National Museum of American Jewish History

I was very intrigued by this place and it’s set up. There were several exhibits and much of it was categorized geographically. The multimedia was a great touch. The set up was easily accessible from floor to floor.

One of the best museums I’ve been to. This is the museum of my people, American Jews. It is not about the religion exactly, but moreso about the experience of coming to, existing in, and making it in America. And this is exactly what I am interested in.
I recommend you take the tour. It adds a dimension and foundation that is so essential to your experience. Throughout this tour, and being with other people while experiencing this, I really felt more pride, sadness, and thought than if I had just browsed by myself. I made a day of this area of Philadelphia, getting breakfast at High Street, getting a tour at noon, then walking up 3^rd and down 2^nd for shopping, then back again to the museum for individual study. It worked out so well.
Designed by the team who made the Newseum, and once you realize this, you can see why it’s such a well-​done place. The 5-​year-​old museum is contemporary in ideas of capturing the audience of mindful tourism and museum experiences — with all the displays, the information, the calls to interact, and the total multi-​sensory experience (no smell or taste, but there are virtual experiences by showing typical living quarters). It is a first-​rate museum in so many ways.
There are a few negative reviews here on Unilocal and they are the reason that some people don’t take Unilocal seriously. Every point of theirs is annoying, narrow-​minded, and in error. I would say though, that if you aren’t Jewish or interested in history or immigration, that this probably won’t be your favorite — that probably means that someone’s dragging you here, so just be nice and convince then that they owe you a meal at High Street in return.
This experience can be directly translated to contemporary issues and mistakes that our country is in danger of. We really get a picture of why America is exceptional, and why we have to defend this.

Narrates the American Jewish history with the emphasis being on «American» and in that sense leaves much of the Jewish history out.

Lovely museum, good design (including time lines). I had expected to be wowed and walked away not learning anything new, but finding the experience pleasant. Perhaps the planners needed to balance information that would be interesting to people of all faiths. I had expected a theater that would run short documentaries throughout the day. Also, When I saw the room to record a memory, I had hoped it would be a place to talk about the Jewish immigrant experience or another important time or fact about American Jewish History, but the questions were general about camp or food.
I also expected a café that would sell traditional Jewish food with a modern spin.
The gift shop had an exceptional selection of beautiful items.

Very impression display at the National Museum of American Jewish History. While, you can «rush» thru each exhibit in like a hour visit. I find myself spending 2 hours there as the information of each exhibit was speculator. The museum went in depth about food, culture, their upbringing, historical events and how Jews live through out history. If you appreciate history, the museum is definitely worth a visit.

Gorgeous museum. I came here for a Unilocal event. It was definitely interesting and I loved that it was interactive so I think it’d be great for kids to learn about Jewish history.

beautiful museum! i went here for a Unilocal event and it was awesome being able to explore the museum while the event was going on. It’s about 4 or 5 floors. I think the 5^th floor is for special events. stunning!

Very interesting and enlightening. Loved the little film about how/​why Jews became such big movers and shakers in the Hollywood film industry during the 1920s. There’s so much cool stuff to see here. Also, the jewelry in the gift shop is beautiful!

Clean, spacious, well-​maintained, modern.

Can I say outstanding? Is there a better word? definitely, definitely check this place out. What an amazing spot to learn so much about freedom, liberty and amazing people will made it happen.

An architectural beauty incorporating modern elements that blend beautifully with the other structures in the vicinity. The space is laid out well and there are tons of interesting areas inside with compelling exhibits. All the elements are well curated.
I was introduced to the museum by way of a special event that took place after hours. I’ll definitely be going back to browse the exhibits with more care.
There is a beautiful gift shop and the special events area is fantastic. There are architectural elements everywhere that keep the space connected to the outside walkways while keeping the indoor elements intimate and quiet.

This is fantastic museum where you can spend hours learning about Jewish American history. We were here for the Richard Avedon photo exhibit, but I have to say the regular collection was amazing. The layout of the museum starting from the top floor to main floor is chronological from the pre-​Revolutionary War era to modern times.
The curators did an excellent job in collecting and displaying documents and photos on each level. From original letters about Jewish settlers in the colonies to candlesticks smuggled out in a Pogrom, (complete with bullet holes) there is a wealth of interesting objects on display here. The Immigration floor level and mock NYC Tenement and Labor Union areas were especially poignant to me, being that all my grandparents came through Ellis Island and settled on the Lower East Side first before moving to the suburbs of NYC.
Highly recommend to those of Jewish and non-​Jewish persuasions who are history lovers. The museum docents were extremely interesting and pointed out some highlights that we would have missed on our first visit. Great spot to visit when you are in downtown Philly, right across from Independence Hall and Liberty Bell Plaza.

I highly recommend this museum. Went for the first time February 2015, when they were free for the whole month. I am Jewish and had wanted to come here for a while and the free entrance pushed me over the edge, finally. I was expecting something akin to the Holocaust museums I’ve visited, but it really exceeded my expectations because the museum was much broader and I learned things not just about Jews in history but about American history overall and how the Jewish experience fit into that.
As others have said, the layout is extremely intuitive and makes you not have to think about how to walk through the exhibits. It essentially goes chronologically starting on the fourth floor and moving down to the bottom, where there are some authentic objects from famous American Jews. The exhibits are great — a good mix of simple reading panels, multimedia/​video, interactive, participatory, and a lot for kids which was great. There is also a great recording booth where you can record video responses to some questions like, «What does religious freedom mean to you?» Also the building itself was gorgeous and the exhibit space on the west side (when I went there was a holiday music exhibit there) is fantastic and airy.
All in all, I think this museum appeals to everyone and I was sad that when I went on a FREE Saturday, there weren’t many people there. I hope more people check it out so it stays alive!

I absolutely loved my visit to this museum today. The collection is great and there are tons of artifacts from all different walks of jewish life but my favorite was the colonial collection and information about early Jews in the US. The layout of this place is beautiful and there are interactive components for both adults and children that aren’t too cheesy. The curatorial work is exquisite and the museum staff was very friendly. I went on a Saturday and they even had a little table for challah and grape juice. My trip was a little unconventional but a good way to spend shabbos.

I LOVED this museum. As secular & non-​practicing as I am, I’m still an American Jew, and this museum was just so relatable for me, like I could look at one of the maps that showed immigration from Eastern Europe in the late 19^th/​early 20^th century & say, «Hey! Those are MY ancestors!»
I feel like the overall theme was kind of like «Jews are just as American as everyone else in this country.» Because, you know, we are. The Jewish American experience IS the American experience.
My favorite part was the section on Jewish summer camp. I loved being able to look up my camp & see pictures from it… though they could really use some older pics, not just ones from 2011… I’ll be happy to provide pics from the 80s! Also, I want to go back to sleep-​away camp for a month… I miss childhood.
There’s a lot to see and read here, I’m looking forward to going back and taking even more of it in.

We visited the museum yesterday and I’d prefer to give 4.5 stars, but I think it deserves 5 more than 4.
I’d read a lengthy and informative NY Times article nearly four years ago when the museum moved to their new building, and the baseball exhibit finally compelled me to go there. That exhibit (which ends on October 26) is certainly a good one, but the permanent exhibits are very informative & interesting and we particularly liked the wonderful old photos.
The gift shop has a really good selection of books and pretty gift items, plus the people working there were very friendly.
The building’s interior is exceptionally attractive; it’s bright & airy and has a pleasant «open» feeling.
The nearby Bourse Garage offers four-​hour parking for $ 9 if you have your ticket validated at the museum. Also, seniors receive a $ 1 discount on museum admission.

I have visited this museum two times since it has opened. The most recent time was for Father’s Day (free admission!). My mother and I brought my grandfather here for the baseball exhibit (Chasing Dreams). His childhood idol was Hank Greenberg, and he loved the baseball display.
Overall, the museum is clean. This museum is a great celebration of the Jewish religion and culture in the US, but it’s not in your face. You will learn something new each time you go. It is interactive for all ages. There are some displays that make you think, «Huh? Were they itching to fill space?»

This is a cool museum. I only saw the 1^st floor, but it is immaculate and spacious (spaciousness could be due to the lack of items). They have exhibits dedicated to famous Jews from around the world. I grew up in Skokie, Illinois and it was neat looking at the list of donors whom I knew.

Really wonderful collection of both permanent and special exhibits. Lots of stuff to see, but you don’t need to spend more than a few hours here (my kind of museum!) The shop is great, too.

Wow! Great museum. Had I not been patted down like I was on some NSA watch list or going into the Pentagon going into the place, I would have had a better experience.
Unlike some other reviewers, I took the title of the museum to mean it was primarily about Jewish history in America, not an art museum or WDW Philadelphia.
The museum is laid out brilliantly. It is easy to follow and understand. Starting on the 4^th floor the museum explains the struggles and triumphs of Jews in America from the very beginning. As a self-​guided experience, I was able to go at my own pace.
The museum did a solid job of explaining conflicts between Jewish groups and how Jewish people responded to various national challenges from pre-​Revolutionary War to present. There was also an effective balance between highlighting a history of discrimination on one hand, while showcasing the way Jewish life in America evolved– from the formation of Jewish seminaries to summer camps on the other. There is also a clear description of the rich contributions Jewish people have made to America.
This is a must see. Just be sure there are no pennies in your pocket when you go through the metal detector.