Where can you go to spend time with friends after school, create artwork, and do things like run rampant inside a beating human heart? Museums! Hold up, I know what you’re probably thinking. “Nobody wants to go to some random old museum to learn about the history of European paint or whatever-” That’s fair, however, museums have been given a bad reputation. Last year, Laila Warrick wrote an article about how public places were kicking all teenagers out due to the rowdiness of few. With the Philadelphia Museum of Art now offering programs to high school students, I thought it would be a good idea to spotlight some museums and show why attending them could be a fun way to spend your time.

STAMP

STAMP, or Students at Museums in Philly, is an organization by Art Reach; which is a general program that “creates, advocates for, and expands accessible opportunities in the arts so the full spectrum of society is served,” according to their website. They take feedback from others, present it to art organizations, and help those organizations develop things like inclusive practices and accessible programming. It’s a program run by disabled people, who focus on the needs of other disabled people to make art organizations more enjoyable for all. STAMP also allows high schoolers to attend museums for free as long as they have their student ID with them.

FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

The Franklin Institute is a museum for all creative minds. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a science museum with many different types of exhibits that will guarantee to suit your fancy. At first, most would look over this option, mainly because of its childlike appeal. However, things like the Sportzone, Techzone, and the Planetarium may also spark your interest. The Sportzone and Techzone seem self-explanatory, different spaces with interactive activities for their respective areas. The Planetarium is a show about topics surrounding astronomy.

MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

History lovers may want to put this one on their must-see list! The MOAR, or Museum of the American Revolution, located just minutes away from the Liberty Bell, focuses on…well, the events of the American Revolution. Exhibits like ‘The Road to Independence’ and ‘A Revolutionary War’ directly focus on certain events and history during the 1760s. Three different short films run during the whole day. The first is called ‘Revolution’ (12 minutes, also available in Mandarin upon request), the second is ‘Washington’s War Tent’ (15 minutes) and the third is ‘People of the Standing Stone’ (around 25 minutes).

ART MUSEUM

The museum that strives to make an authentic art experience for all, the Philadelphia Museum of Art was built in 1874 and now has over 200,000 exhibits for one to check out! Any art majors looking for either inspiration or are interested in the history of art might be interested, or even people with no occupation regarding art may find interest in some of its features. Some exhibits on view as of recently include (but are not limited to): “Seeking with Empathy: The Female Haze in American Modernism” which is available until May 15, 2024, and “Collecting Japanese Art in Philadelphia”, the last day of it’s running will occur on July 21, 2024.

These museums welcome high school students with open arms and can be engaging and enjoyable. So the next time you’re planning an after-school hangout, consider going to one of these museums.