Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia Closes After Nearly 200 Years

The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, founded in 1812 and opened to the public in 1828, closed on September 30, 2025, after Drexel University announced the closure on September 1. Drexel, which took over financial responsibility in 2011, cited rising post-pandemic costs and declining attendance. The museum was the first in the world to display a dinosaur skeleton, in 1868, and houses over 19 million specimens, including Thomas Jefferson's fossil collection and plant samples from Lewis and Clark. Its closure sparked protests, an online petition with over 114,000 signatures, and a last-minute offer of bridge funding from the William Penn Foundation. Drexel said it is exploring the offer but requires a long-term sustainability plan. The closure reflects broader funding declines for cultural and scientific institutions, with a 2025 American Alliance of Museums survey showing a third of members had government grants cancelled. Philadelphia's city council proposed zoning changes and public hearings with subpoena power over Drexel to investigate the closure.