Wagner Free Institute of Science
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The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 by William Wagner, a notable philanthropist of the time, who sought to offer free educational courses to all who would seek to learn about the natural world. The Institute has continued to carry out Wagner's initial goals of offering free science courses, while also functioning as a library, lecture hall and museum. In this sense, the Free Institute exists much as it did in the 19th century, although the surrounding North Philadelphia neighborhood has lost the opulence which fostered the museum. Due to its now remote locale, the museum has sunk into relative obscurity, and is unknown even to many Philadelphians.
