Please Touch Museum

Please Touch Museum is the crown jewel of Philadelphia's family attractions and one of the best children's museums in the country. Located in the magnificent Memorial Hall — a Beaux-Arts building that served as the Art Gallery for the 1876 Centennial Exposition — it combines world-class architecture with exhibits designed exclusively for children under 7.

The exhibits are organized around themes of play and exploration. River Adventures is the water play area where kids manipulate dams, locks, and channels in a multi-level water system. It's hands-on engineering for toddlers, and they will get wet — bring a change of clothes.

The Rocket Room has a cockpit, control panels, and space-themed imaginative play. The Supermarket lets kids fill carts, weigh produce, and scan items. Each exhibit is designed for repeated visits without getting stale.

The Alice in Wonderland exhibit deserves special mention. Based on the Lewis Carroll stories, it's an immersive environment where kids walk through a giant tea party, crawl through oversized playing cards, and explore the Mad Hatter's world. The craftsmanship is excellent and the sense of wonder is real — adults enjoy it as much as kids.

The restored carousel is included with admission and is a genuine antique — hand-carved wooden horses from a 1908 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel. It's a working ride, not just a display, and it's beautiful.

Practical notes: the museum is in Fairmount Park, about a 10-minute drive from Center City. Free parking is available in the museum lot. SEPTA bus routes serve the area but driving is easier. The building is fully accessible. The on-site cafe serves basic kid-friendly fare.