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Homeschool Discounts in Pennsylvania

Big-ticket Pennsylvania museums, science centers, and Civil War sites with homeschool discount days — typically 30–50% off for kids, sometimes free.

Updated May 2026 · 8 confirmed programs · 2 call-to-confirm

Pennsylvania has one of the largest homeschool populations in the Northeast, and the state's marquee venues lean in with dedicated programming. Philadelphia leads with three strong entries — the Franklin Institute runs $55–$60 four-hour Homeschool Workshops the second Thursday of each month, the National Constitution Center hosts FREE Homeschool Days three times a year on Juneteenth, July 4, and September 17, and Penn Museum (the University of Pennsylvania's archaeology and anthropology museum) runs $12-per-person drop-in Homeschool Days. Pittsburgh's Heinz History Center, a Smithsonian affiliate, made admission FREE for kids 17 and under year-round through the Kamin "Free for Kids" Initiative.

Harrisburg's State Museum of Pennsylvania runs $10-per-person monthly Home School Programs that include the Planetarium (note: the entire museum closes August 2, 2026 for renovation through early 2029). Hershey Story Museum runs themed Homeschool Days at $17/person including admission and an educational scavenger hunt. Gettysburg National Military Park runs FREE Winter Homeschool Days each year with a hands-on history fair. Group-format options round out the lineup: Pittsburgh Zoo accepts homeschool co-ops at $15-$17/person (15+ group), and AACA Museum and the National Civil War Museum offer school-group rates that homeschool families can access by organizing a co-op.

Confirmed homeschool pricing

Published price on the venue's own homeschool page — most under $20 per child.

Recurring
2nd Thursday monthly
10:30am – 2:30pm program plus free museum time afterward
$60
per kid

Franklin Institute Homeschool Workshops

Philadelphia · 7–14 · Call 215.448.1200 (Option 5) to reserve

America's premier hands-on science museum runs monthly Homeschool Workshops on the second Thursday of each month, 10:30am to 2:30pm. The four-hour program covers a specific science topic, gives kids hands-on lab time with museum educators, and includes admission to spend the rest of the day exploring The Franklin Institute's flagship exhibits — including the Giant Heart, Sir Isaac's Loft, and the Fels Planetarium.

Regular admission: ~$25 adult / ~$20 child general admission — A 4-hour structured program instead of just admission — Franklin Institute's premier homeschool offering
Homeschool page at fi.edu →
Recurring
Annual: Juneteenth, July 4, and September 17
Three FREE program days each year
Free
per kid · adult Free

National Constitution Center Homeschool Days

Philadelphia · K–12 (split into K-5 and 6-12 groups) · Reserve in advance by calling 215-409-6700

The National Constitution Center on Independence Mall — the only museum in the country dedicated to the U.S. Constitution — runs free Homeschool Days three times each year: Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day weekend, and Constitution Day (September 17). Each program is a live museum-educator-led session tied to the holiday's themes, followed by time to explore the Center's interactive exhibits, the Signers' Hall sculptures, and the rotating special exhibitions.

Regular admission: ~$15 adult / ~$11 youth — 100% off for the program days; otherwise museum is regular admission
Homeschool page at constitutioncenter.org →
Recurring
Customizable single-day field trips throughout the school year
Self-organize homeschool co-op for group bookings
$12
per kid · adult $12

Penn Museum K-12 & Homeschool Field Trips

Philadelphia · K–12 · Contact the Learning Programs Department at education@pennmuseum.org or 215.746.6774 to plan a visit; homeschool families can self-organize a co-op for the group rate

The University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology welcomes K-12 and homeschool groups for single-day field trips that mix-and-match tours and interactive workshops across the Museum's encyclopedic collection — Egyptian mummies, Sumerian artifacts, Mesoamerican pottery, Greek and Roman sculpture. Homeschool families can self-organize a co-op to meet the group rate; contact the Learning Programs Department to customize the day.

Regular admission: $22 adult / $15 child general admission — ~45% off the regular adult/child combo, with one adult per family free
Homeschool page at penn.museum →
Year-round
Free year-round for all kids 17 and under
Every operating day, no homeschool registration needed
Free
per kid

Heinz History Center (free for kids 17 and under)

Pittsburgh · All ages — 17 and under always free · No reservation needed — show up any operating day

Pittsburgh's flagship history museum (and a Smithsonian affiliate) made admission FREE for all kids and youth ages 17 and under in 2025 — a permanent policy not tied to a specific homeschool day. The 275,000-square-foot museum covers 250 years of Western Pennsylvania history including Pittsburgh's industrial past, the Franco Harris Sports Museum, and the original Mister Rogers neighborhood set.

Regular admission: $20 adult / $11 senior / Free 17 and under — 100% off youth admission permanently; no homeschool paperwork needed
Homeschool page at heinzhistorycenter.org →
Recurring
Monthly Home School Programs
Closing August 2, 2026 for renovation through early 2029
$10
per kid · adult $10

State Museum of Pennsylvania Home School Programs

Harrisburg · K–12 · Call 717-772-6997 Mon-Fri 9am-4pm to register

Pennsylvania's flagship state museum runs monthly Home School Programs that include a themed educator-led session plus admission to the Planetarium. Programs cover natural history, archaeology, industry, military history, and decorative arts. IMPORTANT: The State Museum is open through August 2, 2026, then closes for a $55 million renovation expected through early 2029 — visit before the closure if you can.

Regular admission: $7 adult / $5 ages 1-11 — A guided themed program with planetarium access on top of general admission
Homeschool page at statemuseumpa.org →
Recurring
Themed Homeschool Days throughout the year
Check hersheystory.org for current dates
$17
per kid · adult $17

Hershey Story Museum Homeschool Days

Hershey · Ages 3+ · Reserve by phone at 717-534-3439 or check hersheystory.org for online registration

The Milton Hershey biography museum runs themed Homeschool Days throughout the year tying chocolate-making history to broader topics — recent themes include "Food of the Gods" (cocoa as ancient Mesoamerican currency) and colonial-era chocolate production. Each session includes a 45–60 minute educator-led scavenger hunt through the exhibits plus full-day museum admission.

Regular admission: $16.50 adult / $12.50 ages 3-12 — Same as adult admission but adds a themed educational activity for kids
Homeschool page at hersheystory.org →
Recurring
Annual Winter Homeschool Days
Hands-on history fair format
Free
per kid · adult Free

Gettysburg National Military Park Winter Homeschool Days

Gettysburg · Recommended 8–14, K-12 families welcome · Reserve via the NPS Gettysburg education office — check nps.gov/gett for current dates

Gettysburg National Military Park's Winter Homeschool Days are an annual free educator-led history fair for homeschool families. The 6,000-acre battlefield is always free to drive and walk; this program adds ranger-led stations on Civil War soldiering, civilian life, medicine, leadership, and the Gettysburg Address. The NPS also offers free Traveling Trunks for at-home use through the Gettysburg Foundation.

Regular admission: Free battlefield (the indoor Film/Cyclorama/Museum combo is $20.75 separately) — 100% free educator-led programming plus the always-free battlefield
Homeschool page at nps.gov →
Recurring
Any open day with 3-week advance reservation
Group rate requires 15+ paying participants
$15
per kid · adult $15

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium School Group Field Trips

Pittsburgh · Preschool-Gr. 12 · Submit reservation form 3 weeks ahead at pittsburghzoo.org/schoolgroups; pay 2 weeks ahead

Pittsburgh's flagship Zoo & Aquarium accepts homeschool groups at the school field-trip rate when families self-organize a co-op of 15+ paying participants. Self-guided visits work any open day; Learning Adventures classroom programs add a standards-aligned animal encounter for $1 more per person. School/camp staff IDs unlock free admission for teachers, teacher aides, and bus drivers.

Regular admission: ~$25 adult / ~$20 child gate rate — ~40% off regular gate rate when booked as a 15+ school/homeschool group
Homeschool page at pittsburghzoo.org →

Worth calling about

These venues run homeschool programs but don't publish pricing online. Call before you go.

Recurring
Any open day with advance reservation
School group rate available — confirm current pricing
Call
no public price

AACA Museum School Group Field Trips

Hershey

The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum — three floors of automobile history from the 1890s to modern classics, the world's largest Tucker collection, rotating Chrysler Imperial exhibitions, plus buses and motorcycles. The Museum accepts school-group field trips and homeschool co-op visits; the school group rate is set below the regular gate rate but isn't published as a fixed homeschool program price.

Regular admission: $16 adults / $14.50 seniors 61+ / $10 ages 4-12 / Free under 3
How to reach them: AACA Museum offers school group field-trip pricing below the regular $16 adult / $10 child gate rate, but the specific homeschool group rate isn't fixed on a public calendar. Call 717-566-7100 to confirm current group pricing — homeschool families can self-organize a co-op to meet any group minimum.
Homeschool page at aacamuseum.org →
Recurring
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm
Advance reservation required for group rate
Call
no public price

National Civil War Museum School Group Field Trips

Harrisburg

The National Civil War Museum in Reservoir Park — a Smithsonian affiliate with 24,000+ Civil War artifacts presenting both Northern and Southern viewpoints, plus military and civilian perspectives across 25,000 sq ft of exhibition space. School group field trips include the same self-guided museum access at a reduced rate; homeschool families can self-organize a co-op to book.

Regular admission: $18 adults / $17 seniors 60+ / $16 students 6+ / $68 family pass
How to reach them: The Smithsonian-affiliated museum offers school-group field-trip pricing below the regular $18 adult / $16 student gate rate, with advance reservations required for parties of 10+. Homeschool co-ops can book as a group. Call 717-260-1861 to confirm the current group rate.
Homeschool page at nationalcivilwarmuseum.org →

Plus more free and cheap educational outings in Pennsylvania

Already on DiscoverCheapUS — free and low-cost Pennsylvania attractions homeschool families plan whole field-trip days around.

Pittsburgh

4 free or cheap
  • Frick Art MuseumFree
  • Duquesne Incline$2.50 each way / $5.00 round trip (ages 12+) / $1.25 each way ages 6–11 / free under 6
  • Cathedral of Learning & Nationality RoomsFree to enter / $10 adults / $6 youth (audio tour)
  • Bicycle Heaven Museum$15 per person / Free under 5
See all Pittsburgh attractions →

Erie

9 free or cheap
  • Presque Isle State ParkFree
  • Tom Ridge Environmental CenterFree
  • Erie Maritime Museum & US Brig Niagara$10 general / $7 seniors (65+) / $5 ages 3–11 / free under 3
  • Erie Art MuseumFree (suggested donation)
  • Erie Land Lighthouse$7 tower climb / Free grounds / Free first-Tuesday climb May-September
  • Hagen History Center$8 adults / $6 students / $7 veterans / Free under 7
  • Asbury Woods Nature CenterFree
  • Erie Zoo$13 adults / $11 seniors 62+ / $9 children 2-12 / Free under 2
  • ExpERIEnce Children's Museum$12 adults & kids / $10 seniors/military/AAA / $5 SNAP EBT (Museums for All)
See all Erie attractions →

Lancaster

5 free or cheap
  • President James Buchanan's Wheatland$18 online / $20 at door / $10 students / Free under 10
  • Demuth MuseumFree (suggested $10 donation)
  • Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum$12 adults / $10 seniors / $8 youth 3–11 / Free under 2
  • Mennonite Life Visitors CenterFree (Biblical Tabernacle tour extra)
  • 1719 Museum (Hans Herr House)$15 adults / $7 youth 7–16 / Free under 6
See all Lancaster attractions →

Philadelphia

4 free or cheap
  • Liberty Bell CenterFree
  • Independence HallFree ($1 timed-ticket fee 10am–4pm)
  • Elfreth's AlleyFree street access / $5 museum (seasonal)
  • Philadelphia's Magic Gardens$15 adults / $12 students/seniors / $8 children 6–12 / Free under 5
See all Philadelphia attractions →

Harrisburg

7 free or cheap
  • Pennsylvania State CapitolFree guided tours
  • Wildwood ParkFree
  • State Museum of Pennsylvania$6 adults / $5 seniors 65+ / $4 ages 1-11 (closing Aug 2, 2026)
  • Fort Hunter Mansion & ParkFree grounds / Mansion tour $7 adults / $4 children
  • Susquehanna Art Museum$8 adults / $5 seniors and teachers / Free under 12 / Free 3rd Friday 6-9pm
  • Pennsylvania National Fire Museum$7 adults / $5 children / Free under 2
  • National Civil War Museum at Reservoir Park$18 adults / $17 seniors 60+ / $16 students 6+ / $68 family pass
See all Harrisburg attractions →

Hershey

3 free or cheap
  • Founders Hall at Milton Hershey SchoolFree
  • Hershey Story Museum$16.50 adults / $15.50 seniors 62+ / $12.50 ages 3-12 / Free active military
  • AACA Museum at Hershey$16 adults / $14.50 seniors 61+ / $10 ages 4-12 / Free under 3
See all Hershey attractions →

Gettysburg

6 free or cheap
  • Gettysburg National Military ParkFree battlefield / $20.75 Film+Cyclorama+Museum combo
  • Soldiers' National Cemetery (Gettysburg National Cemetery)Free
  • Gettysburg Museum of HistoryFree
  • Eisenhower National Historic SiteFree
  • Lincoln CemeteryFree
  • Shriver House Museum$15 adults / $14 seniors and veterans / $10 ages 6-12 / Free under 6 and active military
See all Gettysburg attractions →

See all 68 Pennsylvania attractions on the directory →