks County.
   
   Handmade History kits will be available for purchase at the Penn Museum’s online shop starting in early December. Cost: $50.


5. Finally, holiday shoppers are invited to give the gift of a Penn Museum membership. Starting at $65 for individuals or $110 for an entire household, memberships provide access to exclusive virtual events, unlimited general admission for one year, exhibition previews, and discounts, while simultaneously supporting a 133-year-old historic gem in Philadelphia. By using code REOPEN21, shoppers can set the membership’s expiration date at one year from the day of the Penn Museum’s reopening in 2021, after the current temporary COVID closure.