Hours and Admission
Library Hours
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania Library is open to the public Tuesday–Friday during the hours listed below. Note that entry to the Library and paging end 45 minutes prior to close.
Tuesday: 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 12:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday: 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Administrative Hours
Our administrative offices hold regular business hours 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Although the Library is not open for public use outside of the days and hours listed above, staff do schedule business appointments and meetings during morning hours and Mondays. It is always best to pre-arrange to meet with staff, rather than stop-in and ask for them during non-public hours. HSP's main entrance on Locust street opens daily at 9:15 a.m.
Library Admission
Individual daily rates to visit the Library are:
Friends of HSP: FREE
General Admission: $8
All Students (with ID): FREE
All Military Members (with ID): FREE
Time Travelers Members: $5
Policies on Children:
• Children are assumed to be students and have free admission to the library.
• Children under kindergarten age are not permitted in the library (except to accompany their parents/guardians when viewing exhibits).
• Children under 6th grade must be with a supervising adult in the library and in the front lobby. An adult accompanying a child researcher will be charged admission.
Holidays and Closings
HSP is regularly closed Monday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as on the dates listed below. In the case of inclement weather, HSP follows the schedule of the School District of Philadelphia. Notice of all weather and emergency closings will be posted on our website and on our weather phone line at 215-732-6200 ext. 505.
New Year's Day (2021) | Friday, January 1, 2021 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Monday, January 20, 2020 |
Presidents’ Day | Monday, February 17, 2020 |
Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2020 |
Independence Day | Friday, July 3 through Monday, July 6, 2020 |
Labor Day | Monday, September 7, 2020 |
Columbus Day | Monday, October 12, 2020 |
Thanksgiving | Wednesday, November 25 at 5:30 p.m. through Friday, November 27, 2020 |
Winter Holidays | Thursday, December 24 through Friday, December 25, 2020 |