Philly Museum Gift Shops That Just May Have the Perfect Present
Find unique holiday gifts while supporting your favorite museums.
Philadelphia’s gallery and museum gift shops are bursting with unique gifts for all the unique people in your life. / Photograph courtesy of the Fabric and Workshop Museum
For holiday shoppers struggling to decide what to buy, the gift shops of Philadelphia’s art museums, galleries and related sites offer the chance to shop local and find something special. Because museum and gallery store sales benefit the venue, shopping at them also provides a way to give back to the community.
Museum Store Sunday is December 1st, but museum stores are a great source for gifts all season (and year) long.
Keep in mind that online shopping may be convenient, but visiting the museum stores in person presents opportunities to both avoid shipping anxiety and to take a pause from holiday chaos to pop in and see the exhibits!
Dino stuffies in the Academy of Natural Sciences shop / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
The Academy Shop inside the nation’s oldest natural history museum is a must-visit, especially for little dino lovers. Toys, books, clothes, and plenty of dino stuffies can be found — as well as nature-inspired activity kits, books and field guides, and real fossils and minerals. There’s also an adult side of the store with nature-inspired art, jewelry, and housewares. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Barnes Foundation
Naturally, the Barnes Foundation’s on-site and online gift stores feature a wide range of art-inspired items. Find a unique selection of homewares, books, jewelry, clothing and more inspired by the Barnes’s collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern art. They also have a nice assortment of toys and puzzles for the creative littles in your life. In addition to their regular collection, the store has special items to celebrate their current Mickalene Thomas: All About Love exhibit. The museum also provides the opportunity for outside-the-gift-box thinking with art classes that could be just the right present for the art lover in your life. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The Clay Studio
When the Clay Studio moved to its new four-story space in 2022, that expanded footprint also included an expanded shop. Don’t worry: The “mug wall” is still there — and it’s bigger, too! Plus, handmade ceramics by nearly 150 artists across the country — including plenty by their resident artists — from tableware to jewelry to decorative art pieces. Holiday bonus: They have a collection of ornaments from the artists’ studio, as well as a cute ornament decorating kit for kids. 1425 North American Street.
The Mug Wall at the new Clay Studio / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Eastern State Penitentiary
The former prison, a monument to American criminal justice history, is now known for its fortress-like architecture and crumbling interiors. The store‘s top sellers include a keychain with a replica of a prison front gate key and merchandise featuring famous former residents like Al Capone and Pep, an incarcerated dog. 2027 Fairmount Avenue.
The Fabric Workshop and Museum
Innovative contemporary works of fabric art are both created and exhibited at the Fabric Workshop and Museum. The store features unique home goods, accessories and clothing, including exclusive items created by featured artists especially for the museum. 1214 Arch Street.
The Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute’s lobby-level gift shop is a destination unto itself, with no tickets required to visit. The store has toys, books, clothes and much more to satisfy your little (or big) science fan. And yes, they still sell that powdery astronaut ice cream we all tried when we were kids. They also create some unique (and delightfully nerdy) holiday attire. 222 North 20th Street.
Independence Seaport Museum
The Independence Seaport Museum has one of the largest collections of maritime art and artifacts in North America. Holiday gifts from the store include apparel and art celebrating the museum’s historic vessels Olympia and Becuna, Philly-made nautical jewelry (we especially love this anchor cameo from Adorned by Aisha), cute otter-themed items, and more for all ages. 211 South Columbus Boulevard.
Laurel Hill Cemetery
Philadelphians know Laurel Hill Cemetery as the final resting place of prominent citizens, a peaceful green space dotted with sculptures and other art, and a National Historic Landmark. But the cemetery also has unexpected, offbeat gifts for the holidays. Check out the online shop for a range of spooky gift ideas: a coffin clutch, tombstone soap, an anatomical heart chocolate pop … The list goes on and on. 3822 Ridge Avenue.
Museum of the American Revolution
For U.S. history buffs big and small, the gift shop at the Museum of the American Revolution is a dream come true. Gifts for the Revolutionary-minded, including books, figurines, prints, clothing and toys, can be found in the on-site gift shop and the online store. 101 South 3rd Street.
Inside the Museum of the American Revolution / Photograph courtesy of the Museum of the American Revolution
Museum for Art in Wood
This Old City museum has low-key one of the best gift shops around. They’ve got unique furniture (look at this gorgeous table!), art, jewelry (wooden earrings!), kitchenware and other home goods, and even kids’ toys. What’s more classic than wooden blocks, after all? 141 North 3rd Street.
Mütter Museum
The Mütter’s collection of anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments is intended to shed light on disorders of the human body and the history of disease treatment. So the museum’s on-site and online gift stores are filled with fun items like these oddly adorable eyeball earrings, a necklace with a jarred brain laser-etched on it, and informative books such as Dr. Mütter’s Marvels. 19 South 22nd Street.
National Liberty Museum
One of NLM’s biggest draws is its collection of glass art, including Dale Chihuly’s iconic Flame of Liberty. So it’s no surprise that on-site and online gift shops offer a wide selection of glass art — plus local art and apparel. 321 Chestnut Street.
Penn Museum
Echoes of the museum’s ancient artifacts can be found in the on-site and online gift shops, along with accessories, books, and gifts for children. Popular holiday gifts include jewelry, like this replica of Queen Puabi’s necklace, an “Excavation Kit” complete with tools that help kids lead their own archaeology expedition, one-of-a-kind art pieces, and teas and spices from around the world. 3260 South Street.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
PAFA’s museum shop is always a great option for buying art, jewelry, housewares and books to gift. But for some added festiveness during the holidays, they’ve got ornaments! Whimsical ornaments like a pink Croc and a “Happiness Is Handmade” skein of yarn. 118-128 North Broad Street.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
A South Street slice of local art, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is covered by artist Isaiah Zagar’s mixed-media mosaics made from tiles, bottles, bicycle wheels, mirrors, and international folk art. Visitors can roam the two indoor galleries and outdoor sculpture garden to find something new at every turn. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens’ on-site and online gift shops offer clothing, books, mugs, ornaments, and more featuring Zagar’s distinctive folk art designs. 1020 South Street.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s gift shop highlights local artists. / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has not one, but three gift shops on site, plus an online store. The Main Store offers jewelry, ceramics, crafts, art supplies from around the world, and a children’s section. The American Gallery Store includes gifts made by local artisans, and the Design Store features modern design books and decor, among other things. From kids to grownups, there’s something for everyone on your list, no matter how classical or quirky. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
The shop at the Weitzman has an impressive collection of Judaica — from menorahs to mezuzahs, and everything in between — by artists like Michael Aram and Joy Stember. (Always a great Hanukkah gift for the parents.) They also have clothes, toys and books for the little ones, including this cheeky “Schmutz Happens” bib. Other bestsellers include OY/YO merchandise (a nod to the Deborah Kass statue installed out front upon reopening). Need more ideas? Check out the museum’s Hanukkah gift guide. 5th and Market streets.
Gifts at the Weitzman’s museum shop / Photograph courtesy of the Weitzman
Woodmere Art Museum
Located in a 19th-century mansion in Chestnut Hill, the Woodmere Art Museum showcases more than 8,000 works of art by Philadelphia-area artists, including a collection of local impressionist painters. Highlights of the on-site and online Museum Store include jewelry and glassware, as well as textiles and home decor. 9201 Germantown Avenue.
Additional reporting by Samantha Drake.
