This is one of the best anthropological and archaeological museums in the world. If you're thinking of going, you won't be disappointed. There is a cafe, gift shop inside and a parking garage next to it. Be sure to check out the Sphinx and crystal ball!

Andrew FarquerFeb. 23, 2018

Fantastic archaeological museum with a broad focus. I have a terrible habit of reading all the signs and so after two visits each of several hours I only covered a few areas comprehensively. Would really like to see information on provenance of all items, even if that is just "unknown".

Chris SamuelJan. 28, 2018

Although this is not one of the bigger, more elaborate museums, the Penn Museum has many exciting exhibits from cultures around the world. All of their exhibits showcase a plethora of artifacts with descriptions of items and their significance to the culture. Some of the exhibits even have interactive elements, such as audio recordings, touch screen monitors, artifacts that can be touched, etc. We recently enjoyed their Chinese New Year celebration. We saw a martial arts demonstration and the lion dance. We got to play with several tangram puzzles and made our own marionette dog puppet. I think their incentive for 7th grade students in Philadelphia is amazing, as well as their borrowing program for teachers in the district. If you teach in Philly or have a student in a Philly school, you should definitely check out what The Penn Museum has to offer.

Jaime HigginsFeb. 21, 2018

A true hidden gem! Wonderful Egyptian artifacts, and the China section was a great compliment to the Terracotta Warriors exhibit we'd seen the day before at the Franklin Institute. I highly recommend it!

Steven RollFeb. 6, 2018

Compared to the many museums and exhibits in Philadelphia it's a little worn and dated. We were there for the Chinese New Year celebration. This was a special cultural event with exhibits shoe and vendors placed throughout the entire museum. It had many children's things to do.

Margaret RickardsMärz 3, 2018

Although part of the University of Pennsylvania the Musrum is open to the public with admission or membership. It us smaller than many similar museums. As explained on its website it is,also sunder some construction for expansion (eg a Middle Eastern section). While my specific goal was visiting the Etruscan section for some research, (which I greatly enjoyed) I also visited the Canaan, and the Japan and China sections. I was impressed by the amount of information in the Etruscan and Canaan sections but thought there could have been more background in the Japan/China.

Marie ParsonsMärz 20, 2018

I'm honestly really disappointed in this museum. I have been to Harvard, Yale, and Princetons' museums, and this one was a huge let down. Some of the exhibits are, of course, amazing, however, it is under construction. Hopefully this means they are improving, but beware! We went and payed full price for a museum that was half under construction. There was no warning or discount for what felt like half a museum. Also, their African exhibit was a humiliating joke. It spent more time bragging ABOUT what they have instead of actually exhibiting it. It was incredibly disrespectful to a place with such rich cultural history. A humiliating example of more western arrogance.

Liam TahaneyMärz 13, 2018

Went for a field trip and the tour guide was very nice with the children. All the employees were very nice. The guy from the shop pointed out that nearly all of the items from Egypt were made in Egypt, not China. They also have an Artifacts Lab where you can watch conservationists at work and they will describe what they're doing, why it needs to be done, and answer questions about the process. On the downside, there is construction around the building and it looks like they may be using pay off the parking as a staging area, so finding a spot was a pain. Inside they are beginning a five year renovation so what is on display for the next five weeks might disappear and may or may not come back after the reno. Some of the improvements are in the restrooms, so they will likely be more ADA accessible.

Duo MaxwellMärz 8, 2018

So many great exhibits its tough to spend time at each of them. I highly recommend a few trips to be able to see each thoroughly.

Tom BApr. 10, 2018

So many great exhibits! Lots of detail and information. They also host weddings here. A really wonderful place.

Mike WynneMai 11, 2018

A must for children of any age. I took my 21 year old daughter and to see how amazed she was at the artifacts and especially the mummies almost made it one of our best times together. Now when she watches shows on TV she can truly relate to them.

she reddenMai 11, 2018

The Death Pit in the Middle East galleries was an impressive display. The museum has many areas for kids including hands-on exhibits and a children’s center. The garden outside has a large and lovely pool with koi fish. Rated four stars because the toilets are a bit old. Could do with some renovations.

Andrew FordApr. 21, 2018

The new Middle East wing is brilliant. It's bright, full of well displayed objects. Fascinating and a joy to walk through.

Michael RahimiApr. 20, 2018

Nice museum. I enjoyed myself and spent 4 hours there. The new Middle Eastern exhibit was really neat and had lots of very interesting items. There was a tour going on that I listened in on quite a bit and it was well lead and very informative. Overall it was a great trip, I would like to come back once they finish renovating.

Joshua HungerJuni 10, 2018

This place is just getting better every time I came. Their collections are great. They have stuff I don't even remember seeing in DC, London or Paris. Of course not as extensive as the once I mentioned but for a university museum amazing!

Alex Jimenez LaboraMai 24, 2018

Excellent exhibits and very welcoming! There was an incident where the emergency alarms were set off for evacuation, and they were highly effective in part because they didn't offend the eyes or ears. The staff was excellent, and i hope you be back again. The university campus was beautiful too!

Miccalex SMai 20, 2018

The museum is beautiful with a great outdoor spots to get some work done, have your lunch, or just sit and enjoy the sunshine. It definitely a relaxing and informative place to visit. I have been there for a few times in the past 2 years and the museum always leaves me wanting more. I wish the Islamic section was bigger.

Abdullah AlmalkiMai 24, 2018

This Museum is amazing, so many wonderful artifacts from diverse cultures. I attended the Jamaican celebration. Participated in an African dance class. There was also music from a Caribbean Steel Drums Ensemble. Loved it!

Reena MillerJuni 6, 2018

Disclaimer: I am an employee of the University of Pennsylvania. I have visited Penn Museum on several occasions, often with friends and family visiting Philadelphia for the first time. The main attraction at the museum is the impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts. The museum is fairly small, so it makes for a good stop during a short trip to the city. The staff rotate the exhibitions a couple times a year to bring out items from storage or have traveling exhibitions. The connection between the Penn Museum and Penn's Anthropology department means that there is an abundance of research connected to the historical collections. Special tours are offered by the researchers and the staff upon request. K-12 students in particular are welcomes. The facility is currently undergoing extensive renovations that will last another four to five years. Parking is available at the neighboring garage. Penn's campus and most of University City is within walking distance. The museum is also easily accessible by SEPTA (train/trolley/bus). There is a cafe that offers a good selection of beverages and snacks.

Nadir SharifJuni 22, 2018

The collection is as good or better than many university museums (and I've been to both Yale's and Oxford's). I had not realized how active the school was in the early days of archeology. The Middle Eastern collection in particular is outstanding, and they have updated that part of the museum with interactive displays. I was fascinated by the ornaments from the burial of a queen from what is now Iraq. I also like that they work with people in Syria and Iraq to save artifacts there from ISIS. There is also an extensive Egyptian collection, housing the only sphinx in the Western Hemisphere. She will be under wraps for a while, though, while they renovate that part of the historic building. Visitors have a chance to watch conservators at work in two parts of the museum, with glass-sided labs.

Maria ReginaJuli 18, 2018

All of the exhibits were simply fantastic. The Egyptian exhibits specifically those housing the sphinx (understandably since it's the largest sphinx in America) and mummies seem popular however I really enjoyed the middle eastern and canaan/Israel exhibits. Special mention to the replica Rosetta Stone as well. The staff/volunteers are very friendly and wear tags so you can ask them anything. It takes about 2 hours to go through the museum. Depending on from which entrance you enter, it may just be convenient to go down to the floor 1 (sphinx, special galleries) first. Small cafe and museum shop are on the main floor.

Roweena D'SouzaJuni 30, 2018

The new Persian exhibit is terrific! The American Indian Gallery as a really fascinating way of describing American Indian history and culture. The Egyptian area is being upgraded and is very nice as well as the China Japan exhibit. It's one of my favorite places in the city.

Jim MarnellJuli 14, 2018

This is one of the best anthropological and archaeological museums in the world. If you're thinking of going, you won't be disappointed. There is a cafe, gift shop inside and a parking garage next to it. Be sure to check out the Sphinx and crystal ball!

Andrew FarquerFeb. 23, 2018

Fantastic archaeological museum with a broad focus. I have a terrible habit of reading all the signs and so after two visits each of several hours I only covered a few areas comprehensively. Would really like to see information on provenance of all items, even if that is just "unknown".

Chris SamuelJan. 28, 2018

Although this is not one of the bigger, more elaborate museums, the Penn Museum has many exciting exhibits from cultures around the world. All of their exhibits showcase a plethora of artifacts with descriptions of items and their significance to the culture. Some of the exhibits even have interactive elements, such as audio recordings, touch screen monitors, artifacts that can be touched, etc. We recently enjoyed their Chinese New Year celebration. We saw a martial arts demonstration and the lion dance. We got to play with several tangram puzzles and made our own marionette dog puppet. I think their incentive for 7th grade students in Philadelphia is amazing, as well as their borrowing program for teachers in the district. If you teach in Philly or have a student in a Philly school, you should definitely check out what The Penn Museum has to offer.

Jaime HigginsFeb. 21, 2018

A true hidden gem! Wonderful Egyptian artifacts, and the China section was a great compliment to the Terracotta Warriors exhibit we'd seen the day before at the Franklin Institute. I highly recommend it!

Steven RollFeb. 6, 2018

Compared to the many museums and exhibits in Philadelphia it's a little worn and dated. We were there for the Chinese New Year celebration. This was a special cultural event with exhibits shoe and vendors placed throughout the entire museum. It had many children's things to do.

Margaret RickardsMärz 3, 2018

Although part of the University of Pennsylvania the Musrum is open to the public with admission or membership. It us smaller than many similar museums. As explained on its website it is,also sunder some construction for expansion (eg a Middle Eastern section). While my specific goal was visiting the Etruscan section for some research, (which I greatly enjoyed) I also visited the Canaan, and the Japan and China sections. I was impressed by the amount of information in the Etruscan and Canaan sections but thought there could have been more background in the Japan/China.

Marie ParsonsMärz 20, 2018

I'm honestly really disappointed in this museum. I have been to Harvard, Yale, and Princetons' museums, and this one was a huge let down. Some of the exhibits are, of course, amazing, however, it is under construction. Hopefully this means they are improving, but beware! We went and payed full price for a museum that was half under construction. There was no warning or discount for what felt like half a museum. Also, their African exhibit was a humiliating joke. It spent more time bragging ABOUT what they have instead of actually exhibiting it. It was incredibly disrespectful to a place with such rich cultural history. A humiliating example of more western arrogance.

Liam TahaneyMärz 13, 2018

Went for a field trip and the tour guide was very nice with the children. All the employees were very nice. The guy from the shop pointed out that nearly all of the items from Egypt were made in Egypt, not China. They also have an Artifacts Lab where you can watch conservationists at work and they will describe what they're doing, why it needs to be done, and answer questions about the process. On the downside, there is construction around the building and it looks like they may be using pay off the parking as a staging area, so finding a spot was a pain. Inside they are beginning a five year renovation so what is on display for the next five weeks might disappear and may or may not come back after the reno. Some of the improvements are in the restrooms, so they will likely be more ADA accessible.

Duo MaxwellMärz 8, 2018

So many great exhibits its tough to spend time at each of them. I highly recommend a few trips to be able to see each thoroughly.

Tom BApr. 10, 2018

So many great exhibits! Lots of detail and information. They also host weddings here. A really wonderful place.

Mike WynneMai 11, 2018

A must for children of any age. I took my 21 year old daughter and to see how amazed she was at the artifacts and especially the mummies almost made it one of our best times together. Now when she watches shows on TV she can truly relate to them.

she reddenMai 11, 2018

The Death Pit in the Middle East galleries was an impressive display. The museum has many areas for kids including hands-on exhibits and a children’s center. The garden outside has a large and lovely pool with koi fish. Rated four stars because the toilets are a bit old. Could do with some renovations.

Andrew FordApr. 21, 2018

The new Middle East wing is brilliant. It's bright, full of well displayed objects. Fascinating and a joy to walk through.

Michael RahimiApr. 20, 2018

Nice museum. I enjoyed myself and spent 4 hours there. The new Middle Eastern exhibit was really neat and had lots of very interesting items. There was a tour going on that I listened in on quite a bit and it was well lead and very informative. Overall it was a great trip, I would like to come back once they finish renovating.

Joshua HungerJuni 10, 2018

This place is just getting better every time I came. Their collections are great. They have stuff I don't even remember seeing in DC, London or Paris. Of course not as extensive as the once I mentioned but for a university museum amazing!

Alex Jimenez LaboraMai 24, 2018

Excellent exhibits and very welcoming! There was an incident where the emergency alarms were set off for evacuation, and they were highly effective in part because they didn't offend the eyes or ears. The staff was excellent, and i hope you be back again. The university campus was beautiful too!

Miccalex SMai 20, 2018

The museum is beautiful with a great outdoor spots to get some work done, have your lunch, or just sit and enjoy the sunshine. It definitely a relaxing and informative place to visit. I have been there for a few times in the past 2 years and the museum always leaves me wanting more. I wish the Islamic section was bigger.

Abdullah AlmalkiMai 24, 2018

This Museum is amazing, so many wonderful artifacts from diverse cultures. I attended the Jamaican celebration. Participated in an African dance class. There was also music from a Caribbean Steel Drums Ensemble. Loved it!

Reena MillerJuni 6, 2018

Disclaimer: I am an employee of the University of Pennsylvania. I have visited Penn Museum on several occasions, often with friends and family visiting Philadelphia for the first time. The main attraction at the museum is the impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts. The museum is fairly small, so it makes for a good stop during a short trip to the city. The staff rotate the exhibitions a couple times a year to bring out items from storage or have traveling exhibitions. The connection between the Penn Museum and Penn's Anthropology department means that there is an abundance of research connected to the historical collections. Special tours are offered by the researchers and the staff upon request. K-12 students in particular are welcomes. The facility is currently undergoing extensive renovations that will last another four to five years. Parking is available at the neighboring garage. Penn's campus and most of University City is within walking distance. The museum is also easily accessible by SEPTA (train/trolley/bus). There is a cafe that offers a good selection of beverages and snacks.

Nadir SharifJuni 22, 2018

The collection is as good or better than many university museums (and I've been to both Yale's and Oxford's). I had not realized how active the school was in the early days of archeology. The Middle Eastern collection in particular is outstanding, and they have updated that part of the museum with interactive displays. I was fascinated by the ornaments from the burial of a queen from what is now Iraq. I also like that they work with people in Syria and Iraq to save artifacts there from ISIS. There is also an extensive Egyptian collection, housing the only sphinx in the Western Hemisphere. She will be under wraps for a while, though, while they renovate that part of the historic building. Visitors have a chance to watch conservators at work in two parts of the museum, with glass-sided labs.

Maria ReginaJuli 18, 2018

All of the exhibits were simply fantastic. The Egyptian exhibits specifically those housing the sphinx (understandably since it's the largest sphinx in America) and mummies seem popular however I really enjoyed the middle eastern and canaan/Israel exhibits. Special mention to the replica Rosetta Stone as well. The staff/volunteers are very friendly and wear tags so you can ask them anything. It takes about 2 hours to go through the museum. Depending on from which entrance you enter, it may just be convenient to go down to the floor 1 (sphinx, special galleries) first. Small cafe and museum shop are on the main floor.

Roweena D'SouzaJuni 30, 2018

The new Persian exhibit is terrific! The American Indian Gallery as a really fascinating way of describing American Indian history and culture. The Egyptian area is being upgraded and is very nice as well as the China Japan exhibit. It's one of my favorite places in the city.

Jim MarnellJuli 14, 2018