Philadelphia History Museum is closing to the public as Temple walks away from proposed partnership

The Philadelphia History Museum, mandated by the City Charter as Philadelphia’s official attic for things made and owned here — whether President George Washington’s desk or Mike Schmidt’s batting helmet — will close to the public Monday for an undetermined period of time, museum officials said Tuesday evening.

The closing comes as Temple University has withdrawn from talks about a possible partnership with the museum, surprising city officials who had expressed optimism about such an alliance as recently as April.

Michael DiBerardinis, city managing director, said he found out about Temple’s change of heart and the breakdown in talks by reading a story Wednesday on Philly.com.

“I’m upset,” said DiBerardinis. “We thought we had a partner, and now we don’t.”

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/arts/philadelphia-history-museum-closing-atwater-kent-20180627.html