The Library
The American Philosophical Society Library is a major national center for research in the history of the sciences, early American history, and Native American ethnography and linguistics.
Museum at Philosophical Hall
Philosophical Hall, adjacent to Independence Hall, has been the home of the American Philosophical Society since 1789. In its Museum, visitors will see exhibitions drawn from the Society’s renowned collections that trace American history and science from the Founding Fathers to the digital age.
From the Blog
Vincent Femia
June 22, 2026
Isabella Kolic
June 11, 2026
The American Philosophical Society is the oldest learned society in the United States.
The American Philosophical Society is the oldest learned society in the United States.
Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, it continues its mission of "promoting useful knowledge" through research, fellowships, and public outreach.