The government shutdown in Washington, D.C. has had a major impact on the historical sites and museums here in the nation’s first capital, Philadelphia.
The shutdown has furloughed all nonessential workers, with around 64% of all National Parks Service workers in the city being placed on leave.
The effects were felt immediately, with visitors who had planned their trips long ago having some of the top sites in the Historic District closed.
However, not everything is closed to visitors.
Here’s a complete list of what is and isn’t still open for visitors in Philly’s Historic District:
What’s closed?
Any site that is indoors and relies fully on federal funding or staffing is closed.
According to Visit Philly, this includes:
- Liberty Bell Center
- Independence Hall
- Franklin Court
- The Benjamin Franklin Museum
- Rose Garden
- Magnolia Garden
- Benjamin Rush Garden
- 18th Century Garden
What’s open?
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- National Constitution Center
- Museum of the American Revolution
- Betsy Ross House
- National Liberty Museum
- Christ Church and Christ Church Burial Ground
- The Ben Franklin Institute
- Penn Museum
- The Academy of Natural Sciences
- Philadelphia Zoo
- Museum of Illusions Philadelphia
- Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
- United States Mint
- Richard Allen Museum
- Gloria Dei Episcopal Church
- Franklin Square
The Independence Visitor Center remained open on Oct. 1 as well, but it was unclear how long that would continue.

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