State Museum of Pennsylvania
State Museum of Pennsylvania
4.5
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:30 PM
About
Museum housing more than two million objects associated with or significant to the history and heritage of Pennsylvania.
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- Harrisburg Transportation Center • 10 min walk
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4.5
269 reviews
Excellent
143
Very good
97
Average
25
Poor
4
Terrible
0
harryatkck
Kansas City, KS987 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
In addition to the wide variety of exhibits here, this is one of the easiest museums to see. When you come to the museum you will get a map that shows where all of the exhibit areas are. The are 4 floors that are circular with 3-5 different exhibit areas each. I loved the Civil War exhibits, & the 4th floor was all exhibits on natural history, geology, etc. in addition to elevators there are escalators that go each way between every floor. This is the best state museum I have visited.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tia B
Morgantown, WV309 contributions
Oct 2022
Visited here with my brother and friends when we toured the state Capitol. The museum is 3 floors. Very nice exhibits and it is self-guided. Our friend is a veteran and got free admission with his military ID. There is a large statue of William Penn in the museum. It is very educational, and I especially enjoyed exhibits about famous PA born people, the PA turnpike and civil war battles. We didnt see everthing and were there over 2 hours. PA state capitol is adjacent to the museum . So I would recommed seeing both if you come here. Nice gift shop. Parking garage within short walk .
Written 25 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gogobucs
10 contributions
Nov 2022
Some of this was very nice but maybe I am a bit sheltered living in Florida. I am a moderate democrat and I found some of it to be a bit offensive and woke. I have never experienced this kind of stuff before. A photograph of a shirtless man and leather straps wearing woman's hair and make-up was a bit much and a display of white people carvings in an egg crate was extremely racist.
Written 25 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Newton618
Erie, PA196 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
I very nice informative place, I wish I allotted more time to take in more, very friendly staff, and wonderful exhibits
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wives-would-not-go
Parrish, FL40 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
I and my family have always loved this museum. Spent lots of time there with my children when they were young. I now live out of state and I have not visited for maybe 15 years. It seemed darker, more dingy. Not sure how may new items to view. New civil war room which was very nice. Staff was friendly. Parking on the street was $9.00. Additional state funding could spruce it up.
Written 14 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vineyard57
West Chester PA12 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
Visiting the State Museum gave insight into the creativity and ingenuity of some of its residents. Every state should have so many fine sons and daughters! Because it can be explored at an individual pace, this is a good place for homeschoolers to expand their "History of PA" experience. The museum has something for toddlers through seniors.
Written 13 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mzbook
Sanford, FL152 contributions
Nov 2013 • Family
There is so much to see in Harrisburg, including what is possibly the most recognizable Capitol Building in the country. More on that in another review. The Museum, walking distance from the Capitol Building, is a great place with interactive exhibits and several floors crammed (tastefully) with "historia" of Pa: from life-sized models of the dinosaurs who once lived here to the aboriginal Native American exhibit (the authentic clothing is awesome!) to more up-to-date things, this is a great way to spend a few hours. It's also a popular place for school field trips, so bare that in mind if you are going during the week. There is a gift shop, of course, but no on-site parking. Parking garages are nearby and you may be able to find a street meter if the gods are willing... While in the area, if on a weekday, take a self-guided tour of the Capitol Bldg, you can sit in on the meetings if they are in session. Mosey down to the very nearby Susquehanna River where there is a paved path to walk along. If you have chosen a "game day" for Harrisburg Senators Baseball (farm team for the Washington Nationals) you might want to take in a game across the river (pedestrian bridge, or move your car to the "City Island" parking lot for a couple of bucks a pop). The stadium is a cool minor league "homey" place, tickets and food are inexpensive and the games are exciting. There are batting cages there as well as other attractions. This could be a very full day in Harrisburg, or a one-stop museum day, but I hope you enjoy your visit!
Written 20 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Casey H
Pittsburgh, PA35 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Stopped by on a whim and was pleased by the low admission fee- just $7! Four floors of exhibits with a ton to look at from the history of different animals in Pennsylvania to Civil War paintings and artifacts. Could spend hours here! Front desk was very welcoming and informative.
Written 24 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James E
Philadelphia, PA47 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
The museum is quite impressive with a good mix of science, history and interaction, and it has something for everyone. I loved the Pennsylvania and Civil War history sections, Schedule permitting I could spend the whole day here
Written 24 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nprus
Lancaster, PA537 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
We hadn't been to the State Museum in probably fifteen years, so decided to see how it had changed. We traveled to the third floor, and started in Ecology Hall. Many of the exhibits here were really dated -- one even had a short from Encyclopedia Britannica playing. (Do kids these days even know what that was ? ) We were a little worried, but ventured on. We then walked through the area explaining the refurbishment of the Mammal Hall for it's fiftieth (yes, 50th) anniversary. It was really interesting, but was only the appetizer for the full size exhibits of the animals that had roamed PA which were next door. They were so well done. I specifically enjoyed the bison -- depicted in the middle of the winter in snow and cold.
The rest of the exhibits on the third floor were very well done -- the Paleontology section was very well done and laid out by time periods. There was even a full size skeleton found in a peat bog in PA.
Floor two was about PA transportation and industry, and Native Americans. The best find for us was a video about the building of the PA Turnpike which opened in 1940.
The first floor had exhibits on PA's involvement in the various wars. Unknown to us, this was the week that the Penn Charter was on display, and not stored in the state archive. A volunteer happily told the story behind the document, and I snapped a picture with my phone (no flash photography allowed) to remember this 380 year old document that provided the land for us and named our state Pennsylvania even though William Penn (a Quaker) would have preferred Sylvania.
Overall a great day for less than the cost of a movie. (Senior Rate - $ 6) Take the kids and learn more about our amazing state and it's contribution to the world and history.
NOTE: On street parking is readily available on Saturday and Sunday. You pay via kiosk using your license number. The cost is $ 3.00 per hour -- credit cards and quarters are accepted. You can choose how much time you pay for. We chose two hours. However, you can elect to have an alert sent to your phone 15 minutes before your time is up. You can then either head back to the car, or add additional minutes using your phone if you used a credit card. Technology makes life so easy !
The rest of the exhibits on the third floor were very well done -- the Paleontology section was very well done and laid out by time periods. There was even a full size skeleton found in a peat bog in PA.
Floor two was about PA transportation and industry, and Native Americans. The best find for us was a video about the building of the PA Turnpike which opened in 1940.
The first floor had exhibits on PA's involvement in the various wars. Unknown to us, this was the week that the Penn Charter was on display, and not stored in the state archive. A volunteer happily told the story behind the document, and I snapped a picture with my phone (no flash photography allowed) to remember this 380 year old document that provided the land for us and named our state Pennsylvania even though William Penn (a Quaker) would have preferred Sylvania.
Overall a great day for less than the cost of a movie. (Senior Rate - $ 6) Take the kids and learn more about our amazing state and it's contribution to the world and history.
NOTE: On street parking is readily available on Saturday and Sunday. You pay via kiosk using your license number. The cost is $ 3.00 per hour -- credit cards and quarters are accepted. You can choose how much time you pay for. We chose two hours. However, you can elect to have an alert sent to your phone 15 minutes before your time is up. You can then either head back to the car, or add additional minutes using your phone if you used a credit card. Technology makes life so easy !
Written 9 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are strollers allowed & is there an elevator?
Written 10 March 2024
What is the parking like is there a structure or do you have to park on the street
Written 2 May 2019
On Sundays street parking is for free... There is a cheap parking garage 1-2 blocks away... enjoy your visit at the museum.
Written 3 May 2019
Adults - $7.00
Senior Citizens (65 & older) - $6.00
Children ages 1-11 - $5.00
Active duty military and their immediate family (with ID) - free
Retired military personnel only (with ID) - free
State Museum Affiliate Members - free
Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation Members - free
Planetarium - $3.00 plus museum admission for all ages
Planetarium is free for:
Active duty military and their immediate family (with ID)
Retired military personnel only (with ID)
State Museum Affiliate Members
Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation Members
Written 12 August 2016
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