Philadelphia: Independence Seaport Museum and USS Olympia｜United States

At the Independence Seaport Museum, visitors can dive into exhibitions like “River Alive!,” “Patriots & Pirates,” and “Seeking Profit and Power: Philadelphia, China Trade, and the Making of America,” all of which highlight the history of the Philadelphia region through the lens of the Delaware River. Additionally, in the museum’s building, guests will find the Seaport Boat Shop. Located just inside the entrance, staff and volunteers demonstrate the maritime trades and crafts that have withstood the test of time.

Make sure to save time to climb aboard the USS Olympia. A nineteenth-century cruiser, visitors can follow in the footsteps of history as they experience how sailors worked and lived aboard the ship throughout her 27 years of service. Famous for serving as Admiral Dewey’s flagship during the Battle of Manila Bay, Olympia is also remembered for her final act of service: bringing home the American Unknown Soldier from World War I to Washington, D.C.

With so much to explore, the Independence Seaport Museum is the premier, family-friendly destination along the Penn’s Landing waterfront.