Named after Benjamin Franklin, the Franklin Institute is both a renowned science education/research center and an interactive science and technology museum. I knew the museum was one of the oldest in the country, but I had no idea that 2024 marked its TWO HUNDREDTH anniversary. Not only is it one of the top tourist attractions in Philadelphia, but its also the most visited museum in all of Pennsylvania. In 2023 it was named the #9 Best Science Museum in the US by USA Today.

I’ve always loved the Franklin Institute. My first memories of the museum were from elementary school field trips; after getting engaged I considered getting married here (until I realized how much it would cost…); and with this most recent trip I was so excited to be able to help share this experience with the next generation in our family. My 2 year old niece seemed to enjoy herself, but she was definitely still a little too young to take advantage of/interact with everything. I’m looking forward to going again when all of my ‘niblings’ get a bit older – kindergarten or later is probably best!

[nibling: a gender-neutral term used to refer to a child of one’s sibling as a replacement for “niece” or “nephew” – not technically in the dictionary yet, but I like it!]

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The Exhibits

The museum houses a variety of exhibits, two auditoriums, and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial over three stories and 400,000 square feet. You’ll find the majority of the exhibits on the second and third floors. See the full exhibit layout here.

This particular trip coincided with the opening of Wondrous Space, which was the museum’s first new exhibit in over a decade. The interactive exhibit opened November 2023 and cost $8.5 million (partially funded by a $3 million gift from Boeing). This is the only exhibit in the museum that spans two stories. It is the first of several planned new permanent exhibits for the museum, which is probably a good thing considering some of the current ones look the same as when I was a kid in the 90s. They’re definitely showing their age. The human heart will be one of the areas getting an upgrade, expanding to encompass the entire human body – while keeping the giant heart as the feature, of course. I can’t wait to see what else they have in store!

We didn’t check out the Fels Planetarium or Holt & Miller Observatory this time around, as trying to get my niece to sit still for that long likely would have been impossible! But we did have a blast exploring the rest of the museum’s exhibits.

Here’s a little overview of the other exhibit themes you’ll see during a visit:

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The Rest

The museum also has a fairly large eatery, a small café and a gift shop. There is an attached parking garage, but it can fill up pretty fast depending on the day/time and if any special events are happening. Unfortunately Philly’s public transportation infrastructure is a little lacking in this area, so the closest regional rail station (Suburban) or subway station (City Hall or 15th Street) are about a 10-15 min walk away. Its not much of a problem in the warm months, but in the winter I know most people wouldn’t want to be out in the cold for that long. The walk from City Hall is beautiful though, since the route takes you up the Parkway and past other attractions like Love Park and Logan Square.

Considering a visit to the museum will take up the majority of your day, $25/adult and $21/child 3-11 (under 3 is free!) feels pretty reasonable to me. For the most recent up to date prices/hours/events, be sure to check their website.