Reading Public Museum — Attraction in Reading

Disappointing Experience for Students and Parents

I recently visited this museum as a parent chaperone on a school trip. We were all excited for an educational and engaging day, but the experience fell far below expectations.

We spent over 25 minutes waiting in the lobby while staff seemed unprepared and disorganized. During that time, the students were repeatedly told—often harshly—to stand silently in lines. These are kids who were excited to learn, yet they were spoken to in a way that felt more disciplinary than educational.

Instead of exploring the museum, students were confined to sitting on the floor in three separate rooms for extended periods. We were told multiple times that we were “not paying customers” and needed to be quiet so we wouldn’t disturb other visitors. This was repeated so often that it became insulting. One guide even told the kids they could end up in the hospital if they touched something—an unnecessarily dramatic and inappropriate warning.

The students were incredibly well-behaved and kept looking to the adults for reassurance as they were being spoken to with little patience or kindness. It was sad to see how little respect they were given, especially considering that many museums rely on grants and school visits like ours to operate.

We didn’t get to explore the full museum or gardens due to delays and inefficient scheduling. Meanwhile, we saw multiple staff members standing around while only one person managed each stop. The bathrooms, especially near the planetarium, were poorly maintained—no paper towels and overflowing trash cans, and we were the first group of the day.

Overall, it was a disappointing and frustrating visit that left the students disheartened and confused. This could have been a great learning experience, but instead it felt more like a missed...

5 STAR Service provided by Stephanie and the RPM team!! I had my wedding at RPM in June 2021 and I cannot say enough good things about Stephanie and the RPM team. You can see from photos that the gardens and grounds are gorgeous and the museum is striking as well. BUT - the service provided by Stephanie and her team was fantastic. I came to Stephanie in October 2020 looking to move my postponed wedding to a venue with an outdoor option. Communication with Stephanie (from day one) was stellar. She was kind, organized and helpful. I had my entire wedding planned but had to postpone due to the pandemic. Stephanie worked directly with me, and my already hired vendors, to get everyone onboarded and on the same page. Leading up to wedding day, Stephanie was always prompt to answer each and every question. We had a full walkthrough and then a rehearsal at the museum to ensure all the details were sorted out, which was wonderful for me, the type-A bride. It was on my wedding day that Stephanie and the RPM team went above and beyond. We arrived at RPM, saw the gorgeous set up of the chairs in the garden, and then it started to RAIN! We checked the weather doppler and after a deep breath, Stephanie and her team sprung into action and re set-up the ENTIRE ceremony (175 chairs) inside of the 2nd floor gallery. None of the guests even realized that it was our back up plan to be inside and I was so thankful that she was willing to pivot and accommodate me and my guests on such a short notice. THANK YOU to Stephanie and the entire RPM team - you made me one...

The Reading Public Museum is truly a gem! It may be small, but the museum has an impressive collection for its size, and there's always something to see. Many traveling exhibits are displayed here as well, so be certain to check the exhibit schedule.

I recently visited to see the exhibit "Alphonso Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau." The permanent galleries include Arms and Armor, Ancient Civilizations (which features Nefrina, the Museum' mummy, complete with sarcophagus), Fine Arts. Modern Art, Pennsylvania German, Latin America. North American Indian. World Cultures, and Animal Habitats.

Be sure not to miss the Arts on Paper Gallery on the lower floor near the auditorium. It has some great exhibits and is often overlooked.

There are also some great kid themed exhibits that offer fun, hands on activities. Currently it's "Top Secret: License to Spy." I have to admit that these are lots of fun, and we check them out even though we don't have kids.

The Reading Public Museum is taking steps to insure that everyone has a safe visit. Right now (10/23/2020) masks are required, admission is based on the number of visitors, and there is entry of hand sanitizer throughout the building.

If the weather is nice, take a stroll through the gardens. It's a lovely walk.

I haven't yet visited the Neag Planetarium but that is on my list.

There is ample parking, and admission is quite reasonable. Limited snacks are available in the lobby. There is also a gift store that features items from local artists as well as the traditional items related to...