Independence Seaport Museum

The Independence Seaport Museum on the Delaware River waterfront is built around something that most museums can't offer: real historic ships you can actually board and explore. The USS Becuna, a WWII-era submarine, and the USS Olympia, a steel warship from 1895, are docked alongside the museum and included with admission — and they are genuinely the highlight for family visits.

Walking through a real WWII submarine is an experience kids simply don't forget. The interior is authentically tight — torpedoes, bunks, controls, all original. Kids who love military history, engineering, or just the sheer coolness of submarines will spend significant time exploring every compartment.

The USS Olympia above deck offers a different kind of scale — the preserved battle cruiser that participated in the Spanish-American War is enormous, and walking its decks provides a tangible connection to naval history.

Inside the museum building, exhibits cover the Delaware River's history, Philadelphia's relationship to the sea, and maritime traditions. The boat-building workshop is a particularly engaging hands-on area for younger children.

Admission runs approximately $18 for adults and $13 for children (verify current pricing). Open seven days a week, 10AM-5PM — one of the more visitor-friendly schedules in Philadelphia's museum landscape. A family of 4 should budget $65-85 including admission and parking.

Penn's Landing waterfront is free and worth walking before or after, and Old City restaurants are a short walk for post-visit dining.

Note that submarine access requires crawling through tight hatches — not suitable for all family members.