Wagner Free Institute of Science facts for kids
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Wagner Free Institute of Science
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1700 West Montgomery Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1859-1865 |
| Architect | John McArthur Jr.; Collins & Autenrieth |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Renaissance |
| Website | www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000361 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 17, 1989 |
| Designated NHL | December 14, 1990 |
The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a cool natural history museum located in north Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It started way back in 1855. This place is special because it's one of the few old science centers from the Victorian era (a time in history from 1837 to 1901) that is still around. It has a museum, a place for research, a library, and offers classes. The buildings, built between 1859 and 1901, show off the collections of its founder, William Wagner, just as they were back then. Because of its amazing architecture and how well it has been kept, it's known as a National Historic Landmark.
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History of the Wagner Institute
The Wagner Free Institute was started in 1855 by William Wagner. He was a businessman, a generous person, and a scientist who loved to learn. William Wagner wanted everyone to be able to learn about the natural world for free.
How It All Began
Wagner started giving free science talks at his home, called Elm Grove, in 1847. This was a farm on the edge of Philadelphia. To make his talks interesting, he used a collection of specimens he had gathered since he was a boy. Anyone could come to these classes, including both women and men.
His lectures became very popular. By 1855, so many people wanted to attend that he moved his talks to a public hall. Later, the Institute moved to its own special building. This building was designed by John McArthur Jr., a famous architect who also designed Philadelphia's City Hall.
Growth and New Ideas
William Wagner continued to teach and lead the Institute until he passed away in 1885. After him, the leaders of the Institute chose Joseph Leidy to take charge of its science and education programs. Leidy was a very famous biologist from around the world.
With Leidy in charge, the Institute grew a lot and became very active. Leidy's biggest and most lasting contribution was how he organized the museum. He added many more specimens to Wagner's original collection. He got these new items by collecting them himself, buying them, and getting them as gifts.
Leidy personally planned and watched over the new arrangement of the museum. He set up the specimens and display cases based on Charles Darwin's idea of evolution. This meant visitors would see simpler organisms first, then move to more complex ones. They would also travel through different periods of Earth's history as they walked through the hall.
This new display opened in 1891, and it hasn't changed much since Leidy's time. This makes the Institute a rare example of a science museum from the Victorian era. In 1892, the first branch of the Philadelphia Public Library opened at the Wagner Institute. This library branch stayed open until 1962.
The Institute Today
The Institute still works to achieve William Wagner's original goals. It continues to offer free science courses, and it also serves as a library, a lecture hall, and a museum. The museum has more than 100,000 specimens! These include minerals and fossils that Wagner himself collected.
Today, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is known as one of Philadelphia's historical treasures. It works to protect its old building and collections for future generations. It also provides many great educational programs about science, natural history, and the history of science, from the 1800s to today. The Institute has received help from the National Endowment for the Humanities to keep its building and collections safe.
Images for kids
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Modern photograph
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Second-floor Hall and galleries.
See also
