The History
The Independence Seaport Museum , dedicated to exploring the maritime history of the Delaware River, the Delaware Bay and tributaries, opened on Philadelphia’s waterfront in July 1995 after more than 35 years of rich history as the Philadelphia Maritime Museum.
In 1996, the museum assumed responsibility for the Cruiser OLYMPIA and Submarine BECUNA, which are both designated as National Historic Landmarks ships.
Cruiser Olympia at the Independence Seaport Museum — Photo courtesy Independence Seaport Museum
River Alive!
The museum fully embraces its Delaware River setting with River Alive! , a 4,000-square-foot permanent exhibit opened in November 2018 that transforms the attraction’s first floor into an area devoted to the water it overlooks.
The exhibition examines how millions of people use the Delaware River for water, food and recreation and teaches guests about what lives in and around the river, the threats to the watershed and what people can do to help preserve the river and its surroundings for future generations.
The River Alive! exhibit helps connect the Independence Seaport Museum with the nearby Delaware River. — Photo by D. Wisniewski for Visit Philadelphia
River Alive! includes an interactive River Continuum Wall illustrating how seemingly different environments (e.g. farmland and city) are connected since both use the same water source.
The space also features the Citizen Science Lab, where live, in-exhibit demonstrations take place, and a Watershed 3D Modeling Table, where visitors are encouraged to build their own waterways and learn how the river is used for development and industry and how that, in turn, impacts the flow of the water.
Don’t Miss
Kids (and their adults) can also rent kayaks or museum-built rowboats to explore the calm waters of the basin and get a close-up view of the historic ships at Paddle Penn’s Landing .
Paddle Penn's Landing — Photo courtesy Independence Seaport Museum
Also, guests can check out The Seaport Boat Shop , a working boat shop where maritime tradition meets creativity, hands-on experiences, and community.
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