Please Touch Museum

Stepping inside the Please Touch Museum, do you sense the echoes of children’s laughter? It’s a sound that has resonated within these walls for decades. The Please Touch Museum first opened its doors in 1976 as part of Philadelphia’s Bicentennial celebration. It was a pioneering concept, the first museum in the nation designed specifically for children seven and under. Its initial home was a cozy nook within the Academy of Natural Sciences. The museum’s focus on hands-on learning quickly made it a beloved destination. Its popularity soon outgrew the small space. The Please Touch Museum needed room to breathe, room for children to explore and discover. This led to a move to a larger location in 1978. Just five years later, in 1983, the museum relocated again. The growth continued, mirroring the boundless curiosity of the children it served. Then, in 2008, the Please Touch Museum found its forever home in the magnificent Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. This grand building itself holds a rich history. It was constructed for the Centennial Exposition of 1876, a century before the Please Touch Museum’s birth. Designed by Hermann J. Schwarzmann, Memorial Hall is a Beaux-Arts masterpiece that once housed the Philadelphia Museum of Art. By the turn of the 20th century, however, the building had fallen into disrepair. The arrival of the Please Touch Museum in 2005 breathed new life into Memorial Hall. A meticulous restoration returned the building to its former glory. It became a vibrant hub where history and play intertwine. Inside, the Please Touch Museum offers a world of wonder. From a life-size recreation of Alice’s Wonderland to an indoor streetscape complete with buses and cars, there is something to spark every child’s imagination. A carousel, a space station, and a train offer further adventures. Even adults can find something to enjoy. The exhibit on the history of Memorial Hall and the Centennial Exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into the past. And yes, for those who’ve always dreamt of recreating that iconic scene from the movie “Big,” the Please Touch Museum houses a “Walking Piano,” the invention of Philadelphian Remo Saraceni. So, the next time you’re at the Please Touch Museum, listen closely. Amidst the joyful clamor, you might just hear whispers of history, reminders of the past blending seamlessly with the laughter of the future.