Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

About

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the oldest natural science research institution in the Americas. Formerly the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, it was founded in 1812, by many of the leading naturalists of the young American republic with an expressed mission of "the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences". Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, it has sponsored expeditions, conducted original environmental and systematics research, and amassed natural history collections containing more than 17 million specimens. As a museum the Academy also organized public exhibits and educational programs for both schools and the general public. On September 1, 2026, Drexel University announced that the museum would close its doors on September 30, with the museum's last day open to the public with regular hours being the 27th. This precipitated a swift backlash, with many groups campaigning for the museum to be kept open.

During the first decades of the United States, Philadelphia was the cultural capital and one of the country's commercial centers. Two of the city's institutions, the Library Company and the American Philosophical Society, were centers of enlightened thought and scientific inquiry. The increasing sophistication of the earth and life sciences, combined with a growing awareness of the variety of life and landscape in the American wilderness, led a small group of naturalists to establish the Academy of Natural Sciences in the winter of 1812. The academy was meant to foster a gathering of fellow naturalists and to nurture the growth and credibility of American science. They frequently looked to their European counterparts for inspiration and expertise and longed to be regarded as equals. On 25 April 1817 they were incorporated into the society under the title of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia by the legislature of Pennsylvania. By 1 January 1818, eight members were published. In 2011, the Academy became affiliated with nearby Drexel University and changed its name to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

Throughout the mid-2020s, the Academy faced increasing financial pressures. In September 2025, they announced that they would reduce museum visiting hours and lay off several people. These reduced weekday operating hours also resulted in the cancellation of their children's science camp program in February 2026. On September 1, 2026, Drexel University announced that the museum would close its doors on September 30, with the museum's last day open to the public with regular hours being the 27. A backlash soon formed, with local and national groups protesting and rallying to keep the museum's doors open. While leaders at Drexel and the museum cited low visitor numbers, the impact of the pandemic, and rising costs as reasons for closure, longtime staffers pointed to key leadership decisions such as a pivot in audience strategy as important contributing factors to the institution's decline. Leadership were further criticized for the abruptness of the closure and a failure to make any effort to gather support and keep the institution open. The William Penn Foundation expressed interest in providing funding at least a year as a bridge to finding ongoing support and developing a plan for the museum, but Drexel has not accepted the offer. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University’s museum was closed to the public as of September 27, 2026. During its last month, museum attendance skyrocketed, with attendance levels more than 20 times higher than the previous September. On September 17, 2026, city councilmembers Jeffery Young Jr. and Nina Ahmad introduced a resolution to authorize Philadelphia's Committee on Legislative Oversight to examine the closure and the financial and governance decisions involved, and consider possibilities for continuing public access to the museum. The resolution was scheduled to be heard on Monday, October 26 at 2 p.m. in City Hall.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.