Understanding the concepts of science may not be something that we are all interested in, but I am convinced that we can all appreciate that technology and science have evolved over time. At the Franklin Institute Museum in Philadelphia, there is everything that any budding scientist could dream of. From electrical engineering to the human body, visitors are treated with an abundance of amazing displays, hands-on experiences and visual exhibitions.
Our initial intention was not to visit this museum, rather we were passing by en route to the Philadelphia Museum of Art when we decided to wander inside the museum and see what they had to offer. Immediately walking through the doors into the large entrance hall, you could see that this was going to be a cool experience. Ticket prices at first seem a little high but you have various options available to you dependent on how much time you have or what your interest are.
During our visit, the main attraction was ‘One Day in Pompeii’ which was a special feature currently running. For $27.50 each, we received tickets to this special feature, the science museum and also our choice of an IMAX movie (we opted for the Ring of Fire). If you are only interested in visiting the museum, the price of $16 per person seems very reasonable.
The Science Museum
We spent the first couple of hours walking around the museum; this really brought back memories of my childhood going through science museums where you get that hands-on experience of using your body as a human conductor of electricity or walking through a human heart! One of the most interesting exhibits was a wall full of small antennas that lit up whenever you placed your cell phone in close proximity. I am not sure if this was fascinating because of how the radio waves clearly transmit or the potential harm cell phones are doing to us (Admittedly, I am not a proponent of this and believe that cell phones are relatively harmless unless you are on them 24/7).
There are 3 floors to the museum and each has very different displays available. The first floor contains the Train Factory if locomotives interest you, a Planetarium to learn more about how our solar system works and Space Command which allows you to explore the farthest reaches of space without having to leave Earth! The second floor is where the main entrance is when you pass the Franklin Memorial. Exhibit galleries here feature the Electricity area, Giant Heart and Changing Earth (which is pretty cool as you can create your own weather forecast and replay the video!). Unfortunately some of the main attractions on the top floor were closed including the Sports Challenge but for those daring enough to ride the SkyBike, you could soar through the air above the Atrium.
Before visiting the science museum, I would probably have associated this type of attraction with activities solely related to children. But I can now honestly say that anyone can enjoy this type of experience. There is something for everyone, of course there are activities catered for kids but many of the ‘hands-on’ challenges are probably more suited for adults. Interaction is always going to attract visitors and I think this is one of the main reasons why the Franklin Institute will continue to be successful.
IMAX
We have visited a few IMAX theatres before and really enjoyed them. Given the opportunity to see ‘The Ring of Fire’ (No, not Johnny Cash but the volcanic chain that surrounds the Pacific Rim), we were both really looking forward to this. Our show started at 2:15 and lasted 45 minutes. The theatre was one of the biggest I have seen before, though my only regret was that we sat on the front row that I believe took away from enhancing the overall experience.
Learning about how volcanic activity is still such a huge natural phenomenon was interesting. This was also a perfect prelude to our final attraction of the day which was ‘One Day in Pompeii’ as it gave us a little more information on what causes volcanoes to erupt around the world.
One Day in Pompeii
For those of you that don’t know the history of the ancient town of Pompeii under the ashes of Mount Vesuvius, this would have been a really great attraction. However, I was left a little disappointed especially given that we paid $11.50 each for this and it rather failed to live up to the hype and expectations given the advertisements for this.
On a positive note, learning about how the ancient Romans lived their daily lifestyle, ranging from architectural design of their living quarters to the food they consumed was interesting. The story continued culminating in a video showing a recreation of Vesuvius erupting and destroying Pompeii under 12 feet of ash. Only in the 18th Century was Pompeii rediscovered and to this day archaeologists are working on identifying remains and learning more about how the Romans lived and what actually happened on that tragic day in AD79.
Summary
Though you are probably not going to leave the Franklin Institute as the next Albert Einstein, you will certainly learn plenty to make you intrigued about the evolution of science. You can easily spend a full day here and it is great spot for the whole family to just learn and have fun. If you plan on visiting here for just a hour, it’s not worth paying the admission fee because you simply won’t have enough time to see everything. We spent about 4 hours here and didn’t see everything so be prepared to set aside at least half a day when in the Philadelphia region. Visit this attraction because you won’t regret it!
Have you visited the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia?
Have you experienced other similar museums around the world?
I totally love how the architecture of most museums, schools, halls of justice and libraries resemble the ancient greek columns, it sure adds a new layer to the whole search for wisdom!
A great suggestion! I’m a science geek and this looks like a great place to visit.
I love placed like this, I feel like a kid again looking and learning. If you have not already added Pompei to your bucket list – do. It’s an amazing places that leaves you with CHILLS.
I have never been to this particular science museum but I have been to the one in Taipei. However, my husband and I did go to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and it was such an awesome experience. The IMAX 3D movies, especially the one with the shuttle launch at the beginning felt so real! It was so cool!!
I second adding Pompeii to your bucket list. It’s amazing and unbelievable to see.
I hope we will be able to get over to Italy at some point in the near future though it may have to wait until we can take a trip around Europe. Pompeii is just one of those historic places you have to visit to see everything for yourself. Movies, artifacts and written information is great but nothing compares to the real deal of experiencing something in person!
That looks like fun! I love all the different museums in the US. The actual Pompeii is amazing!
That is one thing that I have really appreciated about USA is the variety of museums that are available here for visitors to look around. The best spot has to be Washington DC where all of the museums are part of the Smithsonian Institute and are free. Of course, most places are not like that and you have admission prices but for the most part they are worth it.
I am a Chemist, working in a research institute. I really like museums like this, which try to get science closer to people. We have a nice one here in Barcelona too, where even children can understand some of the basic foundations of science. great post!
Thanks Gabor for your kind comments! You would certainly appreciate this museum probably more than we did given your science background. The intricate details that they go to in order to ensure that the exhibits are functional and visitors can experience this for themselves is really cool in itself, on top of the fact that the hands-on experience is the best way to learn something new! What a great place for kids especially to learn about the history and modern technologies associated with science!
Oh, yes, science museum would bring back my childhood memories too. Any time I visit any ruins, I try to imagine how ancient people lived their daily lifestyle. So One day in Pompeii would feed my curiosity (sorry to hear that it didn’t live fully to your expectations).
And it burns burns burns… the ring of fireeee (sorry, you mentionned it!)
I adore science institues! They are usually fun, entertaining and you tend to learn quite a lot! I’ve not visited the Franklin institute but I would give it a shot!
What a great post on The Franklin Institute! I live in Philly and have been to the institute many times for many cool exhibits and events. However, I have yet to see the Pompeii exhibit but your post has inspired me to check it out. In general, the FI is one of Philly’s best museums and is exceedingly family-friendly, as is the Natural History Museum next door. Hope you enjoyed your visit to Philly during the cold spell and thank you for sharing our city with your readers.
Cheers Melissa, we really appreciate your kind remarks and feedback! We had an awesome time in Philly. Yes, it was chilly but the snow and weather made the trip even better actually. To experience a city that is still functional despite the weather is great especially when you live down here in Arkansas where everything grinds to a halt.
The museums in Philly are awesome for sure. We had an absolute blast inside the FI and we actually stepped inside the Natural History Museum for a few minutes to get out of the cold and that looked interesting too, especially with the dinosaur exhibit going on at the time we were there.
I love interactive museums, makes learning much more fun! The Science Museum here in London is pretty cool too, great for kids young and old!
Yes, there are a bunch of cool interactive museums in England. I remember visiting Eureka – The National Childen’s Museum in Halifax (NW England) whenever I was younger and it was awesome to be able to interact with all the science experiments etc. The Franklin Institute in Philly was a similar experience but there was a variety of different aspects to this museum that made it great for all ages!
I love museums and will spend hours wandering around so this looks like another one to add to the list if we ever visit this part of the world 🙂
You certainly won’t regret it if you get the opportunity to visit the FI in Philly. We would definitely go back but I would recommend spending at least half a day here to get the most out of the experience.
There is a part of me that wonders if <$10 is reasonable for a museum experience. Isn't this what we fund Universities and pay taxes for? To fund the collective intellectual properties of the public? I do wonder…
That’s a great point Roma and one that we should bring up with our local politicians around the world because honesty isn’t that what life has come to for the most part nowadays – there is nothing free!! Well, I guess there are a few exceptions but I think you would agree that those are very few and far between. Paying the $28 per person to experience this museum was tough, I have to admit. But I will say that I don’t regret paying this one little bit. You can easily spend a full day here should you wish and learn a bunch of different things that you probably never knew anything about.
I have only recently become a fan of museums and this one seems to be super fun! I am adding this to my list of must-visits!