Ben Franklin Exhibit Tours the US
Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World is an outstanding traveling exhibition celebrating the 300th birthday of this famous American. It was launched in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center on December 15, 2005, and is now traveling to major cities throughout the United States.
The exhibition examines his contributions in the fields of science, printing, community action, politics, and pop culture. It presents more than 250 original Franklin artifacts and more than 40 interactive devices, designed in the spirit of Franklin’s curiosity, wit, and wisdom.
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, the first of the Founding Fathers to reach 300 years. He is one of the most remarkable Americans of all times. He was certainly the most well known at the time of our independence, both in the colonies and in Europe.
After leaving Philadelphia, the exhibition opened in St. Louis. On October 13, 2006, it opened in Houston at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where it will be until January 21, 2007.
From March 2, 2007, to May 28, 2007, the Franklin exhibit will be in Denver at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. On July 4, 2007, the exhibit will open in Atlanta at the Atlanta History Center, its final stop before going on to Paris. It can be viewed in Atlanta until October 14, 2007.
Those who are not able to visit the exhibit itself can learn a great deal about Dr. Franklin by visiting www.benfranklin300.com and checking out the “Online Exhibition.”
Other websites related to Benjamin Franklin include the following:
- inquirer.philly.com/rss/News/ben/default.asp—a birthday montage
- www.nsta.org/main/news/stories/nsta_story.php?news_story_ID=51436—a source for Franklin-related scientific and educational resources
- www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/franklin.htm—an interesting American history resource for Franklin and lots more
- www.stenton.org—learn about Franklin’s friendship with James Logan, secretary to Pennsylvania founder William Penn
- www.marksquotes.com/Founding-Fathers/Franklin/index3.htm—a collection of quotes from Benjamin Franklin
- www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do/211/Itineraries_and_Tours/428/Itineraries/429/I/Walking_in_Benjamin_Franklins_Footsteps/8.html—(whew!) an interesting “Walk in Franklin’s Footsteps”
- www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography—Franklin’s autobiography and lots more
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, published in his lifetime, goes only to 1757. The Completed Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, published in 2006, is just that. Mark Skousen, an eighth-generation grandson of Franklin, has compiled and edited, from Franklin’s own writings, an account of the years from 1757 through his death in 1790.
