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This Is the End for Americas' 'Oldest Natural History Museum'
Newser • • nation
Key Points:
- The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, the oldest natural history museum in the Americas, will permanently close its museum at the end of September due to weak post-pandemic attendance and rising costs.
- Despite nearly $17 million in support and a $5 million line of credit from Drexel University, the museum's financial challenges remain unsustainable amid Drexel's own budget strains.
- Twenty-seven of the museum's 80 staff members will be affected by the closure, although the academy will continue as a research institution and explore new ways to display its extensive collections.
- The closure has sparked local outcry, with residents and commentators expressing disappointment over the loss of a historic cultural institution dating back to 1812.
- The Academy has been affiliated with Drexel University since 2011, which is also facing challenges related to declining enrollment and budget deficits.
