You might say that the heart is the "engine of life." In fact, that's what our world-famous Giant Heart exhibit was originally called back when it opened in 1954.
We like to think that our Giant Heart drives the pulse of the City of Brotherly Love, with nearly a million visitors per year getting an inside look at the path blood takes as it passes through the heart.
But whether you're able to visit us or not, The Franklin Institute is dedicated to educating people about how the heart works – and how to keep it healthy.
The History of the Giant Heart
Find out how and why the Giant Heart was built, and how it has changed over time.
Why Does Your Heart Beat?
What causes your heart to beat? Think of your arteries as the pump behind the thump.
Human Heart Trivia
How many of these questions can you get right?
What's Inside Your Heart?
Find out how the heart develops in the womb and learn a cool trick for remembering some of the parts of the heart.
Your Living Blood
Why is your blood red? How do scabs form? What’s difference between different blood types?
How Your Body is Like a Factory
Find out how your body’s systems all have to work together to keep you alive.
Heart Health & Care
What happens when you don’t take care of your heart – and what medical science can and can’t do about it