Things to Do in Philly

The Franklin Institute is Philadelphia’s hands-on headquarters for giant hearts, massive locomotives, brain-bending illusions, simulated space travel, and the kind of science lesson that involves pressing every available button. It works especially well for families, but curious adults can have just as much fun racing virtual athletes and discovering that their balance is not as impressive as advertised.

For a full day of classic Philadelphia, spend the afternoon experimenting in Center City, then head to Old City for Philly Crawling’s Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl. The adults-only crawl runs daily at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m., lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes, and visits four local bars. Drinks are available for purchase at each stop. Consider it a two-part experiment: first gravity and neuroscience, then whether Revolutionary history pairs better with a lager.

Franklin Inspired It, but He Did Not Found It

Let us clear up one popular bit of confusion. Benjamin Franklin did not found The Franklin Institute. Mechanical engineer Samuel Vaughan Merrick and geologist William H. Keating established it on February 5, 1824, more than three decades after Franklin’s death. They named the organization in his honor and built it around the very Franklin-like goal of advancing useful knowledge.

According to the museum’s official history, the young institute promoted the mechanic arts through lectures, classes, exhibitions, a research journal, and a library. The library was one part of the mission, not the institution’s origin story. Its current Parkway building opened on January 1, 1934, proudly calling itself a “Wonderland of Science.” Honestly, the nickname still fits.

Five Franklin Institute Experiences Worth Your Time

The museum spreads its exhibits and experiences across three floors, so wandering without a plan can turn into a vigorous study of staircases. Start with these standouts, then follow whatever sparks your curiosity.

1. Walk through the Giant Heart. The star of Body Odyssey has been thumping since 1954. Follow the route of blood through the four-ton model while listening to its heartbeat. It is a Philadelphia childhood tradition, an anatomy lesson, and a wonderfully strange photo opportunity in one.
2. Put your brain inside Your Brain. Fire a model neuron, test your senses, puzzle over conflicting information, and climb through an 18-foot neural network in Your Brain. The exhibit explains how the brain processes the world while gleefully demonstrating how easy it is to fool yours.
3. Challenge yourself in SportsZone. SportsZone connects athletic performance with physics, biology, and technology. Race a virtual professional, analyze your pitching mechanics, test your jump, or try a surfing simulator. Bragging rights remain unofficial and completely unenforceable.
4. Explore space without packing snacks for Mars. The two-story Wondrous Space lets visitors touch a real meteorite, experiment with gravity, design a rover, launch a rocket, and consider what humans would need to live on another planet. Pair it with a show beneath the 60-foot dome of the Fels Planetarium for maximum cosmic effect.
5. Meet a 350-ton locomotive. The Baldwin 60000 dominates the Hamilton Collections Gallery, where visitors can climb aboard and inspect the engineering that once powered an industrial age. The surrounding gallery displays hundreds of objects connected to invention and discovery, including early film equipment and artifacts associated with the Wright brothers.

Stop and Say Hello to Giant Ben

The museum’s rotunda holds the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, centered on a 20-foot marble statue of the famous Philadelphian. Franklin weighs 30 tons here, which feels excessive until you notice the 92-ton pedestal beneath him.

The memorial is free to enter whenever the museum is open, even without a museum ticket. Visitors with a National Parks Passport can also collect a cancellation stamp at the ticketing desk. Ben would probably approve of the thrift and the paperwork.

Plan Your Visit Without Requiring a Spreadsheet

The Franklin Institute sits at 222 North 20th Street, near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It is currently open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with closures on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Hours, admission prices, special exhibitions, and showtimes change, so check the museum’s visitor information and tickets before setting out.

Give yourself three to four hours if you want to explore all three floors without treating the museum like a competitive sprint. The museum warns that weekday group traffic is heavier before 2:00 p.m., so a later weekday visit generally feels calmer. Buying tickets in advance also helps secure your preferred entry time.

Drivers can use the limited on-site garage at 271 North 21st Street. SEPTA bus routes 32, 33, 38, and 49 serve the area, while Suburban Station and 30th Street Station are within walking distance. The museum’s getting-here guide has the latest transportation details. Wheelchair entrances, courtesy wheelchairs, sensory resources, and other accommodations appear on its accessibility page.

Turn Curiosity Into a Full Philadelphia Day

The Franklin Institute succeeds because it treats science as something to climb through, race against, launch, touch, and occasionally stand inside. Come for the Giant Heart, stay for the surprises, and leave with several new facts plus a fresh appreciation for anyone who understands orbital mechanics.

When the museum closes, continue the day’s discoveries with Philly Crawling in Old City. The experiments become historical, the lab coats become pint glasses, and nobody assigns homework. Book the Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl and give your Philadelphia itinerary a suitably spirited conclusion.