The Rosenbach

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The Rosenbach Where 400,000 works of literature, history, and fine + decorative art come together. Come explore!

The Rosenbach offers exhibits, programs, and tours showcasing rare books, manuscripts, and art. We seek to inspire curiosity, inquiry, and creativity by engaging broad audiences in exhibitions, programs, and research based on our remarkable and expanding collections.

It's a Wilde day for a birthday!Born to stand out, dressed to impress, and always ready with a perfectly wicked quip. Fr...
10/16/2026

It's a Wilde day for a birthday!

Born to stand out, dressed to impress, and always ready with a perfectly wicked quip. From The Importance of Being Earnest to the art of being delightfully outrageous, Oscar Wilde reminded us that life is far too important to be taken seriously.

What’s your favorite Oscar Wilde quote? Drop it in the comments and let’s celebrate the wit, wisdom, and wonderfully wicked words of a literary legend!

Do you love discovering fascinating stories from history? Have you ever wanted to get up close and personal with museum ...
10/15/2026

Do you love discovering fascinating stories from history? Have you ever wanted to get up close and personal with museum and library collections, including rare books and manuscripts, as well as fine and decorative arts? If so, then this course is for you.

The Curator’s Toolkit will equip you with knowledge and skills for handling, studying, preserving, and learning from fine art, antiques, rare books, and manuscripts at the Rosenbach Museum & Library and beyond, and give you hands-on, behind-the-scenes access to world-renowned museum and library collections in both Philadelphia and New York City. You will have the opportunity to study the museum exhibition design process, research an object in the Rosenbach collection, and write text for the collaborative online database Engaging Liberty, a project of the Philadelphia Area Consortium for Special Collections Libraries. In this course, the Rosenbach and its partner institutions become your laboratories for the study and enjoyment of art, artifacts, and historic texts.

Thanks to the generosity of Bruce McKittrick Rare Books, sponsors of the 2027 Curator’s Toolkit course, the Rosenbach can offer four scholarships and one fellowship, each of which covers tuition, book purchase, and field trip transit to New York City. The scholarships are intended for students and early-career professionals seeking training to enhance their education and skills, with the goal that students will then share their new knowledge and wisdom with others.

Learn more and register today at www.rosenbach.org/programs

Images: Curator's Toolkit Course 2026

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” - Winnie-the-PoohOn October 14, 1926, a lovable be...
10/14/2026

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” - Winnie-the-Pooh

On October 14, 1926, a lovable bear named Winnie-the-Pooh made his literary debut! Created by British author A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh introduced readers to the whimsical adventures of Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger, and their friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. A century later, these stories remind us of the magic of friendship, imagination, and the simple joys in life.

Visit the Rosenbach to see a first edition of Winnie-the-Pooh and experience literary history up close!

Image: A. A. Milne (1882-1956). Winnie-the-Pooh. 1926. Rosenbach Museum & Library. EL4 .M695wi.

10/13/2026

Sign up for an all-new Behind the Bookcase tour exploring Herman Melville’s journey from overlooked author to literary icon. Discover rare books, handwritten letters, and archival treasures that helped revive his legacy, and learn how Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach helped recognize Moby-Dick as one of the greatest novels ever written.

Reserve your spot today at www.rosenbach.org/programs.

It was a busy weekend of spectacular programs at the Rosenbach!We kicked things off Friday with movie night and a screen...
10/12/2026

It was a busy weekend of spectacular programs at the Rosenbach!

We kicked things off Friday with movie night and a screening of Nosferatu. Gorgeous Saturday weather made our Exploring the Country House course at the Neumors Estate perfect. Sunday was spent in the Book Arts Center with a creative and hands-on printmaking course inspired by the papers of le***an playwright Mercedes de Acosta (1892-1968).

The Rosenbach has so much more to explore. Sign up today for a signature program, book club, or hands-on course. Learn more at www.rosenbach.org.

Escape the rain and explore at your own pace with a self-guided tour through our fascinating collections and literary tr...
10/11/2026

Escape the rain and explore at your own pace with a self-guided tour through our fascinating collections and literary treasures. Then, pop into the gift shop to browse our NEW merch and find something special to take home!

Make the most of a cozy, culture-filled day at the Rosenbach. We can’t wait to see you!

Plan your visit with us at www.rosenbach.org.

Executive Director Kelsey Scouten Bates joined her colleague, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Athenaeum, Beth Hes...
10/09/2026

Executive Director Kelsey Scouten Bates joined her colleague, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Athenaeum, Beth Hessel, to present at the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums annual conference at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. They shared their guidance on how museum leaders can approach strategic planning with one overarching takeaway: every museum is different, and therefore no strategic planning process should be the same.

Image credit: Chelsea Sanz

10/07/2026

We were delighted to celebrate a Philadelphia Tea Party with a beautiful tea service from Elwood Restaurant, an engaging presentation exploring the Rosenbach’s fascinating collections, and an unforgettable musical performance by Flautist Olivia Staton and Harpist Elizabeth Hainen of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

From exquisite tea and historic treasures to extraordinary music, the afternoon was filled with connection, culture, and discovery. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this event so memorable!

Happy World Teachers' Day!At the Rosenbach, we believe the best way to bring history, literature, and ideas to life is t...
10/05/2026

Happy World Teachers' Day!

At the Rosenbach, we believe the best way to bring history, literature, and ideas to life is to experience them together.

Teachers, let us help you bring our collection to life with your students! Our hands-on programs explore rare books, manuscripts, and objects, giving students meaningful, memorable ways to connect with the past.

Thank you to the educators who inspire curiosity every day. We’re honored to be part of your classroom journey.

10/01/2026

Step into dark, unknown corridors this season with the Ladies of the House of Love Book Club: Haunted Houses. From decaying mansions with memories of their own to isolated estates that seem to hunger for their occupants, these novels blur the line between architecture and antagonist. Discover stories about spaces that watch and manipulate, where walls keep secrets, hallways distort reality, and home becomes something to fear. Expect atmospheric reads, unsettling questions, and lively discussions about what happens when the setting itself becomes the monster.

October 6, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm

November 10, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm

December 8, 2026 | 6:30pm - 9:00pm*

Learn more at www.rosenbach.org.

Address

2008-2010 Delancey Place
Philadelphia, PA
19103

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 8pm
Thursday 12pm - 8pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 6pm
Sunday 12pm - 6pm

Telephone

+12157321600

Website

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