Working on the service desks or discussing the library, I spend a lot of time telling people about our museum pass program and encouraging them to make use of it. With a library card, patrons can get free access to a great assortment of museums in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York.
Rarely, however, do I make good use of this program myself. I’m trying to change that, and this year I’ve already picked up my pass to the American Museum of Natural History. For the fall I’m making plans to borrow the pass for the New-York Historical Society to see its upcoming exhibition featuring 200 years of women’s clothing. Let this post be your cue to make use of this service if you haven’t yet.
There’s a little something here for everyone, not just the art and history buffs who know they’ll find a delightful option. Families with young children often like to explore the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the American Museum of Natural History (dinosaurs!), and anyone who enjoys “things that go” can put Battleship New Jersey and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on their short list. Don’t forget Storm King Art Center, which is an outdoor sculpture museum that might also pair nicely with our nature explorer backpacks.
In Philadelphia, we offer access to two unusual museums: Eastern State Penitentiary, a famous historical prison that once housed Al Capone, and the Mütter Museum, which is dedicated to medical history. You can find our full list of museums below and on our website.
New Jersey
- Battleship New Jersey
- Morven Museum & Garden
- Newark Museum of Art
New York
- American Museum of Natural History
- Children’s Museum of Manhattan
- Frick Collection (temporarily closed for renovations)
- Guggenheim
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Museum of Modern Art
- New-York Historical Society
- Storm King Art Center
Pennsylvania
- Academy of Natural Sciences
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Museum of the American Revolution
- Mütter Museum
- Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Each museum pass works a little differently; some passes are for one person only, while others allow entry for a group. Be sure to check the specifics for each museum before you make your plans. MOMA and Storm King, for example, are our “Cinderella” passes – they’re due back promptly by 11 a.m. the day after your museum visit – while the others don’t need to be returned. Some also give you access to special exhibitions or offer discounts to gift shops and other services.
We hope you’ll make more thorough use of these opportunities than I have. You can book your passes through our online portal or by stopping by the Information Desk next time you’re in the library. Let us know if we can help.
Photo by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash