Benjamin Franklin Resources

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Front-facing view of the Benjamin Franklin Memorial statue

Dive deeper into Benjamin Franklin’s life and science through the museum’s collection of Frankliniana—artistic depictions, original scientific instruments, and more.

Benjamin Franklin Memorial Statue

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn about the life and accomplishments of Philadelphia's favorite founding father, Benjamin Franklin.

Ben Franklin Bifocals

Benjamin Franklin's Inventions

Benjamin Franklin was many things in his lifetime: a printer, a postmaster, an ambassador, an author, a scientist, a Founding Father. Above all, he was an inventor.

Benjamin Franklin: The Original Hipster

Benjamin Franklin's Most Famous Quotes

Benjamin Franklin has said many things during his lifetime.

Painting of Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky, by Benjamin West. Oil on slate, circa 1816.

Franklin's kite-in-a-thunderstorm experiment

Everybody knows that Benjamin Franklin flew a kite, with a key attached, in the middle of a thunderstorm as an experiment. This was to prove that lightning is electricity, but how much of this story is true?

Photo of lightning rod

Franklin Lightning Rod

Learn the history of Franklin's Lightning Rod.

A photo of two wild turkeys outside under a tree

The Truth Behind The National Bird Dispute

Everyone says that Benjamin Franklin wanted the National Bird to be a Turkey over an Eagle. 

shot of Benjamin Franklin memorial in the atrium at The Franklin Institute

Did Benjamin Franklin Invent Daylight Savings?

Learn about how the whole tradition started.

Benjamin Franklin Memorial Statue

7 Things Benjamin Franklin Never Said

Always quick with a bon mot, Benjamin Franklin has been quoted and paraphrased endlessly. The problem?

Sculpture of Benjamin Franklin on a bench at The University of Pennsylvania

5 Places to See Benjamin Franklin Art in Philadelphia

Learn about where you can see Benjamin Franklin monuments, statues, memorials and other works of art scattered throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Celebrate science with our scientist snowflake patterns!

Just print out the patterns using a standard printer and, using an X-acto blade or other sharp tool (and preferably a cardboard cutting surface), you can surround your home or classroom with famous scientists and their inventions!

Benjamin Franklin Snowflake Pattern