Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is a natural history museum, herbarium, and environmental science research institute in Philadelphia, PA. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Trustees and since 2013(?) has been affiliated with Drexel University.

The Academy has existed in one form or another since 1812 and today consists of three distinct parts: a natural history museum open to the public, a formidable set of specimen collections of various animals, plants, and (formerly?) minerals, and an environmental research institute which benefits from proximity to the collections. These three parts have distinctive funding models and throughout the history of the institution, they have periodically been in conflict with one another over scarce funding.

In common parlance around Philadelphia, the Academy building is also known as "the dinosaur museum". It is located in the "museum district" of Philadelphia, which is defined on one end by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and on the other end by the Academy, located on Logan Square. This district also includes the Franklin Institute, the Barnes Foundation, the Moore College of Art and Design, the Rodin Museum and the Parkway Central Library (formerly the ?).