Hundreds protest plans to close Philly's Academy of Natural Sciences: "We're going to make our voices heard"

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning to protest plans to shut the museum down for good. Parents, students, and city leaders stood together and called on Drexel University, which oversees the museum, to find another way to save it. The Academy was founded in 1812, making it the oldest natural science museum in the Americas. Protesters chanted, 'Hey Drex, save T-Rex!' to show how strongly they felt about keeping the museum open.

A student named Ryan Sumner-Lee said closing the museum would be a big mistake. 'It's a bad idea because I think it's a really good experience for everybody,' he said. For many young people in Philadelphia, the Academy is where their love of science begins. It is a place where they can explore, ask questions, and get excited about the natural world.

Parent Victoria Alexander said she was heartbroken when she heard the news. Her 6-year-old son celebrated his birthday at the Academy and now dreams of becoming a scientist. 'His dream's to be a scientist, and I think that he can attribute it all to this place,' Alexander said. Stories like hers show just how much the museum means to local families.

Another parent, Chris Plehal, talked about his family's favorite parts of the museum. 'We love the Dino Dig. We love that live animal room. Love the dioramas,' he said. 'It's a shame that science is a part of everyday life, and now that's going away.' The Academy holds more than 19 million scientific specimens and historical records, making it one of the most important science collections in the country.

Drexel University said the decision to close the museum was not easy. A spokesperson for the university explained that the choice was made to protect the museum's collections and its scientific mission. The university also said closing the public museum was a step toward fixing serious money problems. Many supporters, however, believe there must be a better solution.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and former U.S. Ambassador David Cohen said they are working with Drexel to find a way to keep the Academy's mission alive. Their goal is to make sure the Academy can keep doing research, education, and public programs in Philadelphia. A spokesperson for Ambassador Cohen said the effort is focused on creating 'a new arrangement' that will help the Academy grow. The city has not given up hope yet.

Amanda Therrien, from Philadelphia Science Action, said the large turnout at the protest shows how much residents care. 'Philadelphia is a feisty city,' she said. 'When you threaten to take some things away from us that we believe are important to the culture of the city, we're going to make our voices heard that we want them to stay.' The museum is scheduled to close on September 27, but supporters are still fighting to change that outcome.