Philadelphia is home to some of the most thrilling art, culture and history in the United States. Check out the exclusive trip and tour options just for ISTELive 23 attendees. Preregistration and additional fees required.
Explore the glittering mosaics of Isaiah Zagar at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens and among the surrounding blocks. A knowledgeable educator will lead you on this 75-minute guided tour. The experience includes the outdoor sculpture garden, indoor galleries, several public murals and access to the fully-mosaicked basement that’s not normally open to the public. Learn about the history of the artist and neighborhood, the process for creating the mosaics, and the many types of tiles and materials used.
Saturday, June 24
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Fee: $21
Saturday, June 24
2–4 p.m.
Fee: $21
Visit the Barnes Foundation to explore one of the finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and early modernist art, with 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos and 7 Van Goghs on view. The tour will begin with a private 30-minute introduction from a specially trained docent in the Barnes' Comcast Auditorium. Learn about how Albert Barnes, M.D., started collecting art and analyze his unique “ensemble” displays before visiting the foundation’s 23 gallery rooms on your own.
Saturday, June 24
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Fee: $28
Can’t make the scheduled tour time? Show your conference badge at guest services and receive $5 off admission.
Join a museum educator for this 60-minute tour of the core exhibit galleries, highlighting objects and hearing about how the diverse groups of people living in North America were impacted by the American Revolution. You’ll learn about the experiences of loyalists, Hessians, free and enslaved people of African descent, women at home and at war, and other revolutionaries. During your tour, you’ll explore the American Revolution from its beginnings in the 1760s, and trace its ongoing story.
Sunday, June 25
10 a.m.
Fee: $26
Can’t make the scheduled tour time? Show your conference badge at guest services and receive $5 off admission.
Join us at the National Constitution Center for a morning of exploring the innovations, curiosities and discoveries that have shaped constitutional change throughout history. You’ll have time to tour some of the center's exhibitions, including “Signers' Hall,” “Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality” and “The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote.” Plus, education team members will share stories from these time periods, provide insight into the center’s resources and answer questions about the site’s educational opportunities. You’ll also experience the 17-minute live theatrical production, “Freedom Rising,” that tells the story of the U.S. Constitution and the American quest for freedom.
Sunday, June 25
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Fee: $7.50
See the sights while you learn! Take a walking tour outside the convention center guided by educators and ISTE community groups. Preregistration required.
Picture Yourself in Philly Photowalk
Get Your Game On: An Interactive Scavenger Hunt of Historic Philadelphia
Urban Identity and K-12 STEAM: An AR Tour of Philadelphia
Choose Your Own WAZE: Using an Interactive Map to Discover Historical Philadelphia
Using Mobile Tech to Create Meaningful Art-Based Encounters for Preservice Teachers
Fabric Row: Celebrating and Preserving This Historic Jewish Garment District
Meaning on the Mural Mile: Inquiry-Based Learning Leveraging Mobile Devices and Multimedia
Father, Son and the Ghost: Calders Along Ben Franklin Parkway
From cultural landmarks to renowned museums to citywide murals, there are so many ways to fill out your trip to Philadelphia beyond ISTELive 23.
Reading Terminal Market
One of the nation’s oldest and largest public markets, Reading Terminal Market boasts over 80 diverse merchants and oh so many shopping and dining options. Stop in to enjoy sit-down eateries, fresh produce, exotic meats and seafood, cut flowers, sweet treats and handmade crafts.
Iconic ‘Rocky’ Steps and Statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
We’re betting you just can’t resist recreating “Rocky’s” iconic jog up the stairs at the east entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Once you make it to the top, tour the stunning museum that features 240,000 works spanning 2,000 years – and be sure to snap a picture with the Rocky statue.
Franklin Institute
An innovator in hands-on exhibits before they were “cool,” Franklin Institute is Philly’s most-visited museum. Stop in to explore interactive science attractions on everything from sports to space, and even engage with a giant heart and brain! Disney fans will appreciate the special exhibit featuring 10 themed galleries from Disney’s magical vaults!
The Italian Market
This 10-block, open-air market features dozens of street vendors selling produce, meat and spices among brick-and-mortar specialty food shops and restaurants. Plus, you can feed your cheesesteak craving at either Pat’s or Geno’s – two of the world’s most famous purveyors – and sample international flavors including Korean barbecue, Mexican taqueria specialties and Vietnamese pho.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
Experience an “urban beach” along the Delaware River Waterfront where you can lounge on colorful hammocks, enjoy Philly-inspired food on floating barges, sip craft brews in a beer garden or play bocce, shuffleboard and more – all on a breezy boardwalk.
The LOVE Statue
Perhaps the most selfie-friendly spot in Philly is LOVE Park, home to Robert Indiana’s LOVE statue. This public art piece has become synonymous with Philadelphia’s identity, making it a perfect memory to add to your camera roll or your IG feed.
Walking Tours
There’s more than mural walking tours in the City of Brotherly Love! You can go off the beaten path thanks to several diverse – and sometimes quirky – walks. Check out Founding Footsteps, Beyond the Bell, Ghost Tours of Philly and City Food Tours.
ISTE customer service
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