The Franklin Institute is Celebrating Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday With a Weekend B-Day Bash!
The Franklin Institute is Celebrating Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday With a Weekend B-Day Bash!
Celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Philadelphia’s favorite and most influential founding father at the Franklin Institute’s “Ben’s Birthday Weekend Bash.” This weekend-long birthday goes down January 18-19. Plus, on Saturday only enjoy free ice cream courtesy of Franklin Fountain (while supplies last). This event is included with regular museum admission.
Ben 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, creating solutions to common problems, innovating new technology, and even making life a little more musical.
Franklin’s legacy of scientific achievement will be on full demonstration during his birthday weekend, with programming, experiments, and activities designed to inspire ingenuity and showcase the innovative spirit in all of us. At Ben’s Weekend Birthday Bash you’ll get to enjoy the following:
- Experience the iconic Van de Graaff generator, the Tesla Coil, and other hair-raising demonstrations in the Electricity exhibit and during the Live Science Show: Electricity.
- Take our self-guided Ben Franklin tour to see, hear and learn about some of Franklin’s most prominent inventions—many still used today—including the flexible catheter and bifocals.
- Listen live to the ethereal sounds of Franklin’s favorite musical instrument—the Glass Armonica.
- Explore 3D printing and coding challenges! Edit the coding on our own “8-Bit Ben” Ben Franklin video game and build a type of controller for it by using Makey-Makey and Scratch.
- Think you can? Test your skills with puzzles and brain teasers that apply to Franklin’s inventions.
- – Build and construct freely or take part in building challenges using Keva Planks, Rigamajigs, and giant Tinker Toys in our Creation Station play area. Stop by our LEGO® Brick Wall for more building fun!
- Visit the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial and see a powerful multimedia show (less than 5 minutes) which demonstrates Franklin’s profound impact on the world.
Did you know Ben Franklin had two birthdays? Read more on this and other Ben’s Birthday facts on our website here.
