Museum of the Philadelphian curator lists Fishtown exhibit for $65,000

Brian Adoff is asking $65,000 for the Museum of the Philadelphian, a pop-up exhibit in Fishtown that operated for 18 days before closing its doors on Sunday, November 1. The listing on Facebook Marketplace describes the collection as a "Museum, lightly used" and specifies that the sale is pick-up only, with payment accepted via cash or Venmo.

Adoff created the micro-museum as a tribute to the residents of Philadelphia. The exhibits covered local history and culture, ranging from the snowballs fans threw at Santa Claus during an Eagles game in 1968 to the city’s famous greased poles. The space opened on September 25.

According to Adoff, more than 2,400 visitors attended the exhibit during its run. He noted that the most common question from attendees was whether the museum would become a permanent fixture. "It resonated so much," Adoff said. "Over 2,400 people came through over 18 days."

The curator stated that the original plan was always for the space to be temporary, with a set end date of November 1. The Facebook listing was intended as a humorous gesture to draw attention to the project. "I put that out there kind of as a joke, but also to get attention," Adoff explained. "I wanted people to know that people want this thing."

The strategy has generated interest from outside the online marketplace. Adoff reported receiving a few serious inquiries and is currently in discussions with city partners regarding the possibility of placing the exhibit in different neighborhoods next year. He described his vision for the next phase as maintaining the current format while allowing more people to experience it.

Adoff said the financial structure for the next stage is all or nothing. He is seeking a deep-pocketed funder or philanthropist to support the project. "If there's a deep-pocketed funder, or philanthropist that wants to get involved," he said, let him know. The listing remains active on the platform.

The exhibit’s closure marked the end of its initial 18-day run in Fishtown. Adoff confirmed that the space was open to the public until the set end date. The Facebook Marketplace listing remains visible, offering the collection to potential buyers or partners.