Permanent Exhibits

Permanent Exhibits are found throughout the museum.

Memorial Hall

1st floor

This central hall is dedicated to the vision of Pennsylvania’s founder William Penn. It features a colossal bronze statue of Penn by Pennsylvania sculptor Janet de Coux and Vincent Maragliotti’s sweeping mural above depicting Pennsylvania’s history up to 1964.

Pennsylvania Icons

1st floor

This exciting exhibit features over 350 collection items and takes a look at how Pennsylvania has uniquely influenced our nation’s development through its people, places, products, and events.

A Place for All:
Three Stories of Integration in PA

1st floor

This exhibition tells the history of three integration efforts in Pennsylvania after World War II. These stories testify to the courage of those who sought to end racial segregation in all of its forms.

Village Square

1st floor

This live-size streetscape features historic façades typical of 19th century Pennsylvania towns and villages. It features a summer kitchen, general store, tin shop, and much more.

Objects of Valor:
Commemorating the Civil War in PA

2nd floor

Featuring the narrative painting “Battle of Gettysburg: Pickett’s Charge” (1870), by Peter F. Rothermel, this exhibition showcases the museum’s collection of artifacts that reflect the preservation and interpretation of the Commonwealth’s Civil War experience.

Anthropology & Archaeology Gallery

2nd floor

Explore Pennsylvania’s early Native American cultures and learn how archaeologists discover the past through excavations, collections, and research.

Transportation & Industry

2nd floor

Explore the historic tools, machines, and vehicles from Pennsylvania’s rich industrial past. See how Pennsylvania is a keystone linking the nation through transportation with our Pennsylvania Turnpike exhibit.

Hall of Geology

3rd floor

Experience the early Earth and its formation while exploring the abundant rocks and minerals, landforms, and tectonic movements that have made Pennsylvania.

Life Through Time

3rd floor

Travel through time and experience the ancient flora and fauna, from the Precambrian to Cenozoic periods. See the Marshalls Creek Mastodon, one of the most complete specimens of its kind in North America and immerse yourself in the forests of the Carboniferous.

Mammal Hall

3rd floor

Restoring Mammal Hall

3rd floor

The Museum included Mammal Hall in the architectural plans in 1965. It took a team of curators, artists, and preparators, three years to complete, which opened in June 1968. As the 50th anniversary of Mammal Hall approached, it was clear that the dioramas needed—and deserved—more than a cleaning. This exhibit explores the science and art behind the three year restoration project.

Ecology Hall

3rd floor