A Nearly 200-Year-Old Museum Known for Its T. Rex Faces Extinction

When the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia first opened its doors, John Quincy Adams was president. Twenty‑four states had joined the Union, and the first Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton was still decades away from discovery.

Now, just two years before its bicentennial, the venerable institution—affiliated with Drexel University since 2011—is closing its doors permanently. The museum, famed for its Dinosaur Hall and extensive fossil collections, will shut at the end of September, citing falling attendance and rising costs, according to a joint announcement from the academy and Drexel.

The statement, signed by Drexel President Antonio Merlo and academy board chair Suzanne Biemiller, said the museum struggled to rebound visitor numbers after the COVID‑19 pandemic. The leaders noted that the challenges reflected deeper changes in the academy’s financial model, threatening its mission and legacy.

While the museum will close, the academy will continue as an operating entity, seeking sustainable ways to display parts of its collections and engage the public with natural sciences. Founded in 1812 by seven naturalists, it claims to be the oldest natural‑history museum in the Americas.

Drexel, a private university, is also facing fiscal strain, with enrollment down 21 % over the past decade and a reported $20 million budget deficit. The university contributed roughly $17 million to the academy in the 2024‑25 fiscal years and extended a $5 million credit line, from which the academy had drawn $2.4 million as of June 30, 2025.

The academy’s difficulties mirror broader pressures on U.S. museums. A 2025 American Alliance of Museums survey found that more than half have not regained pre‑pandemic visitor levels, and many are contending with political challenges, including demands that federal funding be tied to the rejection of diversity initiatives.

Operations were already scaled back last year, and the closure will affect 27 of the academy’s 80 staff members. Drexel spokesperson Britt Faulstick confirmed the impact but offered no details on employment outcomes.

Community reaction has been mixed. Long‑time Philadelphians recalled youth sleep‑overs and scouting events among the exhibits, while others question the fate of iconic life‑size dinosaur replicas, including a T. rex cast. Editorial writer Daniel Pearson of The Philadelphia Inquirer called the closure “crazy” and urged the city to find a way to preserve the institution.

Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office and Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration did not immediately comment on the museum’s closure plans.

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