Dating back to 1824, (nearly 2 centuries ago!), The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one of the oldest museums of science education and development in the United States. The Institute was of course named after the great American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin, and is home to the grand Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.
In addition to “Resources for Science Learning”, the Franklin Institute is loaded with exhibits and activities for visitors of every age. Let’s explore some of what you can see and do at the museum…
Science museum exhibits are open every day from 9:30 am to 5:00pm, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Franklin Awards Day. Special summer hours are posted n the Franklin Institute visitor information web page.
Here’s an overview of available attractions at the Institute:
KidScience: The Island of the Elements – A storybook attraction that takes children ages 5-8 on a journey across The Island of the Elements.
Space Command – A futuristic, low Earth-orbit research station for space exploration with 8’ telescope, Space Academy and astronauts at work.
The Train Factory – Imagine yourself as the engineer of a working 350-ton locomotive in an authentic train factory where you can learn about the science and technology of trains.
Amazing Machine – A machine-like room with a captivating series of everyday machines that are interactively displayed in “exploded” interior views.
The Franklin Air Show – 5,000 sq ft exhibit with 20+ interactive devices showcasing the historical and contemporary facets of aviation and aeronautical technologies.
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial – A 20-ft high marble statue of Benjamin Franklin weighing 30 tons and resting on a 92-ton pedestal of white Seravezza marble.
The Giant Heart: A Healthy Interactive Experience – A giant model walk-through Heart that pulses with interactive devices in a 5,000 sq ft exhibit.
Electricity – An energized exhibition with interactive devices and graphics glowing from within the darkened gallery, illustrated by simple, edgy imagery.
Changing Earth – Fun and engaging interactives allow visitors to explore Earth’s changes—and their choices in responding to these changes.
Sir Isaac’s Loft – A world of artistic experimentation blending art and science into a 3,600 sq ft display of aesthetic innovation.
Sports Challenge – Visitors can transform into a star athlete in this 5,500 sq ft sports stadium with Astroturf, a blimp and an oversized jumbotron screen.
Joel N. Bloom Observatory – Day and nighttime viewing of planets, stars, star clusters & nebulae and galaxies, through a 10” Zeiss refractor and four 8″ Celestron CPC 800 GPS Computerized Telescopes.
The museum also hosts various traveling exhibits throughout the year. Check the Franklin Institute’s website for current listings.
Tuttleman IMAX® Theater
70 ft across, 4.5 stories tall, dome screens tilted at 30 degrees with special seating to completely surround the audience, 20,000 watts of amp power and 50+ speakers
Fels Planetarium Theater
40k+ lb, 60 ft diameter perforated stainless steel dome, cosmic projections, upgraded video projection, super-fidelity systems, theater controls, lighting system, theater seating and ADA accessibility
Franklin Theater
Cinema-style seating, surround sound system, acoustical treatment, high-contrast perforated screen and state-of-the-art high definition digital 3D projection system
Camps & Workshops – Discovery Camp, Camp-in, home-school workshops, birthday parties and more.
Teachers and Schools – Field trips, Science Leadership Academy, traveling science shows, teacher development & workshops, PECO Energizing education program.
Community Programs -Youth Programs – PACTS, STEM Scholars, EiPIC, LEAP into Science, CLUES, Philadelphia Science Festival, PNC Grow Up Great, GSK Science in the Summer.
Special Topics – Augmented Reality, Urban Astronomy, Girls in STEM, Sustainability, Chemistry, Kitchen Science.
Every year, the Institute honors the greatest men and women of science, engineering and technology with the Franklin Institute Awards, which are among the oldest and most prestigious comprehensive science awards in the world.
Among science’s highest honors, The Franklin Institute Awards identify individuals whose great innovation has benefited humanity, advanced science, launched new fields of inquiry, and deepened our understanding of the universe.
This is just the brief overview of all you will find at the Franklin Institute. For additional details and infor about the museum’s many exciting exhibits, activities and upcoming events, be sure to check out The Franklin Institute online.
Philadelphia Limo Services has been providing transportation services in the Philadelphia area for more than 20 years, and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to share our great city’s many historic landmarks with residents and visitors alike.
We are very familiar with all the traffic patterns and most reliable routes for traveling to our city’s various monuments and museums, and invite visitors to consider our car or limousine services when touring any of these historically significant sites. Even if you don’t have any immediate plans for touring the city, you can get an easy online rate quote with no obligation whatsoever, just to see how affordable it can be to experience the historic relevance of Philadelphia – without having to do all the driving.
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