The Franklin Institute Science Museum

Why go

The Franklin Institute Science Museum earns time because it offers hands-on exhibits, the walk-through Giant Heart and the domed memorial rotunda. Its central thread is large-scale interactive science galleries around the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. The Giant Heart turns circulation into a walk-through, room-sized model. The seated Franklin memorial occupies the building's broad marble rotunda.

What to look for

• The Giant Heart turns circulation into a walk-through, room-sized model.
• The seated Franklin memorial occupies the building's broad marble rotunda.

The full story

The Franklin Institute Science Museum is best understood through large-scale interactive science galleries around the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. The Franklin Institute is a science museum and center of science education and research in Philadelphia. It is named in honor of the noted American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin, and houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. Founded in 1824, the Franklin Institute is one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States. On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughan Merrick and William H. Keating founded The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts. Begun in 1825, the Institute was an important force in the professionalization of American science and technology through the nineteenth century, beginning with early investigations into steam engines and water power. In addition to conducting scientific inquiry it fostered research and education by running schools, publishing the influential Journal of The Franklin Institute, sponsoring exhibitions, and recognizing scientific advancement and invention with medals and awards. In the late twentieth century the Institute's research roles gave way to educating the general public through its museum. The Bartol Research Foundation of the Franklin Institute,founded in 1924 to conduct research in the physical sciences, is now part of the University of Delaware. The Franklin Institute Laboratories for Research and Development operated from the Second World into the 1980s.

Useful to know

• Start with one major gallery, then add planetarium or theater programming if time remains.
• Weekday school groups can make the central galleries busiest before mid-afternoon.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.