This article is about the science museum in Philadelphia. For the Boston school, see Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology.

The Franklin Institute is the national memorial to Benjamin Franklin, that serves to perpetuate his legacy; the museum contains many of Franklin's personal effects. On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughan Merrick and William H. Keating founded The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts. The original building is now the Atwater-Kent Municipal Museum. In 1933 the Institute opened the science museum that is now its main focus. The mission of The Franklin Institute Science Museum is to stimulate interest in science, to promote public understanding of science, and to strengthen science education. Exhibits on display cover several subjects such as science and industry, physics, astronony and history. The Fels Planetarium and the Mandell Center are also located in the museum.

The museum is highly popular among children. Some of the more engaging exhibits include a flight simulator, virtual reality soccer, and simulated wheelchair races .

Notable items currently located in the Institute

• Pages from the journals of the Wright brothers
• The propeller of the Gossamer Albatross (on loan from Paul MacCready )
• Shaquille O'Neal's autographed size 22 sneaker

External links

• Offcial Franklin Institute site