Went to the Wagner for the first time today with my neighbor and five-year-old daughter. It was wonderful. Sort of a step back in time...a Victorian cabinet of curiosities with thousands of taxidermied animals, fossils, shells, mineral specimens, etc. all carefully arranged in oak and glass cases. It is an incredible place for discovering all manner of natural specimens.

Wonderful and welcoming staff. Everything is well maintained (not rough around the edges as I thought might be the case). The windows of the 1860s building have recently been restored and they are now working on the roof. Beautiful natural light streams through the upstairs where the specimens are. They provide worksheets with scavenger hunts and questions to answer for the kids and their adults.

The neighborhood is pretty rough, but there is plenty of street parking on the block and the 23rd District police station is right across the street.

It's free, donations suggested. They also offer a series of classes, many off site. Some of my colleagues at Bartram's Garden have taken the botany classes and which they found very informative.

It's one of those hidden Philadelphia treasures that you must see once, and better to go more often.