Please Touch Museum

Please Touch Museum is a children's museum located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded by Portia Sperr, with the goal of providing a unique and interactive learning experience for young children, inspired by the Bank Street College of Education and the Children's Museum of Manhattan. The museum is designed for children aged 1-7, and features a variety of exhibits and activities that encourage learning through play, similar to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and the Boston Children's Museum. The museum has been recognized for its innovative approach to education, and has been compared to other notable children's museums, such as the San Francisco Children's Museum and the Chicago Children's Museum. The museum's founders were influenced by the works of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, and the museum's design reflects the principles of Reggio Emilia approach and the Montessori method.

● History

The Please Touch Museum was founded in 1976 by Portia Sperr, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, who was inspired by the Children's Museum of Boston and the Brooklyn Children's Museum. The museum was originally located in a Loft in Society Hill, Philadelphia, and featured a variety of interactive exhibits, including a mini-grocery store and a doctor's office, similar to those found in the Children's Museum of Denver and the Portland Children's Museum. In 2008, the museum moved to its current location in Memorial Hall, a historic building in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, which was designed by John McArthur Jr. and Theophilus Parsons Chandler Jr., and built for the 1876 Centennial Exposition. The museum's new location was made possible through a partnership with the City of Philadelphia and the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and was supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation.

● Exhibits

The Please Touch Museum features a variety of interactive exhibits, including a mini-city with a hospital, a fire station, and a city hall, similar to those found in the Children's Museum of Houston and the Minnesota Children's Museum. The museum also features a river adventure exhibit, where children can learn about water conservation and marine biology, with a focus on the Delaware River and the Schuylkill River. Other exhibits include a farm-to-table exhibit, where children can learn about sustainable agriculture and nutrition, and a space station exhibit, where children can learn about astronomy and space exploration, with a focus on the NASA and the European Space Agency. The museum's exhibits are designed to be interactive and engaging, and are inspired by the works of Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner.

● Architecture

The Please Touch Museum is located in Memorial Hall, a historic building in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, which was designed by John McArthur Jr. and Theophilus Parsons Chandler Jr., and built for the 1876 Centennial Exposition. The building features a unique blend of Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival architecture, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum's interior design was led by KieranTimberlake, a Philadelphia-based architecture firm, and features a variety of interactive exhibits and displays, including a grand atrium and a staircase designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The museum's design reflects the principles of sustainable design and universal design, and was influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier.

● Collections

The Please Touch Museum features a variety of collections, including a toy collection with over 10,000 objects, including dolls, trains, and puzzles, similar to those found in the Strong National Museum of Play and the Museum of Childhood. The museum also features a costume collection with over 1,000 objects, including dresses, suits, and accessories, with a focus on the history of fashion and the fashion industry. Other collections include a book collection with over 5,000 objects, including children's books and educational materials, and a art collection with over 1,000 objects, including paintings, sculptures, and prints, with a focus on the history of art and the art world. The museum's collections are designed to be interactive and engaging, and are inspired by the works of John Dewey and Howard Gardner.

● Education

The Please Touch Museum offers a variety of educational programs, including workshops, classes, and tours, designed for children aged 1-7, and aligned with the Pennsylvania State Standards and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The museum also offers a variety of professional development opportunities for teachers and educators, including workshops and conferences, with a focus on the Reggio Emilia approach and the Montessori method. The museum's educational programs are designed to be interactive and engaging, and are inspired by the works of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. The museum partners with a variety of organizations, including the Philadelphia School District, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Drexel University, to provide educational programs and resources to children and families, and is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation.

● Operations

The Please Touch Museum is a non-profit organization, governed by a board of trustees, and is supported by a variety of donors and sponsors, including The Pew Charitable Trusts, the William Penn Foundation, and the Knight Foundation. The museum is led by a president and CEO, Patricia Wellenbach, who has a background in education and non-profit management, and has worked with organizations such as the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and the Boston Children's Museum. The museum has a staff of over 100 employees, including educators, curators, and administrators, and is supported by a variety of volunteers and interns, who are students at University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Temple University. The museum's operations are designed to be efficient and effective, and are inspired by the principles of sustainable management and social responsibility. Category:Children's museums in the United States