Getting Here
Hours of Operation
APS Administrative Offices are generally open Monday–Friday.
The Library Reading Room is open by appointment only, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. All visitors to the Library Reading Room must make an appointment through [email protected]. Please call us at 215-440-3400 with any questions.
The APS Museum in Philosophical Hall is open April through December on Thursday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Any changes to operating hours will be posted on the museum page.
APS Addresses
Philosophical Hall
Administrative Offices and Museum
104 South Fifth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Library Hall
105 South Fifth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Benjamin Franklin Hall
Auditorium
427 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Richardson Hall
Museum Offices
431 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Getting to the APS by car
From the south: Taking I-95 north, follow signs for “Central Phila./I-676.” From I-676, exit south onto Sixth Street and follow signs to the Independence National Historic Park (INHP) area. The APS is located in INHP near the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets.
From the west: Exit from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) at interchange 24 (the Schuylkill Expressway, I-76). Take the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) to the exit for I-676 “Central Philadelphia.” Take I-676 to the Eighth Street exit and follow the signs for Independence Hall and the INHP area. The APS is located in INHP near the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets.
From the north or east: Take the N.J. Turnpike to exit 4, Route 73. Take Route 73 north to Route 38. Take Route 38 west to US 30. Follow US 30 west over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, and at the base of the bridge follow the signs for Sixth Street. Take Sixth Street south and follow signs to the INHP area. The APS is located in INHP near the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets.
Parking: There are several parking garages within a convenient distance from the APS. The Bourse Garage is the closest facility, at 4th and Ranstead Streets. Additionally, there are garages at the Independence Visitor Center and the National Constitution Center.
Getting to the APS by train
Philadelphia has an Amtrak station and is on the busy Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C. Both Northeast Regional and Acela trains stop at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. In addition, the Keystone, an east-west Amtrak route, stops several times a day in Philadelphia.
Getting to the APS by bus
Many bus companies in the Northeast serve the Philadelphia area including Bolt Bus, Mega Bus, and Greyhound. Bolt Bus and Mega Bus arrive at 30th Street Station, which is a short ride away from the APS. The Greyhound station is between 12th and 13th Streets, just behind the Jefferson Station SEPTA stop.
Getting to the APS by public transit
SEPTA offers “regional rail” lines that connect the city and many of its Pennsylvania suburbs, and PATCO and NJ Transit offer similar services for many of the New Jersey suburbs. SEPTA also operates subways/elevated trains and trolleys throughout the city. The most convenient subway line to the APS is the Market-Frankford Blue Line, which connects 30th Street Station to Fifth and Market Street, one block north of the APS.
Getting to the APS by plane
The Philadelphia International Airport is 12 miles from the American Philosophical Society and is served by most major domestic and many international airlines. Philadelphia is a regional hub for American Airlines.
Ground Transportation from airport
The airport is connected to Philadelphia through a network of public transit, rental cars, taxis, and private car services. In addition, rideshare services can be booked for transport to and from the airport. More information on specific modes of transport can be found on the airport’s website.