The Jewish experience is a vital part of the American story—from early immigrants fleeing the pogroms of Europe to the evolution of the religion in the United States and our increasingly complex national relationship with Israel, there’s a lot to document. The National Museum of American Jewish History was opened in association with the Smithsonian Museums in 1976 to give that story a place to be told. With tales pulled from over 350 individual’s experiences, the Museum’s collections offer an unparalleled peek into the creation of this nation. Boasting over 10,000 artifacts in its collection, the museum’s only permanent exhibition “Creating American Jews” is the big attraction, but a number of other themed exhibits merit multiple trips. In 2010, the museum relocated to a much larger space, and has expanded with a number of interactive exhibitions as well as a gift shop. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable as well.

National Museum of American Jewish History
101 South Independence Mall East
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 923-3811
www.nmajh.org