Drexel University officials say they have not received a formal funding proposal from the William Penn Foundation to keep the Academy of Natural Sciences open.
Drexel University announced the closure last month, attributing the decision to declining visitation and the university’s continuing financial struggles.
“Continuing to operate the museum in its current building would place increasing pressure on resources required to safeguard collections and sustain the research enterprise. Closing the current Parkway museum is a difficult decision taken to concentrate resources on the Academy’s enduring scientific assets and research,” the Academy explained in a statement last month.
Founded in 1812 and housed at 19th and the Parkway since 1876, the Academy of Natural Sciences has long served as a pillar of American science. According to the “Why Evolution Is True” blog, it was the oldest surviving institution of its type.
Over the years, the institution accumulated immense collections, including items linked to the Lewis and Clark expedition, Thomas Jefferson, Captain Cook, and John Gould, which formed the backbone of its scientific and history-of-science work.
Neither Drexel University nor individuals formerly associated with the Academy of Natural Sciences have confirmed what would ultimately become of the collections and resources.
“I think it’s a loss to Philadelphia,” Marcia Halbert, 97, of Germantown told Action News 6abc in September.