‘Abbott Elementary’ Visits Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum in Season 4 Finale
ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” filmed its Season 4 finale inside Philadelphia‘s Please Touch Museum – only the second time the show has shot in the city since it began. The museum…
Created for kids seven and younger, Please Touch Museum¨ also appeals to a more mature crowd because of the buildingÕs history. A National Historic Landmark located in Fairmount Park, Memorial Hall was built for the nationÕs 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The striking building houses some serious fun and play (and learning, of course).
ABC's "Abbott Elementary" filmed its Season 4 finale inside Philadelphia's Please Touch Museum - only the second time the show has shot in the city since it began.
The museum shut down for three days in late February through March to make way for filming. Staff worked quickly to adapt several areas, including Adventure Camp, Centennial Innovations, and the carousel building, getting each spot ready for filming.
"Our core audience is children ages 0–8 but teenagers and adults can also learn through play at our museum," said Tracy Curvan, COO of Please Touch Museum, to PhillyVoice.
According to phillymag.com, the museum staff "worked closely with producers, location scouts, and set designers to make sure the on-screen version felt true to the real deal. That meant everything from adjusting camera angles inside tight exhibit spaces to adding a little scenic paint here and there — without losing the childlike wonder that makes the museum what it is."
Located in Fairmount Park's vast grounds, the quiet location helped keep filming private, even with an open casting call for local kids. The show's only other Philadelphia filming happened at the Franklin Institute.
The museum calls Memorial Hall home, a National Historic Landmark built for America's first World's Fair in 1876. In 2008, a big renovation turned it into what visitors see today.
Each year, half a million people visit the museum, making it one of Philadelphia's biggest attractions. Montessori teacher Portia Sperr started the museum in 1976 with dreams of hands-on learning.
Before landing in Fairmount Park, the museum bounced between three spots - first at the Academy of Natural Sciences, then over to Cherry Street in '78, before moving to North 21st Street in '83.
Show creator Quinta Brunson used memories from her childhood museum visits as inspiration. She added real Philly details to the episode, from SEPTA buses to local corner stores.
The episode (season 4, episode 22) can be streamed on Hulu or Disney+.
