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Museum of Philadelphia History To Reopen After 3-Year Makeover

By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A three-year renovation project is complete, and now Philadelphia's Atwater Kent Museum is set to reopen this weekend, with free admission from 11am until 5pm both days.

It's now called the "Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent."  Executive director Charles Croce says the small space is packed with historical items, such as George Washington's desk, Mike Schmidt's batting helmet, and Joe Frazier's boxing gloves.

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(One current exhibit at the newly reopened Philadelphia History Museum highlights the city's bygone breweries. Credit: Lynne Adkins)

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(Charles Croce. Credit: Lynne Adkins)

Croce (right) admits the museum's location, on 7th Street between Market and Chestnut, makes it hard to find, but he plans to work with other local tourism institutions to get the word out.

"In today's world and today's economy we all can't make it alone," he said.  "We have to depend on each other.  We are lucky to be just steps from Independence Mall.  What we're trying to do is to get some of the four million people looking at the Liberty Bell to come this way and look at Philadelphia's history."

He says the museum has more than 100,000 items which can be displayed at various times.

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