Independence Seaport Museum

211 South Columbus Blvd. and Walnut Street
Penn's Landing
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-413-8639 voice

Hours: The Library welcomes visitors Wednesday through Friday, 10am to 5pm by appointment only.

Staff: To schedule an appointment please contact the library staff at library@phillyseaport.org, or call 215.413.8639.

Library, Archives and Museum. The J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library at Independence Seaport Museum is a regional maritime research center, offering resources that document Philadelphia's relationship with its rivers and the greater Delaware River Valley. 

The Library houses more than 12,000 volumes, 9,000 ship plans and a significant collection of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, maps and charts.  Collection strengths include naval science and architecture, area shipyards, nautical instrument manufacture, early U.S. Navy, port development, seamen's welfare and education. The collection spans from the late eighteenth century to the present.  

Our holdings are cataloged on OCLC's WorldCat, available via FirstSearch or WorldCat.org.  More detailed information on some archival collections, such as manuscripts and photographs, are available on our website.