The Ancient Civilizations collection contains objects collected throughout the continents and attracts scholars and collectors to our museum for research and for loan. The collection of Art and Sculpture is uniquely strong in works from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth century including the Barbizon School, and an outstanding 10th through 19th-century Asian collection.

The Museum houses an exceptional collection of works on paper including frakturs, manuscripts, leafs, Bibles, posters, mixed media, prints, photographs, maps, drawings, scrolls, and watercolors. Durer, Rembrandt, Ege manuscripts, Hiroshige, Hokusai, Muybridge are represented in our collections. The Decorative Arts include ceramics, glassware, puppets, textiles, Asian and Pennsylvania German collections, as well as arm and armor, and an exceptional collection of jewelry.

The Natural Science collection has been reconfigured into a learning zone that provides an interactive educational experience, as well as allowing the visitor to become acquainted with many rare and endangered/extinct animals and birds, and introduces contemporary science into daily life. There is a huge collection of mammals and a unique collection of birds. The Museum houses a rare and extensive collection of butterflies and bugs that are important to the science world as well. The Museum’s botany collection contains many rare and unusual species of plants. The Planetarium, with its Spitz A4 star projector, seats 140 people and the programs presented there are of the highest educational quality.

Exhibits change periodically as only 2% of our collections are on display at any one time.

Art Visits

Artists Tell Stories (Grades 3-12) A, L, SO, F Why do artists create? Where do these ideas come from-imagination, mythology, history, and/or everyday life? This visit will try to answer part of those questions as students determine how artists communicate through visual art forms, discover stories within paintings and sculptures, and explore the ways of these “storytellers”. You may choose to visit one or more of our Art Galleries.

Pennsylvania German Art and History (Grades 4-12) A, H, SO, F Walk through the Berks County of these immigrant settlers and discover part of the heritage of this area. You might see an ancestor or two hanging on the wall or you might find your name on a fraktur!

Portraits are People, too (Grades K-12) A, L, H, SO Find out who is hanging around the Galleries. Portraits reveal more than a likeness of a person-they capture personality, historic times, sense of place, and more. Be a detective and gather all of the information that you can.

Ancient Civilizations Galleries

Superheroes (Grades 4-9) A, L, SO, H, F Super heroes have powers that humans do not. Find out who these superheroes are, how they come to be, and what they do. You will find them in our Ancient Civilizations Galleries.

The Art and Science of the Mummy (Grades 9-12) A, L, S, SO, H, M So you thought the mummy Nefer-ii-ne was only there to show off her beauty! This visit will take her beyond the beautiful as students can discover the science of physics, the life of the people, the geography of place, and the art of mummification. A CSI of Egypt!

Dragons and Masks (Grades 3-12) S, SO, L, A, F The tea ceremony, the Samurai, the kimono, and dragons are some of the history and tales that you will hear as you walk through the Asian Galleries.

The Greeks and Romans are Coming! (Grades 5-12) A, L, SO, H, F Where are they coming from, how did they live? What are the objects in the Greek collection and what are they used for? Find out what stories are told through art and sculptures.

What are Stamps and What does Clay Have to do With it? This visit explains some of the mysteries of Mesopotamia and how we use the same type of communication today.

Arms and Armor

Shining Armor and Knights so Bold (Grades 4-8) A, SO, H, L Imagine yourself in Medieval times where knights and kings ruled the land. But why did they wear those suits and how were they made? This visit deals with the history of and art of armor, the “knight times” and the majesty.

Pacific Islands (Grades 5-12) This visit, across the sea and to the islands will take you into the land of boats, drums, and ceremonial ceremonies.

Native peoples of North and Central America

The First People Here (Grades K-8) S, L, SO, H Before computers, before a man named Columbus came here, there was a society all ready in place. On these shores families worked, made tools and clothing, and had rituals and stories. Join us here in the Museum to learn how these Native Americans lived.

Masking Behavior (Grades 6-12) A, S, SO, H, L, F You can almost hear the drumming and see the dancers in this trip through the1rst floor Galleries. Through masks, you will learn about ancestors from across the ocean.

Who are our Neighbors to the South? (Grades 7-12) A, L, SO, H, S, F Does South mean Florida? Not here in the Museum! This visit will take you through the Southern and Middle Americas as well as Mexico. You can open your eyes to masks, ancient writings, pottery, jewelry, and textiles, as well as the ubiquitous shrunken heads! Do you want to specialize in a single area? Please let us know and we will help you plan your tour.

Natural Science

Birds, Bugs, and Butterflies (Grades 2-9) A, S, L There are flying things and crawlies all over the Museum! Bring your class and take an interdisciplinary hunt to find them. Along the way, you should discover differences in these critters.

In My Backyard (Grades2-8) S, L What is ecology and how does it affect me? Why should I even be aware that it does? Here in the Science Gallery you can see a sample of your backyard and just what goes on there.

Rock around the Clock (Grades 4-8) (Grades 4-8) L, S, H Did you know that rocks can be blue, yellow or green? That we can use a key to unlock some secrets? Are all rocks dirty? Find out the answers to these questions and more when you come to our Science Gallery.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Grades 2-6) A, L, H, SO, S Take a safari adventure through the Galleries to hunt for animals and their habitats. As you go through the Science, Art, and Ancient Civilizations Galleries you will be amazed at the number of animals that call the Museum home. Stay in the Science Area to learn and observe how these animals live.

The Fossil Explorers (Grades 2-8) S, L, A H What are those footprints from, who made them, and what are these other things called? Impressions? Of what? This visit will take you through time and place to visit the world as it was.

Extended Visit Symposium

A Day in a Renaissance Palace, a Roman Villa or a Japanese Pavilion? (Grades 9-12) A, H, L, SO, F These teacher-directed visits take students through history by way of our Museum collections. Through collaboration with the Director of Lifelong Learning you can spend a half-day or a whole day in our Galleries. Examine in detail a time of history through painting, writing, hands-on objects, and discussions to thoroughly ground you student in the knowledge of a historical time and place.

Media Study (Grades 9-12) A, S This is a teacher directed visit. Students examine art techniques and evaluate decisions made by artists in choosing tools and materials. Media discussed include pen and ink, oil, watercolor, dry brush, egg tempera, mixed media, acrylic, and print media.

New Ways to See the World (Grades 9-12) A, SO, H, S, M, L This visit is teacher-directed. As the world changes, so does the way in which we perceive it. This visit introduces students to some of the many explorations and innovations realized in societies in the past 500 years. From the development of perspective during the Renaissance, to the Impressionism of the late nineteenth century, to post World War abstract canvasses, to space flights and landfills, artists and scientists have embraced societies dealing with and broadening change. By viewing a selection of works from the Museum collections, students will see first hand some of the many solutions that have emerged during the last 500 years. By the end of the visit, they will have gained a new way of seeing the world.

Sketching the Landscape (Grades 9-12) A, L This is a teacher-directed visit. Drawing from original works of art, or copying, was once a popular method for learning the techniques of master artists. During this exploration, students will use works of art from the Museum’s collection to rediscover this practice and further their understanding of basic landscape drawing techniques. After viewing and discussing “plein-air” paintings, students will embark on a sketching expedition in the Galleries. By studying painting through sketching, students will hone some of the many techniques used by artists to capture nature on canvas. This exploration will reveal the social and cultural factors that influenced nineteenth and twentieth century landscape artists. Students will have and opportunity to turn theory into practice. You may work in the Galleries for one or more days. Colored pencils, pencils or even watercolor (using drop cloths) may be used for creating artwork in the Galleries.

Temporary Exhibits

There are teacher packets and educational programs available for the special exhibits that will be shown throughout the year. Please call the Department of Lifelong Learning (610) 371-5850 ext. 229 for a schedule or click here.

Click Here for Upcoming and Current Exhibits