As the trees begin to burst with vibrant colors this fall, so do the museums throughout Philadelphia. At venues citywide, there are tons of blockbuster exhibitions to catch this season.
Delve into a little rock 'n' roll history with the Bill Graham and the Rock and Roll Revolution exhibition at the National Museum of American Jewish History or explore the world of robots (and challenge one to a game of tic-tac-toe) at Robot Revolution, opening this fall at The Franklin Institute.
If dinosaurs strike your fancy, two different exhibitions allow you to come face-to-face with animatronic versions of the prehistoric wonders, including a 25-foot-long Brachiosaurus and 24-foot-tall T. Rex at The Franklin Institute's Jurassic World and more than two handfuls of full-bodied dinosaur types at Dinosaurs Unearthed at the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Full of hands-on and interactive elements, exhibitions galore await you this fall. Read on for a list of the top picks you won't want to miss.
Jurassic World at The Franklin Institute – November 25, 2016 - April 23, 2017
The prehistoric denizens of Isla Nublar come roaring into The Franklin Institute with the North American premiere of the 15,000-square-foot exhibition Jurassic World. Fans of the "Jurassic Park" movie series can explore the mysterious island and come face-to-face with animatronic versions of the 25-foot-long Brachiosaurus, 24-foot tall T. Rex, Stegosaurus and other lumbering beasts. While the movies are fiction, the exhibition is based on true science.
Visitors will come face to face with life-like animatronic dinosaurs during Jurassic World at The Franklin Institute. (Photo courtesy James Thomas)
Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience at Longwood Gardens - Now - October 29, 2016
The chance to see stunning sights well after dark at Kennett Square's Longwood Gardens returns with the second year of Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience, an after-dark-only installation. Created by local pros Klip Collective (responsible for installations seen everywhere from the Philadelphia Flower Show to the Sundance Film Festival), the immersive experience full of choreographed moving images, music and lights is one not to be missed.
Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience brings an immersive, multi-sensory experience to Longwood Gardens once the sun goes down.
Headed to the White House at the National Constitution Center – Now - November 8. 2016
With Election Day taking place this fall, the National Constitution Center invites you gear up with an interactive exhibition examining the U.S. election system. Through multimedia, artifact exploration and more, learn about everything from the campaign trail to Inauguration Day. Think you have what it takes to land a seat in the Oval Office? Several role-playing opportunities will test your skills to see if you are "presidential material."
Visitors to Headed to the White House have plenty of opportunities to participate in interactive activities designed to explore all aspects of a U.S. presidential election.
The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now at the Institute of Contemporary Art – September 14, 2016 – March 19, 2017
The Institute of Contemporary Art takes a look at the jazz and experimental music era of the late 1960s and its continuing influence on art and culture today in The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now. The vibrant show also focuses on African-American culture and aesthetics by exploring the avant-garde, creative culture at the time. An improve performance series utilizing music and dance will accompany the large-scale exhibition.
At The Freedom Principle, learn about the vibrant art and music scene of the late 1960s via the lens of African-American culture.
Bill Graham and the Rock and Roll Revolution at the National Museum of American Jewish History - September 16, 2016 - January 16, 2017
From Jimi Hendrix to Santana to The Rolling Stones, Bill Graham has worked with many of the greats of rock and roll and has launched the careers of plenty of legends who gained their fame in the '60s. Through rock memorabilia, photographs, psychedelic art and more, the National Museum of American Jewish History dives deep into the life of this notable promoter and manager while also exploring the cultural transformations that took place during the '60s, '70s, and '80s in the world of rock and roll.
Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910–1950 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art - October 25, 2016 - January 8, 2017
Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910–1950 tells the story of one of the most exhilarating periods in Mexican history – from the start of the Mexican Revolution to the aftermath of World War II. Works by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and Frida Kahlo will be on display, as well as pieces from their predecessors Roberto Montenegro, Carlos Mérida and more, in an effort to examine the influences that continue to shape art in Mexico.
Mural Arts Month - September 30 - October 31, 2016
Each October, Mural Arts Month honors the Mural Arts Program’s more than 3,800 works of public art in different ways. Look forward to walking and trolley tours of the Ninth Street Stock Exchange project, neighborhood gardens, mosaics and more as well as a roster of free and pay-what-you-wish events. Highlights include a one-night-only sound and light installation in the tunnels under the in-development Rail Park with composer Nadia Botello and visual artists Matthew Suib and Nadia Hironaka and the unveiling of Mural Arts’ first rotating outdoor gallery, plus festivals in South Philly, Bartram’s Garden and along the Spring Garden Street Bridge.
You can check out a full calendar here and you can also book your transportation here.
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