Whether you call it the City of Brotherly Love or you know it as the home of American democracy, Philadelphia shines as a place to spend a few days. If you’re like me, your tastes and interests take you off the beaten path. Take a look at five of my favorite offbeat places around Philadelphia.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Located at 1022 South Street and less than a mile from IHG Philadelphia hotels near Midtown, the Magic Gardens’ psychedelic art is a must-see. You can tour the grounds on your own, but you should pay the extra $5 for the guided tour. Many of the stories in the guided tour aren’t part of the brochure, and they offer detailed explanations of the art. The Magic Gardens reveal a bizarre, artsy use of mosaics as a form of art therapy. When exploring outside, keep your bag in front to avoid catching it on the mosaics.
Historical Dental Museum
Located on the third floor of 3223 North Broad Street, the Historical Dental Museum is part of an active dental facility. You’ll need to sign in and be escorted inside. While it’s aimed to give patients something to see while waiting for the dentist, it also offers a wonderful look at the tools of the dental trade from centuries past. After a visit, you’ll appreciate how far dentistry has come in the past several decades.
Wanamaker Building
Located at 1300 Market Street, the Wanamaker Building was the first American department store. Today, it’s home to the largest operating musical instrument in the world. Aim to arrive around noon for a live performance of the biggest pipe organ you’ve ever seen! Originally built in 1911 and restored in 1991, the well-known attraction was the store where the phrase, “the customer is always right” became popular. It was also one of the first stores to put price tags on all merchandise.
Mütter Museum
Two words: Einstein’s brain. Located at 19 South 22nd Street, the Mütter Museum was the first anatomical museum in the world. Established in 1762, it holds the largest collection of brains in North America and one of the largest in the world. You can’t take photos inside, and the place kind of feels like a library. It offers a fascinating look at highly regarded brains, along with rotating exhibits on health and surgery from previous decades and centuries.
Mummers Museum
This museum’s name is similar to the Mütter Museum, but that’s the only similarity. Located at 1100 South Second Street, the Mummers Museum pays homage to a uniquely flamboyant Philly tradition of dressing up and parading on the streets every New Year’s Day. Crews organize floats and elaborate costumes, many of which are on display here years after their debut. If your visit happens to coincide with New Year’s Day, don’t miss the parade.
Eastern State Penitentiary
Located at 2027 Fairmount Avenue, this abandoned, crumbling prison is supposedly haunted. Admission pays for entrance and an excellent self-guided audio tour narrated by the actor Steve Buscemi. The Eastern State Penitentiary was the first prison built for complete solitary confinement, and hundreds of other prisons later followed this model. The audio tour and signs give a great history lesson, but keep your eyes out for the live demonstrations and guides that share even more.
Go ahead and visit Philadelphia’s more mainstream attractions, but don’t miss the awesome, offbeat side while you’re there.
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