The shuttered Academy of Natural Sciences could one day reopen at a new location in Philadelphia as part of a long-term plan to reopen the historic museum and keep it financially sustainable, Drexel’s leaders told the Philadelphia City Council at a hearing on Monday.
The Academy, which was founded in 1812 and opened as a museum in 1828, was closed on Sept. 30, 2026 after several years of financial struggles. In Sept. 2025, the Academy reduced its hours to weekends only as part of an effort to reduce costs.
However, Drexel’s president, Antonio Merlo, along with the university’s treasurer, Helen Bowman, said in testimony Monday that the Academy was seeing 70% attendance compared to pre-pandemic levels, and was bringing in $3 million in revenue while costing $7.7 million to run public programs in 2025.
“Given the substantial costs associated with maintaining the existing building and operating a traditional museum, any future public engagement would need to be considered within a new, sustainable model, almost certainly in a different location,” Merlo said.
The financial hardships facing the museum have been compounded by Drexel University’s own financial struggles. The university, which took over the Academy in 2011, is facing reduced income due to decreases in attendance and research grants.
In addition to reopening the Academy at a different location, Merlo and Bowman said they are also trying to form a durable plan to maintain the Academy’s 19 million specimens as well as its scientific research mission.
“The extraordinary outpouring of support in recent weeks reflects the deep connection generations of Philadelphians have with this treasured institution. We invite you and all Academy supporters to channel that energy toward seeking a lasting, financially durable, multi-partner solution that will allow the Academy to evolve with the times and continue to be among Philadelphia’s greatest gifts to science research and science education.”
A group of supporters calling themselves the “Save the Academy Coalition” rallied outside City Hall before the hearing on Monday.
The rallygoers said they want the cherished Philadelphia museum reopened with independent oversight.
“I think they underestimated what the museum means to this city and generations of people,” said Ileana Betancourt. “It brings people internationally and across the United States and many Philadelphians care about what’s going on.”
