Opening Celebration

Showcasing 2,500 years of style and adornment through approximately 250 remarkable objects, The Stories We Wear reveals how clothing and accessories offer powerful expressions of identity—examining the purpose and meaning behind what we wear. Discover a spectacular array of attire, jewelry, uniforms, regalia, and tattoos. Explore common threads woven throughout stories that transcend language, culture, and time.

Mark the opening of our special exhibition, The Stories We Wear, with a day-long celebration that brings this new gallery to life. Enjoy a variety of experiences for adults and families, including short talks, hands-on art activities, and fantastic performances. Our timed tickets, face covering requirements, and spaced seating help to ensure a safe visit. Read more about our current safety guidelines.

Pop-Up Talks

Enjoy 15-minute talks from experts on the newly displayed artifacts. Starting at 11am, talks occur on the hour throughout the day. Topics include women warriors, drag performance, ancient jewelry, and more!

Performances & Speakers

Sit back in our historic Harrison Auditorium and enjoy special performances by Jillian Pirtle of the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society (11:30 am) and the Philadelphia Chinese Opera Society (1:30 pm), a Q&A between our curators and former Eagles star Connor Barwin (2:30), and musical comedy by drag queen Eric Jaffe (3:30 pm).

Art Activities

Throughout the day, try your hand at creating your own sports jersey or tattoo design. Make your own ancient-inspired jewelry to wear home with you.

Donations

Bring your gently used clothing to help out those in need. On opening day, we will collect small donations for Project HOME and The Wardrobe. Please visit their websites to learn what items are needed most. Visitors that donate will receive a Buy One, Get One Free coupon to return to the Penn Museum between October 1 and June 30.