Calendar - Independence Seaport Museum

Events Calendar

Independence Seaport Museum offers an entertaining schedule of events – check it out! For more information, please call 215.413.8655.

Click HERE to sign up for a monthly email about upcoming Museum events.

Seafarin' Saturdays
Third Saturday of Every Month, 1-3 pm

Families! Enjoy a new hands-on activity or craft in the Museum galleries the third Saturday of every month.

FREE with Membership or Museum admission.

Skin & Bones
Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor
New Featured Exhibit!
Open through January 3, 2010

An original exhibit exploring the origins, functions and significance of tattoos in American sailors’ lives. The exhibit includes traditional and modern tattooing tools, flash, tattoo-related art, historic photographs, personal stories of tattoo artists and tattooed sailors, and more. Get a "tattoo" with the unique "Tattoo-aTron!"

FREE with Membership or Museum admission.

Wooden Boat Festival
Saturday, June 20, 12-4 pm

Enjoy a day of family fun on the Delaware River with an in-water boat show of beautiful wooden vessels indigenous to the region, children's activities; intricate ship models by the Philadelphia Ship Model Society; mini remote-control boats to play with, and special behind-the-scene tours of the Museum’s two National Historic Landmark ships, the Spanish American War Cruiser Olympia and the World War II Submarine Becuna.

Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry
Friday, October 2

A film chronicling the life of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Colllins, the father of modern American tattooing and himself a sailor. The film, which has a sold-out screening at the 2008 Philadelphia Film Festival and was an official selection at the New Orleans Film Festival, explores the impact and meaning of tattoos in the lies of American sailors.

Watch this space for info on time, admission, and other details .

Behind-the-Scenes Tours of
Cruiser Olympia & Submarine Becuna
and Kids' Shipboard Activities
First Saturday of every month, 11-3 pm

Explore areas of the Cruiser Olympia, Admiral Dewey's Spanish-American War flagship, and the World War II Submarine Becuna, normally off limits to the public. See the Olympia's triple expansion steam engines, boiler room, and working ash hoist, and the Becuna's conning tower.

Plus, children can experience being a sailor with special hands-on activities for children aboard Olympia.

Visit the Historic Ships' page » for more information

Must be 12 or older and able to climb steep stairs. Comfortable walking shoes recommended. Ships may close in severe weather. Ships are not handicapped accessible.

Events & Exhibits

Events Calendar