FAQs

All visitors and members 12 months and older must make a reservation to visit the Museum – tickets are not available to purchase at the Admissions desk. Please visit our online reservation page to purchase general admission tickets or make a reservation as a Museum member.

After making a reservation, you will receive a confirmation email containing barcodes for each visitor registered. On the day of your visit, you must show this confirmation email to Museum staff on your mobile phone or printed on paper in order to gain entrance to the Museum.

If you need to make a change to your reservation, please email tickets@pleasetouchmuseum.org or call 215-581-3184. Tickets are non-refundable, we are happy to accommodate a change in reservation day based on availability.

All visitors, including members, must make a reservation for two timed sessions per day, no onsite tickets are available.

We are reducing capacity upon reopening in compliance with CDC, state and city health department guidelines.

We are not hosting field trips or school groups at this time.

Clean and sanitized props are placed into the exhibits at the beginning of each morning and afternoon session. We have removed all plush, cloth and soft props; costumes, smocks and hats; and are reducing props in each exhibit by 50% to allow for rotation and sanitization.

The Museum will be cleaned with hospital-grade and EPA-approved cleaning products between the morning and afternoon session and a cleaning company will sanitize the Museum each evening we are open to the public. Clean and sanitized props are placed into the exhibits at the beginning of each morning and afternoon session, and high touch surfaces and restrooms are cleaned throughout the day. Additional immersive cleaning will be conducted in the Museum on days we are closed to the public.

Memorial Hall boasts more than 60,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space with high ceilings. The Museum upgraded all HVAC filters, installing MERV-13 pre-filters and MERV-13 final filters (MERV: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). The ventilation system is properly maintained per the manufacturer recommendations and all filters are changed per manufacturer guidelines.

Well-fitting face masks that completely cover the nose and mouth are required for all staff and all guests age 2+ while inside the Museum. Gaiters must be two layers or folded to make two layers. Face shields alone are not an acceptable form of face covering.

If you are consuming a beverage or food, you must be seated in our Café. Consuming food and drinks in the Museum exhibit areas is not permitted.

Masks are critical for a safe museum experience for our staff and guests. Guests not complying with the Museum’s mask policy after being reminded by Museum staff may be asked to leave.

The Market and kitchen areas are closed for a previously announced redesign of the exhibit which is scheduled to open in fall 2021. The Playhouse Theatre, Torch, Monorail, and CHOP are temporarily closed.

Remember, we have two NEW exhibits to explore: Centennial Innovations and our new Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace, and Carousel rides are included in the ticket price for a limited time!

Yes! We have installed touchless hand sanitizing stations throughout Memorial Hall for use between handwashing.

• Properly fitting masks for everyone ages 2+ (see mask policy above).
• Please bring bottled water or visit our Café to purchase a beverage. Our water fountains and filling stations are temporarily closed.
• The coat room is closed; please plan to carry everything with you during your visit. Strollers are welcome.
• Smocks will not be available at River Adventures or in the Creative Arts Studio, please bring a change of clothes or smock if desired.

Yes! We are offering Pod Playtimes, private Museum rentals for small groups that are available on Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings. Please see the Pod Playtimes page on our website for additional details on this experience.

The nursing room on the lower level is temporarily unavailable upon our reopening due to current COVID-19 protocols surrounding small, enclosed spaces. We will look forward to offering this amenity in the future when it is safe to do so.

Unused general admission tickets that were valid as of March 14, 2020 will be honored until April 1, 2022, and gift cards/certificates never expire! If you feel it is best for your family not to visit prior to April 1, 2022, you may gift your tickets to another family member or friend to use.

Call 215-581-3184 or email us at tickets@pleasetouchmuseum.org to find out how to redeem unused tickets that were valid as of March 14, 2020 in order to make a new reservation, or how to gift your tickets to another family.

In order to use a gift certificate to make a reservation, you must email tickets@pleasetouchmuseum.org 

Per our policy, we are not able to refund tickets. We are honoring expired and unused tickets valid as of March 14, 2020 until April 1, 2022. If you feel it is best for your family not to visit once we reopen, you may gift your tickets to another family member or friend to use.

Please call 215-581-3181 or email us at info@pleasetouchmuseum.org so we can create a reservation for you or transfer the unused tickets.

Yes! You can apply the cost of your tickets to a 12-month membership on the same day as your visit. Just see one of our friends at the front desk to convert your tickets to a membership before you leave.

All active memberships as of March 14, 2020 were frozen with no time lost during the extended closure.  Memberships were reactivated once the Museum reopened and you will have the same amount of time left on your membership that you did when we closed in March 2020. Should you have questions, please call us at 215-581-3181 or email membership@pleasetouchmuseum.org.

We are not able to refund memberships. If you feel it is best for your family not to visit the Museum, you may transfer the remaining time on your membership to another family of your choice. Please send an email to our membership team at membership@pleasetouchmuseum.org and we will be happy to make that transfer for you.

You may transfer the remainder of your membership to another family of your choice. Please send an email to our membership team at membership@pleasetouchmuseum.org and we will be happy to make the transfer for you.

Yes. We provide Family Plus and Family Deluxe level memberships for those who wish to include more than 2 card holders. A named or listed card holder must be present with a valid photo ID at the Admission desk upon arrival.

Yes. If you bring guests beyond what is covered by your membership, the cost per guest is $13.

By making a reservation and visiting the Museum, guests voluntarily assume all risks related to potential exposure to COVID-19 in or around Please Touch Museum for everyone in your party. The Museum reserves the right to disclose the identity and contact information for all guests to government-authorized entities for the purposes of contact tracing as required.

Refunds cannot be made on admission tickets, memberships, or gift cards once the transaction is completed. In the event of an emergency closing by the Museum, the ticket purchaser will have the option of an exchange. Replacement tickets will not be issued for any ticket that has been damaged, lost, stolen or destroyed.  For Ticketed Programs, the tickets sold are nonrefundable, but most tickets are transferable, subject to Museum policy.

Additionally, there are no refunds for donations or group visits, and tickets may not be resold or traded for more than face value. PTM reserves the right to revoke or refuse to honor tickets that have been resold for more than their face value.

Please refer to the refund and cancellation policy for event and building rentals.

Please Touch Museum wants to ensure a positive experience for all visitors.

Please visit our Museum Visitor Policies page to learn about our Visitor Code of Conduct, and policies regarding photography and video, parking in our gated lot, restroom access and more.

Please Touch Museum appreciates the importance of special events as a way to raise funds for worthy causes. Due to our extended closure, the Museum is unable to donate tickets and/or other goods and services at this time. We appreciate your understanding.

Generally, the Museum is best for children from about six months through age 8. We have created fun learning environments for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary-age children. Slightly older children often have fun acting as “teachers” for their younger siblings and playmates.

Since opening in 1976, Please Touch Museum began collecting objects for exhibits and programs. Many of these items were donated by staff, visitors and friends of the Museum. Others were purchased at stores, auctions, flea markets and garage sales.

Please Touch Museum maintains special collections storage and workspace area with supplies, equipment, research and reference material and more to take care of all the Collections. When necessary, specialized consultants review specific objects and collections categories for conservation.