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Every weekend through October!

Franklin Fright

It's the spookiest time of the year, and Franklin Fright is back for its third season of family-friendly Halloween fun.

Science After Hours: Fright @ Night

Join us on Friday the 13th for a night of surprises, tricks, treats, and delights as the museum transforms into your playground for exploration and intrigue.

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The Curious Cosmos with Derrick Pitts

A new podcast from The Franklin Institute
Dive deeper than ever before with Derrick Pitts, The Franklin Institute’s popular Chief Astronomer.

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Membership

Members of The Franklin Institute enjoy exclusive access to exhibitions, programs, and events all year round!

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A family inspecting a piece of equipment in the Observatory at the Franklin Institute.

Science After Hours: Fright @ Night - Friday October 13 - Ages 21+

Science After Hours: Fright @ Night
Fri, October 13, 2023 | 7:30 - 11:30pm

Join us on Friday the 13th for a night of surprises, tricks, treats, and delights as the museum transforms into your playground for exploration and intrigue. Costumes are encouraged, so dress to impress.

Get Tickets

2023 Solar Eclipse Gathering

View the upcoming Partial Solar Eclipse with Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts, who will guide guests through the solar viewing experience outdoors (weather permitting) while inside, DJ Ben Arsenal will host an eclipse-themed dance party!

Learn More

Don't Miss The Franklin Institute's newest podcast, The Curious Cosmos with Derrick Pitts!

Are you curious about the stars? Dive deeper than ever before with Derrick Pitts, The Franklin Institute’s popular Chief Astronomer, as he takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour of space.

Listen Now

Plan Your Visit

General Admission Hours

The Franklin Institute is open Monday-Sunday from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

Closed November 23, December 24-25, and January 1, 2024.

Daily Schedule

Our Daily Programs & Shows Schedule lists things to do and see during your visit, including Live Science Shows and Planetarium show times.

View Today's Schedule

Science Museum Pricing

Adult: $25
Child (3-11): $21
Members: FREE

Parking

Onsite parking is limited, and $20 per vehicle.
TFI Members save $5!

Parking Garage Address for GPS:
271 North 21st Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Directions

The Franklin Institute is located in Center City Philadelphia, at the intersection of 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Step-by-Step Directions
I-95 Detour Updates

Accessibility

Get information about wheelchair-accessible entrances and seating, parking, restroom facilities, ASL interpreters, sensory-friendly programming, and more to plan a great visit.

Accessibility Info
Museum Map (PDF)

Fear and Your Brain

It’s a dark and stormy night. Boom! You hear a loud crash. You see a flash of movement. The fear sets in. Your brain has jumped into alert mode. Fear is an essential function of the brain. Throughout human evolutionary history, fear has kept us alive. How does it work? The Franklin Institute's Chief Bioscientist, Dr. Jayatri Das, breaks it down. Don't be scared to read this blog!

A black-and-white kitten with green eyes looks up pensively

Exhibits & Experiences

The Franklin Institute's iconic and newly refurbished Giant Heart Exhibit

The Giant Heart

Explore the beating “heart” of The Franklin Institute!

Amazing Machine

Explore the amazing world of machines! You’ll be amazed at the similarities between the machines from our collection and the ones you use every day.

Fels Planetarium

Explore the night sky with cutting-edge astronomical presentations in the awe-inspiring Fels Planetarium.

SportsZone

Hit the turf and experience how sports connect the science of the human body, laws of motion, and technical innovation.

Electricity

Spark your curiosity about the wonders of electricity in this interactive exhibit dedicated to the museum’s namesake—Benjamin Franklin.

Your Brain

Think about how you think when you explore Your Brain. What is the brain? How does it work?

Air Show

Put your piloting skills to the test in the lively Franklin Air Show exhibit that introduces the history, majesty, science, and technology of powered flight.

The Franklin Memorial at The Franklin Institute

Benjamin Franklin Memorial

The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial features a dramatic 20-foot-high marble statue of Benjamin Franklin sculpted by James Earle Fraser.

Rendering of upcoming Space-themed exhibit at The Franklin Institute, Created by MDSX

Wondrous Space

Opens November 4! Experience the excitement of space exploration and develop an out-of-this-world appreciation for the night sky.

Twin boys learning and having fun lifting themselves on an interactive in Sir Issac's Loft

Sir Isaac's Loft

Enter the playground of experimentation to discover falling objects, chain reactions, and optical illusions that bring Newton's laws to life.

Crowds of Franklin Institute members gather on the roof in the Holt and Miller Observatory to do some Sun gazing.

The Holt & Miller Observatory - Closed

Reopening November 4th!
The Holt & Miller Observatory houses the 10” Carl Zeiss Refracting Telescope, one of the largest historical artifacts in the museum's collection.

Treasures of The Franklin Institute; Baldwin 60000

The Train Factory - Closed

The Train Factory exhibit is now closed in preparation for its re-imagination and expansion into the new Treasures of The Franklin Institute Gallery, opening in the fall of 2024!

Tech Studio

Show off your engineering skills in Tech Studio. Design, build, and test the most efficient spinning top or construct a K'Nex aircraft that can safely land on the runway.