National Historic Landmark

Wagner Free Institute of Science

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
May 16, 1989
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
89000361

About this property

The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum at 1700 West Montgomery Avenue in north Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, it is a rare surviving example of a Victorian era scientific society, with a museum, research center, library, and educational facilities. Its buildings, developed between 1859 and 1901, present the collections of founder William Wagner in the style of the period, and have been designated a National Historic Landmark for their architecture and state of preservation.

Location

17th St. and Montgomery Ave.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.98050, -75.16286

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYARCHITECTURESCIENCEEDUCATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Wagner Free Institute of Science

This page lists Wagner Free Institute of Science. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Wagner Free Institute of Science report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Lower North Philadelphia Speculative Housing Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Meade, George, School
Industrial
0.2 mi
North Broad Street Mansion District
Listed
0.3 mi
McDowell Memorial Presbyterian Church
Industrial
0.3 mi
South, George W., Memorial Protestant Episcopal Church of the Advocate
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
3.7 mi
Battle of Germantown (approach actions)
1777Revolutionary War
4.2 mi
Battle of Germantown
1777Revolutionary War
4.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Wagner Free Institute of Science listed on the National Register?

Wagner Free Institute of Science was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 16, 1989.

What type of historic resource is Wagner Free Institute of Science?

Wagner Free Institute of Science is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Wagner Free Institute of Science a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Wagner Free Institute of Science has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Wagner Free Institute of Science?

The period of significance for Wagner Free Institute of Science is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Wagner Free Institute of Science?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Wagner Free Institute of Science will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Philadelphia County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Philadelphia County.

Explore PhiladelphiaCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Wagner Free Institute of Science will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report