The Academy of Natural Sciences is the oldest natural history museum in the country (and the Americas). It has everything the curious could hope for — dinosaurs, ancient fish and birds, an emphasis on conservation, and a deep-seated appreciation for the natural world.
Although many of the subjects have been in the museum for well over a century (the academy first opened its doors in 1812), they are well preserved, and their exhibits carefully crafted with hand painted scenes in the background. In a time where screens are everywhere, the academy keeps them to select few. Instead, guests can reflect on the history of taxidermy, the art of curation, and the accuracy of the displays.
The top floor is home to several living creatures — a miniature zoo where visitors can reflect on the place of some of the smallest creatures in our ecosystem–snakes, turtles, and cockroaches are carefully taken care of. Children can dig for replica bones in a mock archeological dig site. The staff are happy to answer questions and are helpfully placed throughout the three-story building.
For the bird lovers among us, there are a delightful assortment on display. The Academy of Natural Sciences was once the workplace to ornithologist James Bond (yes, like the spy), the man whose friend, author Ian Flemming, named his iconic character after.
Source: www.atlasobscura.com
