FRIENDS OF ASOR TOURS

Behind the Scenes: In Philadelphia

Join Friends of ASOR from April 16-17, 2026, for exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to some of Philadelphia’s premier cultural institutions, featuring expert-led tours and insights into spaces highlighting the archaeology and art of the ancient Middle East and Mediterranean.

Tour itinerary:

Thursday, April 16 | Penn Museum
Participants will spend the day at the Penn Museum, with guided visits to the Middle East Galleries, the Preserving Assyria exhibition, and the Babylonian and Near Eastern collections. The program will also include access to the museum’s CAAM labs—artifact analysis laboratories, offering insight into current practices in the archaeological sciences. The tour will be led by Penn Museum Director Chris Woods, Richard Zettler, Michael Danti, Phil Jones, Steve Tinney, Marie-Claude Boileau, and Katy Blanchard.
Friday, April 17 | Barnes Foundation
The second day starts at the Barnes Foundation with a private lecture by Kaelin Jewell, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman collections.
Friday, April 17 | Philadelphia Museum of Art
The tour continues in the afternoon at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with a visit to the Abigail Rebecca Cohen Study Room for private access to select items from the museum’s prints, drawings, and photographs collection.

Pricing: $325 for both tour days

                $260 for Thursday-only ticket

All ticket prices include a tax-deductible $150 donation to Friends of ASOR.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation, hotel, and meals.

Register by clicking here or on the button below. Once you create a login to register, navigate to the top menu, hover over “Events” and select “Browse Upcoming Events.”

Limited to 20 participants. Registration due by March 1.

Please e-mail us or call 703-789-9234 if you need registration assistance or have any questions.