Please Touch Museum: Inspiring Lifelong Learning Through Play
Since 1976, Please Touch Museum has been a cornerstone of early childhood education, dedicated to sparking creativity and curiosity in young minds. Through immersive, hands-on exhibits and play-based learning, the museum fosters an environment where children explore, problem-solve, and develop foundational skills that prepare them for lifelong success.
With the generous support of The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, Please Touch Museum has expanded its ability to engage children and families across Philadelphia. Two transformative initiatives, the Alice in Wonderland exhibit and the Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace, highlight the Foundation’s commitment to early literacy, STEM education, and experiential learning.
Alice in Wonderland Exhibit: Bringing Literacy to Life
With the support of The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, the Alice in Wonderland exhibit has been a beloved feature at Please Touch Museum since 2008. Designed to promote early literacy and imaginative storytelling, the exhibit immerses children in the world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, allowing them to step inside the story and interact with its characters in a hands-on, engaging environment.
The exhibit fosters language development, problem-solving, and creative expression by inviting children to explore life-sized story elements, play with oversized books, and engage in literacy-based activities. Through dramatic play and interactive storytelling, young visitors develop a deeper appreciation for reading while enhancing comprehension and communication skills.
Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace: Cultivating the Next Generation of Innovators
In 2021, The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation helped launch the Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace Studio, an innovative learning environment designed to introduce children to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts through hands-on exploration. The Makerspace quickly became one of the most highly engaged and interactive areas of the museum, inspiring young minds to experiment, build, and problem-solve in a structured yet open-ended setting.
The space is equipped with engineering stations, design challenges, and hands-on building activities that allow children to develop critical thinking and creativity. Dedicated educators were funded by The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation for the first three years to lead programming that introduced children to concepts like basic physics, robotics, and sustainable design through age-appropriate projects and collaborative experiments. The Museum now covers this position in its ongoing operating budget.
Please Touch Museum continues to refresh Makerspace programs, open studio learning prompts, and field trips to ensure that children and families have access to new, engaging, experiences and STEM-based learning opportunities each time they visit.
The Makerspace has already engaged thousands of children in hands-on STEM learning, helping them develop confidence in problem-solving and innovation—skills that are essential for future academic and career success.
Expanding Access and Future Innovation
Beyond its exhibits, Please Touch Museum is committed to ensuring all children, regardless of socioeconomic background, have access to enriching learning experiences. With the support of The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, the Museum extends its reach to underserved communities through targeted outreach programs and inclusive learning initiatives.
Looking ahead, the Museum is working to enhance both the Alice in Wonderland exhibit and the Makerspace by integrating new learning technologies, expanding educational programming, and deepening its impact on early childhood development.