Philadelphia History Museum (Atwater Kent): Treasuring the City’s Legacy

Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent

The Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent stands as a testament to the city’s rich and layered narrative. Founded in 1938, the museum opened in 1941 thanks to the vision and generosity of radio inventor A. Atwater Kent, who preserved the former Franklin Institute building on South Seventh Street as its new home. As the city’s official history museum, it amassed one of the largest collections dedicated to documenting Philadelphia’s civic, cultural, and everyday life, encompassing more than 130,000 artifacts dating from the 1680s to the present.

The Origins and Evolution of The Museum

The Atwater Kent Museum was conceived amidst a rising trend in American cities founding museums to celebrate their local history, coming second only to the Museum of the City of New York. Unlike other museums supported by private organizations, Philadelphia city government funded the Atwater Kent, designating it as the city’s official repository of historical artifacts. Its board represented City Council, the Mayor’s office, and eminent academic and cultural institutions, ensuring that the museum reflected both official and popular perspectives.

The museum opened in a neoclassical building originally constructed for the Franklin Institute in 1826. Kent’s philanthropic purchase prevented the building from being moved to Henry Ford’s collection, ensuring Philadelphia retained one of its historical landmarks.

A Living Archive: Artifacts as Windows into Philadelphia Life

One of the museum’s founding missions was to use tangible objects—ranging from civic infrastructure artifacts to personal memorabilia—to build connections between residents and their city’s ongoing story. Its collection grew to include WPA dioramas, Society of Colonial Dames dolls, Friends’ Historical Association relics, Bank of North America furnishings, paintings, photos, maps, and items unearthed in everyday life. The museum’s approach placed disparate objects together to provoke questions and tell stories from multiple perspectives.

Through changes in scholarship, the museum shifted its focus to include the varied fabric of city life, moving beyond the “great men” approach to embrace working class, immigrant, and minority histories. In the early 21st century, exhibits incorporated African American experiences, and new galleries, like Philadelphia Voices, engaged communities in building the city’s narrative.

Exhibits and Programs: Bringing History Alive

Exhibits ranged from sweeping overviews—like the 300-year story of Philadelphia—to focused explorations of municipal agencies, Fairmount Water Works, and everyday objects. Galleries highlighted the city’s infrastructure, such as the Fire and Police Departments, as well as utilities and parks, blending public works with personal experience.

Recent exhibits such as “The Real Thing and Why It Matters” and “Face to Facebook” spotlighted authentic objects and their impact on civic memory. The permanent exhibit “The Ordinary, Extraordinary, and the Unknown: The Power of Objects” assembled everything from Washington’s desk and Wampum belts to infamous slave shackles and pop-culture boxing gloves, inviting visitors to imagine new meanings for these pieces.

During renovations between 2009 and 2012, the museum updated galleries with audiovisual and interactive technologies, expanding representation across demographics. Now, relics are leveraged both in the museum and as part of digital outreach initiatives.

The Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel: Preserving an Urban Legacy

In 2018, the museum closed for financial reasons, but its collection found a new home at Drexel University. Today, the Atwater Kent Collection (AKC) at Drexel maintains more than 130,000 objects dedicated to Philadelphia’s past—photographs, paintings, prints, diaries, uniforms, tools, and ephemera. Notable pieces range from a 1688 deed from William Penn and a hat worn by Abraham Lincoln, to objects from the city’s first African American police officer and relics of Philly manufacturing and art.

The collection is made public through exhibitions like “Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic” at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. This interactive display brings together over 600 objects—Benjamin West portraits, photos of historic hotels, Centennial Exposition postcards, diaries, and more—inviting visitors and Philadelphians to contribute their own experiences and memories.

Digital Access and Special Collections

Drexel’s initiative has launched a digital database, making much of the Atwater Kent Collection accessible to the public online. Special collections, available on the museum’s website, provide deeper dives into unique subjects—urban development, civic celebrations, art and music, military records, and Philadelphia’s sports history.

The collection brings together material from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and several other groups, offering a comprehensive urban portrait that is invaluable for scholars, educators, and curious citizens alike.

Engaging New Audiences and Fostering Dialogue

The museum’s focus remains centered on public engagement—encouraging all Philadelphians to see themselves as part of a living civic story, and for younger generations to build on the city’s dynamic legacy. Thematic exhibitions, podcasts, and interactive platforms invite broad participation, bridging the divide between historical artifact and lived experience.

Nearby and Partner Museums

A visit to the Philadelphia History Museum pairs easily with Philadelphia’s rich museum district. Explore more of the city’s culture, science, and art at:

The Philadelphia History Museum (Atwater Kent) preserves the objects and stories of a city shaped by diverse people, communities, and experiences. Through its extensive collections, innovative exhibitions, and new partnerships with Drexel and PAFA, it continues to spark curiosity and pride for residents past and present.

From deeds signed by William Penn to everyday reminders of changing neighborhoods, the Atwater Kent’s mission endures: connecting Philadelphians to their roots, challenging assumptions, and making history tangible and accessible for generations to come. In an ever-evolving city, the museum’s collection remains a dynamic “attic” of shared memory, welcoming all to explore—and add—their chapter to Philadelphia’s ongoing story.

Visit Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent

Name: Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent
Address: 15 S 7th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone Number: (215) 685-4830
Email Address: info@philadelphiahistory.org
Map Location: View Location on Google Maps

Ticket Information

The physical museum closed to the public in 2018.
No ticket purchase is required to access the Atwater Kent Collection online or at temporary exhibitions across Philadelphia.

General Admission Information

The museum does not operate a public space at its former location.
The Atwater Kent Collection is now managed by Drexel University and can be explored via special events, temporary exhibitions, and digital archives.
Current exhibitions, such as “Philadelphia Revealed,” are hosted at partnering institutions and may have separate visiting hours and policies. For example, the current show at PAFA (128 N. Broad Street) is open Thursday–Friday: 10am–4pm, Saturday–Sunday: 11am–5pm.

Accessibility Information

Temporary exhibitions hosting the Atwater Kent Collection strive for wheelchair accessibility and inclusive programming.
Specific accessibility details vary by venue; check with each exhibition site for accommodations.

Other Visitor Information

The museum’s historical collection includes over 100,000 Philadelphia artifacts, now cared for by Drexel University and loaned out for public events and displays.
Digital resources and virtual access are available through the official website for researchers, teachers, and the public.
For group tours or special inquiries, email info@philadelphiahistory.org for guidance.