Benjamin Franklin Resources

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Benjamin Franklin Memorial


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

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Benjamin Franklin Memorial Statue

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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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.

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Benjamin Franklin: The Original Hipster

Benjamin Franklin's Most Famous Quotes

Benjamin Franklin has said many things during his lifetime.

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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?

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Photo of lightning rod

Franklin Lightning Rod

Learn the history of Franklin's Lightning Rod.

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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. 

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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.

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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?

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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.