Overview
- Drexel and Academy leaders announced the Parkway museum will close on Sept. 30, with the last day open to the public during regular hours on Sept. 27.
- Officials said persistent drops in visitors since the COVID‑19 pandemic and rising maintenance and operating costs made the building’s museum model financially unsustainable.
- The Academy will keep its research and collections operations and staff access for scientific work, and some Drexel co‑op positions tied to collections will continue.
- Scott Cooper, the Academy’s president and CEO, has decided to step down and Drexel and the board said they will develop a new governance and leadership plan.
- Members will get direct communications about benefits and refunds, The Franklin Institute will honor Academy memberships through their expiration, and leaders are considering options for the Parkway building and long‑term public access to the Academy’s 19 million‑plus specimens.