plan your visit
Discovery Awaits at the Seaport!
The Independence Seaport Museum, located along the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing, invites visitors of all ages to discover Philadelphia’s river of history and world of connections. With water as the unifying thread, stories of those who lived and worked along our regional waterways come to life through award-winning exhibitions. Our historic ships, the Olympia and the Becuna, connect Philadelphia to the rest of the world, telling tales about the people and cultures they have interacted with on their journeys. These stories are woven into every aspect of the visitor’s journey, from the first time they enter the lobby to when they walk off the gangway of Olympia.
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Wondering What You’ll Sea?
OLYMPIA
BECUNA
Award Winning Exhibitions
The Seaport Boat Shop
On-Water Programming
Museum Store
philadelphia tips
Whether this is your first time visiting the city of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, or you already have your sea legs, here are some resources to help make the most of your time in Philadelphia:
- When you are looking for other places and gems to explore, check out Visit Philadelphia and the Independence Visitor Center; both are great resources to let you know what’s going on around town and can’t-miss destinations.
- For transportation tips, visit our Traveling to the Seaport page, where we keep information like the best places to park, the closest SEPTA routes, and more (insider tip: if you are visiting during the summer, consider using the PHLASH to not only visit the museum but other iconic Philadelphia attractions).
- While the Independence Seaport Museum doesn’t have a café, there are a lot of local eateries along the waterfront and right across Columbus Blvd. in neighboring Old City. Some favorites of both visitors (and staff!) include Waterfront Gourmet, Spasso Italian Grill, Campo’s, and Liberty Point (seasonal).
Photography and Videography Policy
By entering the Independence Seaport Museum, you authorize museum staff to photograph or film you for future marketing and public relations campaigns. Examples of such usage include but are not limited to, signage, printed collateral, and online for any purpose (commercial or otherwise).
What Can Guests Photograph or Film?
The Independence Seaport Museum encourages guests to take photos and videos to remember their visit to the waterfront. However, we do ask visitors to be respectful of the privacy and image/likeness of others, including staff. Below, please find more information regarding the museum’s guidelines and policies:
· Photography: It’s encouraged, but make sure it’s without a flash to help protect our collections! Be mindful of those around you, or who might show up in the picture, as they have not provided consent to be captured for personal use. Museum staff is not to be recorded unless consent is provided.
· Videography: Please note that footage of guided tours on Olympia and Becuna is not permitted unless authorized by your tour guide (if you would like to see videos of the ships, please visit the museum’s YouTube page). If you would like to capture footage of other aspects of your visit, we ask that you be considerate of other visitors and try not to capture them while recording, as they haven’t provided consent to be captured on personal footage. Museum staff is not to be recorded unless consent is provided.
Failure to adhere to these guidelines and policies can result in warnings, up to and including removal from the museum’s building and/or historic ships.
If you are looking to do a professional photoshoot or capture footage for a potential project, please contact our Director of Strategic Communications for approval and guidance.
Visitor conduct Policy
The Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) strives to provide an inviting and educational environment designed to allow our visitors to explore the history of the Philadelphia region through the lens of the Delaware River. We want our guests to enjoy our exhibits, historic ships and other learning experiences. We appreciate your understanding of and cooperation with the policies we’ve established to maintain a safe and considerate atmosphere for all guests and staff. Courteous, respectful behavior is expected of all guests to ensure a great experience for everyone. This Visitor Conduct Policy applies across all museum property including the building, the docks, and our historic ships.
- Independence Seaport Museum does not tolerate physical, verbal, or written behavior that is unsafe, illegal, violence inciting, abusive, harassing, discriminatory, disorderly, disruptive, hostile or threatening to, or constituting hate speech directed at visitors, ISM staff, or others.
- Visitors are prohibited from wearing or otherwise displaying profane, obscene or injurious language, texts or graphics on clothing or elsewhere on the person that are deemed offensive or are making other guests and staff uncomfortable.
- Following rules (verbal or written), safety protocols, or instructions from staff on behavior and conduct on the historic ships, in the boat shop, near historic objects, or on the water is required.
- Weapons are prohibited at all times inside the museum, on the historic ships, and on the docks.
- Visitors must show common courtesy to other visitors and to museum staff by not engaging in any conduct that poses any risk to other visitors, the museum’s staff, or the museum’s collection. Running, rough play, and disruptive behavior is prohibited.
- Leafleting, signature gathering, picketing, merchandise sales, and press conferences by visitors are not permitted.
- Solicitation of business and unauthorized for-profit activity is not permitted.
- The unauthorized playing of music and video, unauthorized performances, and sound amplification and noisemakers (except for assistive-listening devices) is prohibited.
- Visitors are encouraged to take photos during their time with us. These photos are an essential piece of their memory-making experience. The same goes for video for personal use – especially in the age of social media where video is a huge component of those applications. However, we have a few guidelines all guests are required to follow:
- Please do NOT use flash photography!
- Please be considerate of other visitors and staff and try not to capture them while recording, as they haven’t provided consent to be captured on personal footage.
- Do not carry children or other guests on shoulders.
- Smoking or using electronic cigarettes is prohibited inside the museum, on the docks, and on the historic ships.
- Use of electrical outlets in the museum and on the historic ships is prohibited.
- For health and safety reasons, shirts and shoes are required.
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.
