Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute is a science museum in Center City Philadelphia with several floors of interactive exhibits on physics, astronomy, mechanics and the human body. The building follows neoclassical design and houses a planetarium alongside permanent galleries dedicated to electricity and technology.

Founded in 1824 as one of the first institutions in the country dedicated to science education. The current neoclassical building opened in the 1930s and expanded the original mission into interactive learning for all ages.

Named after Benjamin Franklin, whose love of invention and inquiry shaped early American science. Visitors today engage with hands-on experiments that encourage curiosity and make abstract principles feel approachable.

The museum opens each day in the late morning and closes in the afternoon, with separate tickets needed for temporary exhibitions and planetarium sessions. Most exhibits are accessible by elevator or ramps, making it easy for wheelchair users to move around the building.

A walk-through model of an oversized human heart lets visitors move through chambers and arteries while following the path of blood. The installation scales up a real heart thousands of times, offering a rare inside view of cardiovascular anatomy.

Location: Philadelphia

Inception: 1824

Official opening: 1824

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Fee: Yes

Address: North 20th Street

Opening Hours: 09:30-17:00

Phone: +12154481200

Website: https://fi.edu

GPS coordinates: 39.95806,-75.17361

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:15