Book a Free Museum Field Trip or Group Tour
Want to bring your group, class, or club to our museum? Or request a virtual program? Book a free group or school tour online through our portal, Explorable Places! And stay up-to-date on the latest tours by signing up for our Educator Newsletter.
Our museum offers self-guided field trips, in-person tours, and virtual programs for a wide range of age groups and interests. In-person school tours and virtual classroom visits are most appropriate for students ages 12-13 or older (middle school, high school, and college students) in history, social studies, environmental studies, general science, or chemistry courses. We also offer group tours and virtual programs for adult, senior, and non-school groups, clubs, and organizations of all kinds. Reservations are required for groups larger than 12 and must be made at least two weeks before the date of your visit.
Guided Gallery Tours and Activities
All group tours must be confirmed in advance and are subject to availability.
Self-Guided Field Trips
Do you prefer independent exploration? Use our self-guided group visit form to plan your field trip.
Virtual Programs and Virtual Classroom Visits
All virtual programs must be confirmed in advance and are subject to availability.
Guided Gallery Tours and Activities
We currently offer the following activities for in-person group and school field trip visits:
Artisans, Alchemists, Chemists: Highlighting Minerals & Us
A unique learning experience for school groups that includes a tour, an interactive game using objects from our handling collection, and a scavenger hunt. This experience looks at how humans have used and studied minerals throughout history, featuring our Earthly Matters exhibition.
- PA Standards met
- STEELS: 3.2.5.A, 3.5.3-5.J, 3.2.6-8.A, 3.2.6-8.C, 3.5.6-8.F, 3.5.6-8.G, 3.5.6-8.I, 3.5.6-8.CC, 3.5.6-8.KK, 3.2.9-12.A, 3.5.9-12.F, 3.5.9-12.H, 3.5.9-12.JJ, 3.5.9-12.KK, 3.5.9-12.GG
- History: 8.1.6.A, 8.4.6.A, 8.4.7.A, 8.4.4.B, 8.4.5.B, 8.4.6.B, 8.4.7.B, 8.4.8.B, 8.4.6.C, 8.4.8.C, 8.4.9.C, 8.4.W.C, 8.4.12.C
- Next Generation Science Standards Science and Engineering Practices
- Constructing explanations
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
- Developing and using models
- Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts
- Patterns
- Systems and system models
Women in Chemistry
Guided tour that shines a light on the central role of women in shaping chemistry and the material sciences across history.
- PA Standards met
- STEELS: 3.5.3-5.EE, 3.5.6-8.CC, 3.5.8-12.L
- History: 8.1.6.A, 8.3.5.A, 8.3.6.A, 8.3.8.A, 8.3.6.B, 8.3.6.C, 8.3.7.C, 8.3.8.C,8.3.5.D, 8.3.6.D, 8.3.7.D, 8.3.8.D, 8.4.5.A, 8.4.6.A, 8.4.7.A, 8.4.8.A, 8.4.6.B, 8.4.7.B, 8.4.8.B, 8.4.6.C, 8.4.7.C, 8.4.8.C, 8.4.6.D, 8.4.7.D, 8.4.8.D, 8.1.9.A, 8.1.U.A, 8.1.W.A, 8.1.12.A, 8.1.9.B, 8.1.U.B, 8.1.W.B, 8.1.12.B, 8.3.9.A, 8.3.U.A, 8.3.9.C, 8.3.U.C, 8.3.12.C, 8.3.9.D, 8.3.U.D, 8.4.9.A, 8.4.W.A, 8.4.12.A, 8.4.9.C, 8.4.W.C, 8.4.12.C, 8.4.9.D, 8.4.W.D, 8.4.12.D
Fireworks
Guided tour that explores our new Flash, Bang, Boom! A History of Fireworks exhibition. Topics include the chemistry of fireworks, the historical conditions that led to their spread across the world, and fireworks regulations of the past, present, and future.
From Nature to Nylons: Highlighting the History of Textiles
A learning experience consisting of a tour and a hands-on introduction to objects from our collections, exploring the history of textiles and the development of synthetic fabric.
Scavenger Hunt Activities
Worksheets for all ages on topics such as Meet the Elements, History of Medicine, and Who’s Behind the Science? These puzzles will add fun and a little bit of a challenge to your visit!
Science & Activism
Guided tour that explores stories of environmental justice, patients’ rights, community science, and more.
Unwell Waters: Highlighting Health & the Environment
A learning experience consisting of a tour and a hands-on introduction to objects from our collection, in which visitors will learn about the history of waterborne diseases in Pennsylvania, as well as modern threats to the health of the world’s oceans.
Booking Instructions
We suggest allowing one hour for your group visit. Group visits are available Wednesday through Friday, 10am to 3:30pm. Other times may be possible by special appointment. We can accommodate up to 20–25 individuals per tour group. Larger groups may be asked to stagger their tour times. School groups require a 8:1 student-to-chaperone ratio; for more details see our Guidelines for Chaperones page.
Transportation Fund
New for the 2026–2027 school year: Teachers in the School District of Philadelphia can request funds to cover the cost of transportation when booking a guided tour. Funds are limited, so book your trip soon.
Self-Guided Field Trips
Self-guided visits to the Science History Institute Museum are most appropriate for students age 12 or older (middle school, high school, and college students) in history, social studies, environmental studies, general science, or chemistry courses. Visitors can explore our permanent exhibition, which traces the history of science—from medieval alchemy to modern plastics, and everything in between—or view our latest temporary exhibition, Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks, to learn about the sparkling spectacle behind pyrotechnics. Guests are also encouraged to play with our Object Explorer, an interactive touch table that highlights the fascinating science behind everyday objects like lightbulbs and ice cube trays.
Self-guided visits are available Wednesday through Friday, from 10am to 3:30pm. You should expect to spend about an hour in our museum.
Virtual Programs and Virtual Classroom Visits
We currently offer the following topics for interactive virtual programs or virtual classroom visits:
What’s Behind a Nobel Prize?
Every year, the Nobel Prizes shine a spotlight on a few scientists. But out of the spotlight are the large and diverse teams that make important research happen. In this interactive virtual program, explore who is really behind the science.
Women in Chemistry
Meet women across history who have shaped scientific knowledge, from 17th-century French alchemist Marie Meurdrac to mid-20th-century biochemist Mary Maynard Daly, the first Black woman in America to receive a PhD in chemistry. See how women have pioneered scientific fields and contributed to discovery and innovation.
Advance reservations are required. Dates and times for virtual programs may vary by request. The average length of a virtual program is 35–45 minutes.
All virtual programs must be confirmed in advance and are subject to availability.
Further questions? Email us at tours@sciencehistory.org.
There are several options for booking charter bus, minibus, and shuttle bus rentals for in-person tours:
