The Wagner Free Institute of Science is an educational institution and historic natural history museum dedicated to providing free education in science. Incorporated in 1855 by Philadelphia merchant and gentleman scientist, William Wagner, the Institute maintains nationally important museum and library collections that were assembled to teach science to the public--both children and adults. With its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1990, the Institute's mission was broadened to include preservation of the building and interpretation of the site as an unparalleled example of a Victorian science museum and educational institution.