The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

What The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University does

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, founded in 1812, is the oldest natural history research institution and museum in the Western Hemisphere, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia and formally affiliated with Drexel University since 2012. It stewards over 19 million scientific specimens across botany, entomology, ornithology, malacology, ichthyology, invertebrate paleontology, and diatom collections, and conducts original environmental research through the Patrick Center for Environmental Research, which has led freshwater conservation science for more than 80 years. The museum presents permanent exhibitions including Dinosaur Hall (featuring the historically significant 1868 Hadrosaurus foulkii mount), 37 historic dioramas, the Outside In children's discovery center, The Big Dig fossil excavation experience, and rotating exhibitions such as Botany of Nations. Curatorial and research staff hold dual appointments with Drexel University, and the Academy publishes peer-reviewed work and operates educational programming aligned with Pennsylvania Academic State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

The Academy generates revenue through a diversified mix of consumer admissions ($10-$22 tiered pricing with $10 Thursday summer promotions), annual memberships (including Family Plus tiers with ASTC Passport Program reciprocity across 300+ science centers), tax-deductible donations, private event rentals catered by 12th Street Catering, school field trip programs, and an on-site retail shop. Distribution channels include walk-in visitation, online ticketing via Blackbaud, partner channels (CityPASS, Philadelphia Pass, Museums for All $2 ACCESS admissions, STAMP teen passes), and direct sales for memberships and field trips. Marketing is delivered through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn, monthly email newsletters, a science journal archive, press relations, and on-site events such as Dinos After Dark and Dino-Mite Summer. The organization reports through a Board of Trustees under President and CEO Scott A. Cooper, Ph.D., with Scott Cooper providing executive leadership and the Patrick Center, Center of Systematic Biology and Evolution, and individual collection departments each headed by PhD-level directors. As of 2026, the Academy has scaled operations to a Friday-Sunday public schedule and cancelled its Academy Science Camp due to budget constraints, while continuing to expand programmatic partnerships with Drexel University and external foundations (William B. Dietrich Foundation, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation) supporting diorama restoration.

Name

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Legal name

The Academy of Natural Sciences

Website

https://ansp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1812

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit natural history museum and research institution founded in 1812, serving families, K-12 school groups, researchers, and tourists through exhibits, 19 million scientific specimens, environmental research, and educational programming under Drexel University affiliation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural History Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Natural history museum
• Scientific collections research
• Environmental science education
• Field trip programs
• Museum event rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Ticket sales for museum entry including general admission to all exhibits. Adults $22, Children (2-12) $18, Seniors $19, Military/Students $10, with $10 Thursday promotions in summer.
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships providing free year-round general admission, exclusive previews, free festival access, behind-the-scenes events, shop discounts, and discounted guest passes. Tax-deductible as 501(c)(3).
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations supporting Academy research and educational efforts. The Academy is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
4. Private Events and Rentals: Museum rental for weddings, parties, mitzvahs, conferences, workshops, and birthday parties. Partnered with 12th Street Catering as exclusive caterer.
5. Academy Shop: Retail gift shop offering science gifts, books, jewelry, toys and Academy-exclusive items. Shop accessible without museum ticket.
6. Field Trips and Group Programs: Structured educational visits for school groups, camps and organizations with both self-guided and educator-led experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University operates a natural history museum featuring permanent and temporary exhibits (Dinosaur Hall, Dioramas, Outside In, The Big Dig, Botany of Nations) and delivers structured educational programs including K-12 field trips, summer camps, and the Academy Kids Club. It also stewards over 19 million scientific specimens, conducts biodiversity and freshwater research through the Patrick Center for Environmental Research, and generates revenue via museum admissions, memberships, private event rentals, and an on-site retail shop.

Product overview

The Academy of Natural Sciences is a natural history museum offering a diverse portfolio of exhibits, educational programs, and research services. Its core product is the museum experience featuring permanent exhibitions including Dinosaur Hall, Dioramas, Outside In (children's discovery center), The Big Dig (fossil excavation), and the temporary exhibition Botany of Nations. The Academy complements these with ticketed events like Dinos After Dark and Dino-Mite Summer, educational programs including field trips, birthday parties, and Science From Home activities, and research services through its scientific collections and Patrick Center for Environmental Research. Additional offerings include membership programs, private event venue rental, and the Academy Kids Club children's collectible program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dinosaur Hall Permanent exhibit showcasing more than 30 dinosaur species and other Mesozoic reptiles, including full skeletal mounts such as T. rex, Hadrosaurus foulkii, Avaceratops, Chasmosaurus, Corythosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, and Tylosaurus; designed for general museum visitors, families, and school groups.
• Botany of Nations Temporary exhibition celebrating Indigenous plant knowledge, cultural traditions, and the relationships between Native Nations and the land, re-storying the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery through western scientific and Indigenous ethnobotanical perspectives.
• Outside In Indoor discovery center for children ages 3-8 featuring hands-on activities, live animal encounters, and exploration of animal habitats and natural environments.
• The Big Dig Hands-on fossil excavation exhibit where visitors use brushes to uncover dinosaur bones and identify discoveries such as Lambeosaurus skulls or Ornithomimus arm and claw.
• Dioramas Historic wildlife dioramas across three museum levels featuring animals from North America, Africa, and Asia, including 37 dioramas created between the 1930s and 1960s showcasing preserved animals and modeled environments.
• Secrets of the Diorama Exhibition revealing the history, artistry, and scientific process behind the Academy's dioramas, featuring interactive activities, videos, and touchable taxidermy materials.
• Dinos After Dark Evening event featuring pay-what-you-wish admission, family-friendly atmosphere, and Dino Drafts Beer Garden in Dinosaur Hall.
• Dino-Mite Summer Summer program featuring hands-on dinosaur dig, live animals, and family activities at the Academy during July and August.
• Field Trips Structured and self-guided educational visits for schools, camps, and groups featuring interactive science programming and museum exploration, with reservation support via [email protected].
• Birthday Parties Themed birthday party packages for children ages 3 and up, including private rooms, birthday party hosts, and add-on options with member savings.
• Private Events Venue rental services for weddings, parties, mitzvahs, conferences, workshops, and tours for groups of all sizes, partnered with 12th Street Catering.
• Membership Program Year-round membership offering free general admission, exclusive previews, free festival admission, behind-the-scenes access, shop discounts, and ASTC Passport Program benefits for Family Plus level and above.
• Academy Kids Club Free collect-and-earn stamp program for children 12 and under encouraging museum exploration, participation in activities, and learning about the natural world, with prizes awarded for completing stamp collections.
• Scientific Collections Over 19 million scientific specimens including botany, entomology, ornithology, malacology, ichthyology, invertebrate paleontology, and diatom collections managed for research and academic use.
• Patrick Center for Environmental Research Environmental research division covering fisheries, phycology, macroinvertebrates, biogeochemistry, and environmental policy with a focus on water conservation efforts spanning over 80 years.
• Academy Shop Retail gift shop offering science gifts, books, jewelry, toys, and Academy-exclusive items, accessible without museum ticket ([email protected], 215-299-1186).

Quantifiable outcome

• 19+ million specimens studied and cared for by Academy staff
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport ProgramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamily Plus level and above members receive free admission to more than 300 science and technology centers worldwide through the ASTC Passport Program, enabling reciprocal access and cross-promotion with participating institutions.
• Philadelphia CityPASScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCityPASS bundled attraction tickets offer up to 54% savings on admission to choice of 3, 4, or 5 Philadelphia attractions including the Academy. Reservations not required for CityPASS holders.
• The Philadelphia PassminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti-attraction pass offering substantial savings for Academy admission along with 30+ other Philadelphia attractions, with additional discounts at shops and restaurants.
• Museums for All/ACCESS ProgramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPennsylvania ACCESS/EBT/SNAP Cardholders and Art-Reach ACCESS Cardholders receive $2 admission for cardholder and up to 3 guests, improving accessibility for low-income families.
• STAMP ProgramminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhiladelphia teens with STAMP passes receive free admission to select city museums including the Academy, administered through Art-Reach.
• Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for the annual Cheryl Beth Silverman Memorial Lecture series, connecting the Academy with the regional birding community and ornithological expertise.
• Drexel University (Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint establishment of Museum Innovation Fund supporting Drexel faculty and student projects that promote innovative approaches to museum learning and engagement. Current projects include culinary archive and 3D diorama visualization.
• 12th Street CateringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExclusive on-site caterer for Academy events, providing one-stop event planning for weddings, parties, corporate events and private rentals at the museum.
• SEPTA Public TransportationminorOthersThree SEPTA bus routes (32, 33, 38) run within a block of the Academy, with Suburban Station providing regional rail, subway, and trolley connections.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AcadNaturalSciences
• Facebookfacebook.com/AcademyofNaturalSciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-academy-of-natural-sciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/acadnatsci
• TikToktiktok.com/@acadnatsci
• Xx.com/AcadNatSci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University