The United States will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on 20^th July 2019 and visitors the East Coast city of Philadelphia this summer can enjoy an array of astronomical science museums and exhibitions.

Home to America’s first hospital, medical school, children’s hospital, college of pharmacy, and medical library, Philadelphia is steeped in science history. Those inspired by the moon landing anniversary this summer can listen to lunar melodies during the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Voyage to the Moon Concert or learn about the night sky at the Franklin Institute’s Fels Planetarium. Science fans in the World Heritage City can also dig for dinosaur fossils at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and learn about the impact chemistry has had on the modern world at the Science History Institute.

Listen to Lunar Melodies During the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Voyage to the Moon Concert
Philadelphia will celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the moon landing during The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Voyage to the Moon concert on 24^th July 2019 at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts. The concert will be conducted by Gemma New and will feature popular classical favourites featured in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the music of John Williams celebrating outer space, a suite from the film Hidden Figures, and much more, including a new work composed especially for this occasion by popular film and TV composer Michael Giacchino. Tickets cost from £20 ($25) and are available to purchase via www.manncenter.org.

Learn About the Night Sky and Moon at the Franklin Institute’s Fels Planetarium
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, the Franklin Institute was founded in 1824 and is one of the oldest and premier centres of science education and development in the United States. The Institute features 12 permanent exhibits, including Your Brain and a walk-through 5,000 square-foot Giant Heart. Budding astronauts can learn about the night sky and the moon at the awe-inspiring Fels Planetarium and the Space Command exhibition, which boats an actual moon rock that was recovered by Astronaut Dave Scott during the Apollo 15 mission, amongst other intriguing items. General admission to the museum costs £18 ($23) for adults and £15 ($19) for children aged from 3 – 11 years old. For further information, visit www.fi.edu.

Dig For Dinosaur Fossils at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is dedicated to advancing research education, and public engagement in biodiversity and environmental science. Founded in 1812, the Academy’s collections contain more than 18 million specimens and archival treasures and rate among the world’s most significant in terms of geographic, biological, and historical depth and breadth. For visitors, the Academy offers fun, informative and family-friendly exhibitions inspired by the Academy’s rich history of exploration and environmental research. Visitors to the Academy can dig for dinosaur fossils, stroll among live butterflies and even meet live animals. Weekday admission to The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University costs from £14.18 ($17.95) for adults and from £11 ($13.95) for children. For further information, visit www.ansp.org.

Discover the Impact of Chemistry at the Science History Institute
The exhibits and collections at Philadelphia’s Science History Institute tell the stories of the successes, failures and strange surprises behind the scientific discoveries that have changed the world. Located on Chestnut Street in the heart of Old City, visitors to the Institute can view the Making Modernity exhibit, which illustrates the unexpected and curious ways chemistry has shaped modern day life and the everyday objects used by people around the world. This year the Institute is also joining the United Nations in celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the Periodic Table by showcasing relevant collections, programmes and events. Admission to the Institute is free. For further information, visit www.sciencehistory.org.

For more information on Philadelphia, visit the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website,
www.discoverPHL.com

 -ENDS-

Photo Captions (From Left to Right):
Image 1: Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute. Image courtesy of the Franklin Institute.
Image 2: A dinosaur exhibit at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
Image 3: The Science History Institute. Image courtesy of J. Fusco.

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About Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.