United States Mint

[Coops]

I was wondering if the Philadelphia Mint is a worthwhile place to visit. I see they have tours but I'd like some opinions on how extensive it is, what you see, how long it is, etc.

I might want to take my Dad, since he is a coin collector, but he is 85 and I don't want to drag him down there and have it be a bust.

Thanks for any insight.

[priell3]

http://www.usmint.gov/mint_tours/?action=philadelphia

I was there on a grade school class trip. That is all I can remember.

[Sparks]

It's nice. You are in a galley up top looking down through windows at the shop floor. And thats what it really is, a machine shop. There are buttons to push to get a description of what is going on at each location. Self paced tour, no groups. Run through fast or take your time. You see the raw metal comming in, and getting worked down to size, then run through the presses. Because you are high there is nothing close up to see.

Escalators to get up and down. You end up in the gift shop. High security obviously. But it's a Federal building, no charge for the tour.

[bugout]

They just revamped the tour the other year... definitely worth seeing. Did you know it is the largest Mint in the World?

[MichaelVain]

I agree, the US Mint is absolutely worth seeing. The updated self guided tour is very educational.

The entire Independence Hall tour experience is very good imo. The Liberty Bell exhibit is great and you don't have to wait in lines forever, Indy Hall is very good as well even though you need tix. My absolute favorite is The Constitution Center and Freedom Rising! is a great show (although to be honest, it was way better when it first opened pre-Obama issues).

I've brought scores of visitors to see it and I never get tired of showing them Liberty Bell/Indy Hall/Const. Center/Mint.

[Sparks]

Plenty more to see in the immediate area also. Visit Franklin Court. Stroll down to the Delaware for the Maritime Museum and the Olympus/Becuna museum ships.