Independence Seaport Museum facts for kids
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Exterior of the Independence Seaport Museum
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| Established | 1961 |
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| Location | Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Type | Maritime Museum |
| Visitors | 84,000 (2011) |
| Public transit access |  2nd Street:   SEPTA bus: 12, 17, 21, 25, 33, 42 |
The Independence Seaport Museum is a cool place to explore the history of ships and the sea in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's located right on the Delaware River at Penn's Landing. This museum shows how important the Delaware River has been to maritime history and culture. It even has two amazing ships that are National Historic Landmarks!
Contents
Discovering Maritime History
The Independence Seaport Museum started in 1961. A collector named J. Welles Henderson wanted to make sure Philadelphia's rich shipping history was remembered. He felt the city needed a special place to show off its maritime past.
The museum first opened in a rented space. It displayed Henderson's own collection of sea-related items. Over the years, the museum moved to bigger locations. In 1995, it found its current home at Penn's Landing. This spot is perfect, right by the river! When it moved, it was renamed the Independence Seaport Museum.
Preserving Historic Ships
The museum works hard to keep its historic ships in good shape. One of these ships is the USS Olympia. In 2010, the museum realized Olympia needed a lot of repairs to its hull. They started looking for ways to fix it.
The museum decided to keep Olympia and raise money for its repairs. They received grants from different groups. By 2017, the first part of the renovations was finished. The museum is still working to get more funds to complete all the necessary repairs.
John Brady became the museum's President & CEO in 2011. Under his leadership, the museum has grown a lot. It has received large donations to help fund its programs and exhibitions. These funds also help with the important work of restoring the historic ships.
Exciting Exhibits to Explore
The Independence Seaport Museum has many interesting exhibits. They teach visitors about different parts of maritime history.
World War I USS Olympia
This exhibit opened in 2017. It celebrates the 100th anniversary of World War I. It shows how the USS Olympia helped during the war. The exhibit also lets you see what life was like for sailors on board. You can learn about Olympia's last mission. It carried the remains of the Unknown Soldier from France to Arlington National Cemetery.
Patriots and Pirates
Opened in 2016, this exhibit is all about Philadelphia and the start of the United States Navy. It explores the battles between pirates and the U.S. Navy. You can see a full-size model of a ship called Diligence of 1797. There are also cool artifacts like a letter from an American captured by pirates.
Tides of Freedom: African Presence on the Delaware River
This exhibit opened in 2013. It tells the story of African-American history along the Delaware River. It covers the slave trade and the fight to end slavery in Philadelphia. It also shows Philadelphia's connection to the Underground Railroad. The exhibit continues into more recent times, like the Civil Rights movement.
Rescues on the River
Rescues on the River shares stories of ship accidents on the Delaware River. It explains how these tragedies led to new safety rules. It also shows how the United States Coast Guard was formed. The exhibit covers events from the American Revolutionary War to a big oil tanker fire in 1975.
Titanic Philadelphians
This exhibit opened in 2012. It marked 100 years since the sinking of RMS Titanic. It focuses on the about 40 people from Philadelphia who were on the Titanic. You can learn about their experiences and how the disaster changed their lives forever.
Coming to America
Coming to America highlights the journeys of immigrants. These are people who came to the United States through Philadelphia. The exhibit shows artifacts and stories from both rich and poor passengers.
Philadelphia and the China Trade
In the 1700s, Philadelphia was one of the first American cities to trade with China. This exhibit tells the story of this trade. It shows how it affected Philadelphia's culture and economy.
This exhibit is all about how people navigate ships. It displays tools used for navigation. You can see tools from early American times to today.
Community Gallery Series
This series started in 2012. These are temporary exhibits created with local curators and historians. They cover many different topics. Past exhibits have included rowing, candy making, and archaeological finds.
Amazing Historic Ships
The Independence Seaport Museum is home to two National Landmark historic ships. You can even go aboard them!
USS Olympia (C-6)
USS Olympia is a famous warship. It played a big part in the Spanish–American War. It is the only American warship left from that time. Olympia also served in World War I. It became part of the museum in 1996. Today, it's a museum ship. Visitors can walk around and explore it. Sometimes, people even do historical reenactments on board!
USS Becuna (SS-319)
USS Becuna is a submarine from World War II and the Cold War. It was launched in 1944. It joined the Independence Seaport Museum in 1996. Now, it's a museum submarine. You can go inside and see what life was like for sailors in a submarine.
J. Welles Henderson Research Center
The J. Welles Henderson Research Center is on the second floor of the museum. It has a huge collection about maritime history. This includes records, rare books, maps, and photos. It focuses on the Delaware River and the Port of Philadelphia. You can find information about ships, people, and events from early America to today.
Fun Programs and Learning
The museum offers many programs for kids, families, and adults. These programs teach about the history and environment of the Delaware River. They use science, math, and biology to make learning fun.
Some programs teach you how to build and sail traditional wooden boats. These are called Workshop on the Water and the Hammer and Nails Series. There are also lectures, science labs, and summer camps.
See also
- Moshulu
- Gazela
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- List of museum ships
