Welcome to the
Wagner Free Institute of Science

The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution. Founded by William Wagner in 1855, it is dedicated to free education in science.

Now a National Historic Landmark, the Wagner offers contemporary science programs and a rare experience of a Victorian natural history museum.

Visit the Wagner

The Wagner’s landmark museum is free to visit, open all year round, Tuesday - Friday 9:30 - 4:30pm and on the 1st Saturday of the month from February-June & September-December. Our upstairs exhibit hall houses over 100,000 natural specimens, including ancient fossils, glowing minerals and animals from around the globe! Wander at your own pace or follow the path of one of our themed scavenger hunts. Feel free to pick up pencils and paper and spend some time sketching from the collection.

Accessibility note: The Wagner’s building is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is located on the second floor and requires climbing a flight of stairs to view. Contact us for more information about accessibility.

WAGNER Holiday Hours:

Closed:

  • Monday-Thursday, Dec. 23-26th

  • Wednesday, Jan. 1st.

Regular hours resume on Jan. 2nd.

Open:

  • Friday, Dec 27th, 9:30 - 430pm

  • Monday, Dec. 30th, 9:30-4:30pm Special Monday Hours!

  • Tuesday, Dec. 31st, 9:30-4:30pm

Our Next Program is…

Winter at the Wagner:
December First Saturday Open House

Saturday, December 7th, 5:30-8:30pm

Shelter from the cold this December during the Wagner's First Saturday Open House! Happening on Saturday, December 7th from 12pm - 4pm, visitors will dig up and identify different types of shark teeth, craft paper snowflakes, and learn about the history of the Wagner. Covering the life of William Wagner, founding of the Institute, and the architecture of our building, the history of the Wagner talk will be given at 1pm and again at 3pm.

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