New Please Touch Museum - Philadelphia News

FAIRMOUNT PARK - October 18, 2008 (WPVI) -- It was a ceremonious celebration as the new Please Touch Museum officially opened its doors to the young public of Philadelphia. Once inside, the children did as children do.

They found treasure troves of fun at the vamped up Please Touch Museum. After 32 years in Center City, it moved to a refurbished Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. The museum brought along several old favorites like Alice in Wonderland, the grocery store and the ever popular SEPTA bus.

New exhibits include a garage where tire changing abilities are tested, a hospital where young doctors put their medical skills to the test and a pilot's seat offering a bird's eye view of the place via a joystick that controls a ceiling high Chopper 6 model with complete with a news camera.

"I like that there's a lot of entertainment and fun stuff to do for little kid sand big kids this time," 9-year-old Zachery Scher said.

Parents appreciate historic Memorial Hall. Built in 1876, for the nation's centennial celebration, the historic landmark underwent an $88-million restoration.

"And we hope that it will awaken a love of architecture and good art and most of all we just want them to play and have fun," Nancy Kolb, Please Touch Museum President, said.

"It's gorgeous. It's all we expected and much more," Lisa Hickson of North Philadelphia said.

It seems there's something for kids of all ages at the Please Touch Museum. Museum tickets are $15.

475,000 visitors are expected to stop by during the next year.

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local/state, denise james

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