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Philly's Oldest Natural History Museum Faces Closure

Summary

  • Nation's oldest natural history museum prepares for closure after nearly 200 years.
  • Declining attendance post-pandemic and rising costs strain the institution.
  • Drexel University will redirect resources to research and collections.

After nearly two centuries of operation, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, America's oldest natural history museum, is preparing to cease public access.

Located in Philadelphia, the museum, renowned for its extensive collections of dinosaur skeletons, fossils, meteorites, and wildlife dioramas, has struggled to recover visitor numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simultaneously, escalating operating costs have placed significant financial pressure on the institution. Drexel University announced that the closure is intended to allow for the redirection of resources toward the Academy's vital research and collections efforts.

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