current exhibits
What's on display at the museum?
Philadelphia’s history starts at the Delaware River. Our exhibitions tell not only the story of the city’s maritime history but also the cultural and environmental impact of our local waterways from before William Penn’s arrival to today.
Here’s what you can expect to see on your visit to the Independence Seaport Museum:
First Floor
Introductory Exhibition
Our new gallery offers visitors a glimpse into the museum’s collections by displaying over 100 treasures that rarely, if ever, have been on display. Objects on view highlight themes like Philadelphia’s American Revolutionary naval history and the Delaware River’s shipyards, which have been a critical part of our nation’s maritime history.
Patriots & Pirates
Did you know that the United States Navy was founded right here in Philadelphia? It’s true! Learn about our history fighting the Barbary Pirates, why it took so long to create the Navy, and more in this exhibit. Make sure to save time to climb aboard Schooner Diligence, a 1797 replica ship built by Joshua and Samuel Humphreys in Philadelphia that would have significantly contributed to defending American merchant ships once the Navy was created. Fun fact: this replica was built by our very own Seaport Boat Shop staff and volunteers!
River Alive!
15 million people drink water from the Delaware River, equivalent to 5% of the U.S. population! Get your hands wet (literally and figuratively) as you explore the importance of our local waterways, learn how to keep them clean, and most of all, have fun with interactive components, like with a larger-than-life video game!
Second Floor
At the Water's Edge: Working and Living along the delaware river
Home to millions of people for centuries, this waterway is the most significant geographic feature here along the eastern seaboard. Discover the stories of the people who lived and worked alongside it, from sailors to ironworkers, to canal boatmen to newly arrived immigrants seeking economic and religious freedom.
TIDES OF FREEDOM: AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESENCE ON THE DELAWARE RIVER
Focusing on four critical periods in Philadelphia’s history: Enslavement, Emancipation, Jim Crow, and Civil Rights, Tides of Freedom urges visitors to think about the concept of freedom both historically and in today’s world through the lens of the African experience along the Delaware.
Special Thanks
The Independence Seaport Museum would like to thank the William Penn Foundation for their generous support in funding River Alive!.
The Independence Seaport Museum would like to thank the Richard C. von Hess Foundation for their generous support of At the Water’s Edge: Working and living along the Delaware River.
visit the seaport museum
Immerse yourself in award-winning exhibitions and climb aboard the Olympia, a nineteenth-century cruiser, and the Becuna, a World War II-era submarine.
