Philadelphia's children's museum in Memorial Hall, with free Quiet Kits at the Admissions Desk, Quiet Zones, a social story and guides to read ahead, and Play Without Boundaries, a free sensory-friendly morning on the third Sunday of each month with advance registration.
Wednesday to Saturday, 9 am to 4:30 pm. Sundays: 9 am to 4:30 pm on the 1st, 4th and 5th Sundays, and 11 am to 4:30 pm on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Holidays: 9 am to 2 pm on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day; special event hours on New Year's Eve. Open Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day; closed Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.
Memorial Hall, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131
“The Museum provides access to free Quiet Kits, available at the Admissions Desk.”
“Designated Quiet Zones are available for guests who need a break from the activity around them.”
“Held on the third Sunday of each month from 9–11 AM, Play Without Boundaries offers a quieter, less crowded Museum experience with adjustments to lighting and sound.”
“While adjustments are made to reduce sensory stimulation, some exhibits and experiences still include lights, sounds, and other sensory elements.”
At 11 am Play Without Boundaries ends and the museum opens to members and general admission guests. The museum says this can bring a sudden increase in visitors and noise, and families are welcome to stay as long as they feel comfortable.
The museum's social story says a child can also borrow an AAC device that talks when you push the pictures, and that kids who give back the sensory kit and AAC at the front desk get a pop-it to keep.
Museum staff wear Please Touch Museum shirts (the museum's guides show blue and green) and security guards wear black shirts. If you need a quiet space, staff can show you a good spot. In Imagination Playground, staff may raise their voice if a child climbs the blue walls and they think the child could get hurt.
Two spaces, Nature's Pond and Fairytale Garden, are only for children 3 and younger.
First aid kits are in each exhibit; ask floor staff. You can store medical equipment or medications at the Admissions Desk during your visit. A nursing room is on the lower level, in the hallway behind the Creative Arts Studio.
Roadside Attractions (a lot of colors and can get very loud)not stated
Rocket Room (loud, with a loud whooshing sound when a rocket launches)not stated
Carousel (very bright lights, and music plays the entire time)not stated
Food & Family (the supermarket) (the most popular exhibit; will probably have a lot of people)not stated
Quieter, in the museum's words
The Quiet Zone by the Please Touch Garagequiet zone
The hallway downstairs with the blue floor, between the Makerspace and the Creative Arts Studio (with the quietest bathrooms)quiet zone
Storytime Cabin (Main Level)quiet zone
Happy Camper, quieter and darkquiet zone
Centennial Innovations (Lower Level), likely one of the quieter spacesquiet zone
General admission is $24 per adult or child; prices do not include processing fees. Military, firefighter and police tickets are $22 ($2 off, up to 6 tickets, with ID; firefighter and police tickets are bought at the admission desk). Members are free, and member guests are $15 at the desk. Visitors 12 months and older are encouraged to reserve ahead, and tickets are also sold at the Admissions desk.
ACCESS and Museums for All: PA and DE ACCESS cardholders pay $2 per person and out-of-state SNAP EBT cardholders $5 per person, for the cardholder and up to 3 more people, once per day, with the card and photo ID. The reservation must be paid in advance by the cardholder, not with EBT funds, and the discount is not valid on special exhibitions or other offers. WIC, Summer EBT and P-EBT cards are not accepted. Members of another ACM children's museum get 50% off up to 6 tickets with their card and photo ID.
One free admission ticket is offered for a designated therapist, care provider or personal care attendant helping a paid visitor or member who needs medical or physical assistance. Ask for it when you check in; it is good for that visit only.
Refunds: admission tickets cannot be refunded. To change your date, email tickets@pleasetouchmuseum.org or call 215-581-3181 within 7 days after your original reservation date; changes depend on availability.
Parking: free on-street parking along the Avenue of the Republic, or the museum's gated lot for $20 (limited spaces, pay at the outdoor kiosk; no refunds once you enter the lot). Accessible parking spaces are in the museum lot next to Memorial Hall. Ride shares drop off at the main entrance or by the Carousel House. SEPTA Bus Route 38 stops at the museum.
Strollers are welcome and the whole museum is stroller accessible; stroller parking areas are outside the exhibits. The coat room in the gift shop is free; lockers are $4 (large) and $5 (jumbo). A limited number of adult-size wheelchairs are free at the Admissions Desk with an ID held. The elevator in Roadside Attractions serves both floors.
Children must always be supervised by a caregiver over 16. Adults over 18 visiting without a child leave an ID at the admissions desk. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and therapy dogs are not allowed; service animals are welcome.
The café is open 9 am to 4 pm, with hot food 11 am to 3:30 pm.
Carousel: unlimited rides are $5 per child (one caregiver per child rides free). Tickets are sold online or at the kiosk in the Independence Blue Cross Carousel House. Members ride free, and rides are included at Play Without Boundaries mornings.
Play Without Boundaries questions: tickets@pleasetouchmuseum.org. To get emails about upcoming dates, write to education@pleasetouchmuseum.org or accessibility@pleasetouchmuseum.org.
