Mütter Museum

The Mütter Museum is a medical museum located in the Center City area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It contains a collection of medical oddities, anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment.

The museum is part of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The original purpose of the collection, donated by Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter in 1858, was medical research and education.

The Mütter Museum is best known for the Hyrtl Skull Collection and other anatomical specimens including a wax model of a woman with a horn growing out of her forehead along with several wax molds of untreated conditions of the head; the tallest skeleton currently on display in North America; a nine-foot-long human colon that contained over 40 pounds of fecal matter which originally came from a sideshow act called the human Balloon; and the body of the Soap Lady, whose corpse turned itself into a soapy substance called adipocere better known as grave wax.

Street address19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103.

Hours of operationMonday-Friday, 10am-5pm
Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm

The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25th, and January 1st.

AdmissionGeneral Admission (Ages 18-64): $14
Children (Ages 6-17): $10
Senior Citizens (Age 65+): $10
Students with valid ID: $10
Military with valid ID: $10
Fellows of the College: FREE
Children under 6: FREE

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers.

Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts.

Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone.

Located:
2027 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: (215) 236-3300
Website

Similiar Links
Ghost Caught Inside Eastern State Penitentiary
Terror Behind the Walls: Halloween at Eastern State Penitentiary

City Hall: William Penn's landmark

Directly in the heart of Philadelphia, this 510-foot-high landmark is William Penn’s choice as the exact center of the city. City Hall is the nation's largest municipal building with a 100-year history of public life. Through the City Hall Tours Program, people have the opportunity to visit Philadelphia 's center of local government. With more than 700 rooms, 250 architectural relief and sculptural pieces, as well as numerous artifacts highlighting the buildings past, this tour offers a glimpse into the political and historic beginnings of the city.

City Hall
Broad & Market Streets
215-686-2840
www.phila.gov/visitors

5 Things to do in Philadelphia

A look at five things you've gotta check out if visiting Philadelphia.

Can you guess what they are?

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

Here is a great photo slide of the Eastern State Penitentiary.




Tags: Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Tourist Attractions, Best of Philly,

Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site

Known to most Poe lovers, Edgar Allen Poe lived in Philadelphia for about six years (1838-1844).

The Edgar Allen Poe House is the only surving residence in Philadelphia where Poe wrote and published some of his greatest tales.

Step back in time, visit the new exhibits and celebrate Poe's 200th Birthday.

Locations:
532 North Seventh Street
(near. 7th & Spring Garden Streets)

Entrance Fee:
Admission is free.

Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm

Masonic Temple

A showcase of grand, almost mythical, architecture and design

The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia was constructed in 1873. It has been called one of the great "wonders" of the Masonic world. Adorned with some of the finest artifacts of Freemasonry and magnificent Lodge rooms based on themes of the ancient architectural world, the Masonic Temple connects us with our past by outwardly displaying our Masonic traditions and values.

Experience the magic of the Masonic Temple. You will not be disappointed.

Slideshow
Experience the beauty of the Masonic Temple. - Virtual tour on Flickr

Location
Across from City Hall
One North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Hours of Operation
Open Tue - Fri with tours 11 a.m. and 2 and 3 p.m.
Open Sat (except July and August) with tours at 10 and 11 a.m.

Christ Church Burial Ground

Each day, I have the pleasure of walking by the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin.

Christ Church Burial Ground is one of America’s most interesting Colonial and Revolution-era graveyards, with 1,400 markers on two beautiful acres right in the heart of historic Philadelphia.

The Burial Ground is the final resting place for some of our most prominent leaders including Benjamin Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Location
5th & Arch Street - Right acros from the Visitors Center, the Constitution Center, and the US Mint

Reading Terminal Market

Today, Reading Terminal Market is once again the gastronomic bazaar that its original planners had envisioned. Many of the historic Market stands survived the reconstruction and are once again filled with local produce, fresh eggs, milk, meats, poultry, seafood, handmade crafts, jewelry, and clothing.

The Market is home to more than 80 merchants, two of whom are descendants of the original standholders from a century before. On any given day one can find an eclectic array of fresh baked Amish goods, produce direct from the field, unusual spices, free range meats and poultry, flowers, ethnic foods, and much more.

One hundred thousand Philadelphians and tourists pass through the Reading Terminal Market every week enjoying its exceptional products, history, and people.

Location
Reading Terminal Market
51 North 12th Street

Hours of Operation
Monday through Saturday: 8:00 am–6:00 pm

Note: Some of the Market’s restaurants close after 4:00pm.

Sunday : 9:00 am–5:00 pm

NOTE: Not all merchants are open on Sundays. In general, about two-thirds of Market vendors open on Sundays, representing a good cross-section of merchandise categories. Pennsylvania Dutch vendors are not open on Sundays.

Ghost Tours of Philadelphia

Date: 3/22/2008 - 11/15/2008

In the mood for something truly spooky? Try one of Philadelphia’s candlelit walking tours of America’s most historic and haunted cities, where enchanting tour guides will lead you through Independence Hall and Washington Square to show you the haunted spots of Philadelphia.

Hear chilling tales of Benedict Arnold and other Founding Fathers that may have you looking over your shoulder as you cruise through Society Hill. Discover what may be lurking behind the shadows of America’s most haunted city!

The 90 minute tour is offered evenings at 7:30 pm March through November. October tours are also offered at 9:30 on Fridays, Saturdays and Halloween. Reservations are required.

An "electric" presence

Benjamin Franklin, who recently turned 300, is said to still roam the streets of Old City. The Ghost Tour will visit several of his old haunts, as well as St. Peter's Cemetery, known to be the most haunted site in the city.

Location
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia departs from the Signers Garden at
5th and Chestnut Streets, and lasts approximately 90 minutes.

TICKETS & RESERVATIONS
To Purchase Tickets in Advance

Call 215.413.1997 to purchase with a credit card.

Or purchase at the Omni Hotel Gift Shop (401 Chestnut St., 19106,
on Chestnut Street between 4th and 5th Streets), with cash only, until
tour time.

Or purchase at the Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market
Streets, during their regular hours.

Dream Garden at the Curtis Center

Louis Comfort Tiffany meets Maxfield Parrish in a one-of-a-kind creation

The Experience
In the lobby of a somber office building that flanks Washington Square lies an unexpected treasure: the astounding Dream Garden – a 15 x 49-foot mosaic of more than 100,000 pieces of favrile glass. Color and light, masterfully combined by the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany, bring to life the luminous vision of Philadelphia native Maxfield Parrish, who created the painting on which the mosaic was based.

The brilliantly hued work was commissioned by Cyrus Curtis, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post, to grace his empire’s new marble and pillar fortified headquarters. The work has been displayed since 1916 as an integral part of the Curtis Center’s historically certified lobby, yet few people know of its existence. Those who find it – either deliberately or not – are never disappointed.

History
One of only three such works ever undertaken by Tiffany Studios, the piece is comprised of 24 panels that took six months to install in its Philadelphia setting. In 1998, after the piece was put up for sale and casino magnate Steve Wynn attempted to purchase it, a citywide outcry nixed the deal, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts purchased its alumnus' famous Dream Garden to make sure it would remain where it has always been.

Location
601 Walnut St
In the Lobby of the Curtis Center

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Artist Isaiah Zagar's masterpiece on South Street

The Experience

Covering an indoor and outdoor space equivalent to half a city block, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens glisten with creativity, urban renaissance and a hint of madness.

Isaiah Zagar, a local artist who began tiling South Street in the 1960s and never stopped, constructed the space out of cement, bicycle spokes, bottles, ceramic shards and other artistic knick-knacks.

The tiled passages of the Magic Garden weave over- and underground — and, perhaps more than anything, through the mind of a dedicated and inspired artist.

Zagar has created more than 100 mosaics in Philadelphia, the majority of them along the South Street corridor. A walk around the neighborhood unveils not only the work of one artist, but a geographic renaissance.

The History

In the 1960s, a group of artists and entrepreneurs began renting derelict storefronts and recreating the South Street neighborhood. Isaiah Zagar was at the forefront of that movement.

In its early years, the Magic Gardens faced an uncertain future. Zagar began building the labyrinthine sculpture on land he didn't own and, in 2004, the absentee landlord put it up for sale.

After a public outcry that resulted in an outpouring of community support and donations, the nonprofit organization Philadelphia's Magic Gardens was formed to purchase and maintain the grounds. And Philadelphia is all the better for it.

Today, the Magic Garden complex is the gateway to both a moment in Philadelphia's history — the South Street Renaissance — and the work of a unique artist whose odyssey continues to be living, working and playing on Philadelphia's South Street.

Location
1022-1024 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Eyes Gallery Façade and Interiors - 402 South Street (1968)
Isaiah's Grotto; entire building inside and out plus yard sculpture - 610 South 10th Street Rear: 609 S Alder St. (1976-2004)
Home of Isaiah and Julia Zagar- 826 South St. (1984)
Alder Street Walls - 600 block S. Alder Street. (1991)
Painted Bride Art Center Façade - 230 Vine Street (1991-2000)
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens- 1020 South Street (1994)
Queen Village Southwark Garden 20th Anniversary Wall - 300 block Christian Street (1995)
Zagar's Studio (A.I.T.C.O.T.R.W.) -1003 Kater St. (1995)
Schell Street Wall (including Rose's) 600 block Schell St. (1996)
Agoos & Lovera Architects Wall -731 S. Broad St. (1996)
4th Street Façade- 608 S 4th Street (1996)
Robin's Bookstore 108 S. 13th Street. (1999)
Circle It- Essene- 719 S. 4th St. (1998)
Ezekiel's Dream- Church of the Crucifixon - 620 S 8th St (1998)
PhilaDeli Memorial Walls - 600 Block S. Leithgow St. (west side) (1999)
Carlos Carpets - 515 Bainbridge St. (2000)
Homage to Mike Matteo, Master Plumber - 510 Bainbridge St. (2000)
Julia's Birthday Card February 8, 628 Clifton Street. (2000)
Big Women - Bodine St. Community Garden - 914 S. Bodine St. (2000)
Yoel/Dylan - 719 Bainbridge St. (2001)
Ben Dorfman Building- 324 Kater St. (2001)
Back Wall T.L.A. Performance Center - 300 Block Kater St. (north side) (2001)
House of the Two Writers- 724 Mildred Street (2002)
Hip Hop Café - 705 E. Passyunk Ave (2002)
Thunderbolt Jackson - 10th St. and Dickinson St. (2002)
West Coast Optical - 1726 Chestnut St. - add arrow (2002)
Dreamer - 603 S 8th St. (2002)
Pemberton Walls- 800 Block Pemberton St. (2003)
Celebrate Philadelphia Dance - Bob and Barbara's - 1509 South St. (2004)
Philadelphia Dance- Lombard St. and Jessup St. (2004)
Snyderman Gallery Bathroom - 303 Cherry Street (2004)
Anthony's Eyes - 1035 Bainbridge St. (2004)
South Street Laundromat Patio - 828 South St. (2000-2004)
Sartain & Fitzwater (2003)
Randolph St. Driveway - 500 Block S Randolph St. (2003)
WSWCA South Street Community Garden - 839 South St. (2004)
Clifton Street, between Bainbridge & Fitzwater (2005)
Shaman Story - Clifton St. Walls - 600 and 700 Block S. Clifton St. (2005)
Gloriously Free Mason - 1132 South Street. (2005)
Eye's Test - Auntie Anne's - 411 South St. 500 Block S. Leithgow St. (2005)
All Wars Ended - 4th St. and Gaskill St. (north west corner) (2005)
Philadelphia Dance - City Shoes- 600 Block S. Leithgow (2005)
Wheel Art - De Vecchis Gallery - 404 ½ South St. (rear parking area) (2005)
Broad and South St. Community Arts Garden - NE corner Broad St. and South Street. (2005)
Warnock St. & Christian (2005)
8th & Montrose (2005)
His Bowler - South Street Hats- 810 South St. (2006)
This is the day, Jesus Journey - 1032 South Street (2006)
Sartain & Catherine (2007)
Jessup Street, between Catherine & Fitzwater (2007)
Hall Street between 10th & 11th (2007)
Mildred Street Wall - 713- 15 S. Mildred Street (2008)
Ladies of Love, 1009 S. 8th St.
C. Royce Ettinger Print Studio Façade - 144 Vine St.
Clay Studio Entranceway and Stairway - 139 N. 2ND St.

Website
Philadelphia Magic Gardens

Eastern State Penitentiary - World's First True Penitentiary

Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, Eastern State was the world’s first true penitentiary, a prison designed to inspire penitence in the hearts of criminals. The original seven cellblocks spread like the spokes of a wheel, and had running water and central heat before the White House. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone. The prison stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and a surprising, eerie beauty. Tours today include the cellblocks, solitary punishment cells, Al Capone’s Cell, and Death Row.

Location
Eastern State Penitentiary
2124 Fairmount Ave Philadelphia, PA 19130

Hours of Operation
Daily: 10:00am – 5:00pm (Last Entry: 4:00pm)

Special Summer Twilight Hours: Wednesday evenings June - August until 8:00pm (Last Entry: 7:00pm)

Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Ride the Ducks - Philly from a Duck's Eye View

Experience Philadelphia sightseeing fun from a duck's eye view on Philadelphia's original duck tour. Travel on land and water in one amazing vehicle. Tour historic Philadelphia and SPLASH into the Delaware River at Penn's Landing. Ride The Ducks is the fun thing to do in Philadelphia and it's the best Philly sightseeing tour.

Location
Tours depart on 6th street outside the Independence Visitor Center.

Hours of Operation
The Ride The Ducks adventure departs frequently, 7 days a week, Mid-March through Mid-December. Times vary depending on Month of the year, call for exact times.

Visit Philadelphia's Top Tourist Attractions FREE with Philadelphia Pass

How does the Philadelphia Pass work?

The Philadelphia Pass is a ‘smart card’ - like a credit card with a computer chip inside - which allows you completely cash free entry to over 40 Philadelphia tourist attractions. It’s a bit like an ‘all you can eat’ buffet - once you’ve bought your Philadelphia Pass you don’t have to pay to get into any of the attractions covered by the pass and the more sights you see, the more money you save.

Simply show the attendant at a Philadelphia Pass attraction your card, they will swipe it through a special machine and you will be allowed entry.

Activating the Philadelphia Pass
The smart card records when and where you first use your Philadelphia Pass, as well as how long the pass will remain valid.

This means your Pass is activated the moment that you first use it at an attraction or service so buy it now and take up to a year to use it. Your Philadelphia Pass is then valid for the number of days that you purchased - be it 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. It is important to note that a ‘day’ is based on a calendar day, so should you first use your pass at 4pm on Monday, Monday is counted as day one of your pass usage.

Validity of the Philadelphia Pass
The Philadelphia Pass is valid for use on consecutive days only. At the end of your validity period, the pass will expire and will no longer allow access to attractions.

If, for example, you used a three day pass for the first time on Monday, your pass will cease working at the end of Wednesday, regardless of how often you have used it in between.

Skipping the lines
As well as free entry, the Philadelphia Pass allows you to skip long lines at the busiest tourist attractions. Simply look for the Philadelphia Pass signs and show the attendant your Philadelphia Pass - they will swipe your card through the Philadelphia Pass machine and you will be allowed entrance.