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Historic Ships closed to public Feb 8–12
Open Daily 10am-5pm (215)413-8655
Events & Exhibits
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.
The Bounding Billow
Sailors Printing on the High Seas
Exhibit January 29-April 11
Family Fun Day, Saturday, April 10
Exhibit aboard Cruiser Olympia about The Bounding Billow newspaper, printed aboard Olympia 1897-98, as part of the international print festival Philagrafika 2010. On April 10, artists from Cannonball Press of Brooklyn, NY, will be aboard Olympia cranking out leaflets using an 1895 letterpress -- free copies for all!
FREE with Membership or Museum admission.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 6
12-4 pm; Performance at 2 pm
Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with a host of Asian cultural activities, crafts, demonstrations, and performances. Make a Chinese zodiac necklace, Vietnamese dragon puppet, Japanese “Lucky Cat,” and Korean kite; enjoy demonstrations of origami, calligraphy, and Tai Chi; and watch a spectacular performance of Asian dance, including the exciting lion dance.
FREE with Membership or Museum admission.
Skin & Bones
Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor
Open through February 7
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.
Black History Month Event!
Saturday, February 20
1-3 pm
Independence Seaport Museum hosts Seafarin' Saturdays on the third Saturday of every month, featuring a hands-on activity or craft and a fun but informative "mini lesson" in a different Museum gallery every month. In honor of Black History Month, February's “mini lesson” will focus on African-American sailmaker James Forten, and the activity will be making maritime signal flags
FREE with Membership or Museum admission.
It Sprang from the River!
Everyday Objects with Maritime Secrets
March 26, 2010-January 3, 2011
What do Slinky(R), bellbottoms, and car tail lights have in common? Lurking in all corners of your everyday life are maritime secrets -- where you least expect them! This whimsical new and original exhibit features objects and words that sprang from the seafaring world and have made themselves at home in your daily life.
Sponsored in part by PECO and media partner NBC 10 Philadelphia.
FREE with Membership or Museum admission.
Slinky(R) Birthday Party!
Saturday, March 27
1-3 pm
An afternoon of Slinky fun! Meet Tom James, son of Slinky inventor Richard James, the first kid to play with a Slinky! Slinky races, "Happy Birthday Slinky" sing-along, Slinky birthday cake, commemorative Slinkys available for purchase and autographing by James, and display of the winning creations in the "What Can YOU Make with a Slinky?" Art Contest.
“© Slinky is a registered trademark of Poof-Slinky, Inc.”
FREE with Membership or Museum admission.
Boat-Building 101
Two Sessions -- January & March
This unique, hands-on class, presented by the Museum's Workshop on the Water, takes the new builder through all phases of boat building, including getting the most out of a set of plans, building the backbone, steaming frames, planking, spar-making, interior joinery, and more. While participants do not build a boat, each constructs the most difficult pieces and learns enough to proceed alone with confidence. All tools and materials are provided. Participants must be at least 16.
Session #1 -- Saturday-Sunday, January 16-17 & January 23-24
Session #2 -- Saturday-Sunday, March 6-7 & March 13-14
Both sessions 9 am-5 pm all four days
$270 for members, $300 for non-members, $305 (class & Museum membership). Register at 215.413.8630.
2010 Seaport Slumbers
Sailors, Stories & the Sea!
Saturdays in January, February, March
6:30 pm-10 am
Enjoy an overnight adventure at the Seaport with a maritime mystery to solve, scavenger hunt, interactive theater performance, crafts, exhibit explorations, snacks, breakfast, and tours of Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna. Everyone takes home a "Be a Sea Dog" activity patch! Click here for details and call today to book your Seaport Slumber!
$45 per person. Ages 5-12. Reservations required. Call 215.413.8630, or email groupsales@phillyseaport.org.
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.
NEW! Birthday Parties at the Seaport
Available Saturdays
10:30 am-12:30 pm or 2-4 pm
Celebrate your birthday at the Seaport with a sailor or pirate theme extravaganza! All parties include a scavenger hunt, hands-on craft (make a sailor hat or pirate treasure map), Museum exploration, private party room, and self-guided tours of the National Historic Landmark Spanish-American War Cruiser Olympia and World War II Submarine Becuna. Bring your own birthday cake or call for information about adding cake, pizza, soda, or healthy box lunches to your party for an additional fee.
Basic party $350 for 15 children; Seaport members $300. (additional guests $5 each). Discount parking rate of $10 per car for party guests at Hyatt. Ages 4-12. Reservations required. Call 215.413.8630 or email groupsales@phillyseaport.org.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours of
Cruiser Olympia & Submarine Becuna
and Kids' Shipboard Activities
First Saturday of every month, 11-3 pm
PLEASE NOTE: Behind-the-Scenes tours of Cruiser Olympia will not be available January-April 2010 due to maintenance work. Behind-the-Scenes tours of Submarine Becuna will continue to be offered the first Saturday of every month.
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.