Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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The Please Touch Museum is a children's museum located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The museum focuses on teaching children through interactive exhibits and special events, mostly aimed at children seven years old and younger.

History :
The museum originally opened at the Academy of Natural Sciences on October 2, 1976, in a 2,200-square-foot (200 m2) space, and moved to another location on nearby Cherry Street two years later. In 1983, the museum moved to 21st Street near the Franklin Institute. On February 14, 2005, the museum received an 80-year lease for Memorial Hall (in Fairmount Park), the last major building left from the 1876 Centennial Exposition. This came after plans to relocate the museum to a location at Penn's Landing fell through.[2] Renovations at Memorial Hall began on December 15, 2005, and the museum closed its 21st Street location on September 1, 2008. On October 18, 2008, the museum opened at its current location with a larger facility and more exhibits.
 
Exhibits :
Alice in Wonderland and River Adventures play areas.
  • City Capers, which features the John Wanamaker's Rocket Monorail from the defunct department store and part of the set from the Captain Noah and His Magical Ark TV show.
  • Space Station, which features a series of display cases with over three decades of Star Wars toys.
  • Please Taste Cafe.
  • Roadside Attractions, a new locale with a SEPTA bus and actual car.
  • The Walking Piano by local kinetic artist Remo Saraceni, made famous in the film Big.
  • Displays from the Lit Brothers' Enchanted Colonial Christmas Village during the Christmas season.
  • A retrospective of the Centennial Exposition, including a restored miniature diorama of the park.
  • A replica of the arm and torch from the Statue of Liberty, created from discarded toys by Leo Sewell.
  • The Woodside Park carousel, built by the Philadelphia-based Dentzel Carousel Company in 1908, on loan from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
 
Programs :
  • Playhouse Theater - As a key component of the overall museum experience, Playhouse performances by in-house performers present unique opportunities for playful learning, imagination, innovation and audience interaction featuring music, movement, folklore and/or puppetry, all while introducing children to live arts.
  • Program Room - Each month, there is a new set of art experiences, which include a studio art experience, a sensory art experience and a manipulative art experience. Whether you are painting with your child for the first time, or building a tower with blocks, the Program Room is an ideal space for parent-child interaction.
  • Story Castle - Stop in for daily storytimes, meet a storybook character, or read a book on your own in this relaxed environment. Programming in the Story Castle is accessible for kids at all developmental and ability levels.

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