Franklin Institute
add photosAdditional fees apply for shows in the IMAX theater and Franklin Theater.
All of Philadelphia’s best attractions are available to you at one amazing discount! City Pass isn’t simply your admission to 6 of our most famous attractions but it also provides you with maps, coupons, hours, information and you avoid most ticket lines. The Pass is valid for nine days after your initial visit and you can purchase your ticket online or during your first visit to The Franklin!
24 Reviews for Franklin Institute
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'10, '11
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"Science Excellence"
What a terrific place to take kids where they can learn and have fun at the same time. We live about 45 minutes away from here, so our kids go at least once a year. While I believe any age can have fun here, the 'grade school and up' set is best suited for its hands-on science demonstrations.
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, the Franklin Institute is relatively easy to get to by car or public transportation. I have most often gone in the summer months and found a lot of camps go there at this time to offer kids an educational escape from the summer heat. I have never found it to be overwhelmingly crowded, and my kids usually get to do all of the activities that they want to. Sometimes they need to be more patient than others, but overall we have had good experiences every time we have gone.
The kids like the Franklin Institute because they are able to learn about science in a hands-on kind of way. The concepts are explained to them through instructions on signs nearby, and then they can try things out for themselves. Classics are the heart that you can actually walk through and learn about how blood travels through this organ in your body. You can also step on a device that will tell you how many cups of blood are in your body. There is a section on electricity where kids can "shock" each other (oh so popular with the kids!) and a sports section which measures the velocity of three different sized balls you throw to see which travels at a greater speed. The section on wind power is fun as well, and kids can fold paper airplanes to see which design travels farthest and fastest (who doesn't like paper airplanes).
It's safe to say there is something for everyone. Kids love this place because they can actually DO things so learning is fun. I even learn things when I go. Give yourself a couple of hours to walk through and see the whole thing (three floors) and look for times for the Planetarium and IMAX shows as well if you think your kids would enjoy these things.
Overall I give this place a hearty thumbs-up, as it's a great way to give kids an active way to experience science. Make time to explore this terrific entertaining and educational gem!
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"Learning Can be Fun"
My first trip to the Franklin Institute was on a class trip, from New Jersey. Many years later, while our family was on vacation, we took our children there. Our children were ages 9 and 10 at the time. You can't even begin to describe everything available to see. I would recommend this to local families and tourists, especially if you have children.
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"Great for kids!!"
I will admit, some of it can be over their heads, but all of the different activities are a great way to burn some toddler energy. My three-year-old nephew loves the air and space section; we spent almost thirty minutes with him pretending to be a pilot in a WWII plane hanging from the ceiling. He was so excited in line for the train, but he ended up getting scared and needing my husband to hold him while we were on it, Needless to say, he slept the whole ride home and then some.
1 family found this helpful
"It's all about the heart!"
There is so much to see and do at the Franklin Institue. But somehow we end up spending the majority of time at the heart. My son loves climbing through the different chambers and hearing the ebb and flow of the heart beating. We enjoy the planetarium and always try to catch a star show when we visit.
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"Educational and fun"
I loved going here growing up! There are so much hands-on and cool things to see. They have a giant heart you can walk through, and an aviation room to play in. There is also a moving train. They also have an incredible planetarium, and a really cool IMAX theater. Definitely recommended!
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"Great educational museum!"
This is a great place to go, especially since they always have new exhibits. There is so much stuff to see and learn here. There are also a lot of interactive, hands-on things that make the trip much more fun and memorable. This is a great place to take kids to have them learn and have fun!
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"Franklin Institute"
If you've ever wondered what is the difference between radio waves and ultrasound waves or microwaves, you may find out as soon as you enter the Franklin Institute. This place is a wonder for adults and children for all ages, especially nice to go to when the weather isn't so great outside. If you're on the curious side, and your children are, too, this is a place you will enjoy for hours!
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"For the older crowd."
We spent the afternoon at the Franklin. Some of the areas were a little too complex for our 5 year old to understand. He did really enjoy the air and space section along with the train ride.
The food has a lot to be desired. Not much of a selection for kid friendly foods.
We will try it again the future in another year or two.
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"Franklin Shmanklin"
I've been coming to the Franklin Institute since I was a child. I keep hoping there will be an exhibit that really wins me over- there hasn't yet. Went a few months ago with my 7 year old daughter, with new hope. Zipped through the museum, she did like walking through the heart (3x's).
The highlight continues to be the Tuttleman IMAX theater featuring speclacular documentary adventure type movies on a 4.5 story domed screen!
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"So much to see"
With my toddler, there was plenty to do. His favorite sections were waterplay in KidScience, flying airplanes in the Franklin Air Show exhibit and building his own Amazing Machines. I thought that he would have loved the Train Factory, but the big moving locomotive was loud and scary for him.
We also went with my high school and college aged cousins who all had a great time learning through all the hands-on exhibits. Overall the exhibits are well kept, but could use a little upgrading. The new Race exhibit is fascinating for older kids... like me!
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"The Franklin Insitute"
Even little ones can enjoy the science museum. Ours loved the KidScience exhibit geared towards ages 5-8. Even younger ages will enjoy the water play and the giant ship to climb in. And space is always fascinating. Our son went nuts for the Train Factory exhibit and they all loved the Sports Challenge room.
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"Great for teens and tweens"
You can ride a bike suspended on a high wire, see the plantetarium, walk through a giant heart, and more at the Franklin. There are so many hands on activities, it's hard to know where to start. Not only that, but the Franklin has really cool traveling exhibits to see. If you get hungry, there is a decent restaurant that serves, among other things, pizza. Perfect for a teen. TIP: Get to the Franklin EARLY, because it does fill up during the day.
1 family found this helpful
"museum fun and education"
We had a great time at the Franklin institute. We went because we were breaking up a long car ride from Virginia and loved it. My 7 year old son really had a blast at the sport interactive exhibit, though my 2 girls (7 and 4) also loved it. All three had a good time with the Heart exhibit and the physics exhibit on the 3rd floor. We only had half a day but would definately go back. The museum also had scheduled hands on exhibits, we made paper! If you are a memeber of a local childrens museum at home check and see if they have a reciprocity program...you might get in for free. This facility is very well upkept. We have been to many childrens museums with broken or or out of order exhibits. Not the case here!!!
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"Too many steps for strollers"
Perfect for kiddos a little older. The planetarium was awesome! Everyone was friendly and helpful!
Not enough hands on things for toddlers and way too many steps without properly placed elevators for strollers. The food court could use some healthier choices.
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"Meh..."
We were really excited to go to this museum, but were disappointed. It was around $20 per person to get in, but that did not include all of the exhibits. That was an additional fee, and I think that I paid enough to get in. The big human heart was cool and so was the train, but the rest of the museum wasn't all that special.
When we were leaving, we spoke to a man in the elevator who drove three hours to see the Galileo exhibit and was disappointed.
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"Franklin Institute"
The Franklin Institute was my favorite museum when I was a child. Also, my husband and I went there once on vacation before kids. I could not wait to bring my kids there to experience it as well. The kids had a blast! It was fun watching them walk through the giant heart like I remembered doing. It was even more fun going through it with them. They also enjoyed the Pendulum and my little ones enjoyed the children's area downstairs. There is something there for all age groups to enjoy.
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"Great for children"
This is a great museum for kids of all ages. They have so many fun exhibits that really allow the children to get involved and learn so much at the same time. They always have great special exhibits! It is truly a great time, along with a great learning experience for the whole family.
1 family found this helpful
"Especially good for kids over 5"
My 7 and 9 year olds love this museum and will happily go whenever we mention it as possible outing. If you plan on visiting the Franklin Institute even once, the membership is more than worth it as it comes with IMAX tickets and often includes tickets to the traveling exhibits as well. My 4 year old loves climbing through the giant heart and the other exhibits (especially the video with music by They Might be Giants) in the heart area but many of the other exhibits are over her head. My sporty 9-year old loves the Science of Sports area on the top floor and my 7-year old loves the Kid Science area on the bottom floor. The food in Ben's Bistro is just okay and moderately priced. I think you can bring your own food but there's only one area in the basement where you can eat and it's not very attractive or comfortable. It's easy to find street/metered parking within a block of the museum but now that meter fares run 7.5 minutes to the quarter it's not quite as much of a cost savings.
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"Fun with the Family"
If you visited the Franklin Institute as a child, you’ll probably remember walking through the model of the human heart, following the path that the blood vessels take, hearing the sound of the heartbeat. In celebration of its fiftieth anniversary, the model heart received a complete renovation and upgrade. Now the heart has more elaborate sounds and special effects. It is also accompanied by exhibits such as video footage of actual heart surgery!
The Franklin Institute was founded in 1824, and exhibits such as the heart pioneered the idea of hands-on museum displays. The museum has continued its tradition of forward-looking exhibits. The Sports Challenge uses interactive devices and virtual-reality technology to teach kids about the physics, physiology, and material science behind their favorite sports. In Kidscience, children ages five to eight can explore a cave, turn the crank of a waterwheel, and have a lot of fun while learning basic science concepts. In The Tram Factory you can visit the Franklin Institute’s beloved Baldwin steam locomotive in its new home, as the centerpiece of the Railroad Hall. And don’t miss the indoor Sky Bike.
Be sure to also check out the Science Center, which includes exhibits about flight, optical illusions, and the Fels Planetarium. The Tuttleman IMAX Theater showcases very special movie experiences on its huge screen, giving a 180-degree field of view. Check to see what movie is currently playing, but the short feature Philadelphia Symphony, which usually precedes the main show, presents an excellent introduction to Philly. The gift shops offer an unusual assortment of educational and scientifically oriented toys, books, posters, and so forth.
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"This place was made for families..."
The Franklin Institute has something exciting for everyone in the family, whether they are 3 years old or 90 years old. Everytime I visit, there is a new exciting exhibit to supplement the old favorites that have been there for 25+ years (like the huge human heart that you can acutally walk through!). I enjoyed this place as a child and look forward to enjoying it as a mother. It is also a great place to take the kids when the weather is bad as there is plenty to see and plenty of opportunities for them to expend their energy. There's also places to grab lunch in the museum, so you don't have to worry about finding a place for a bite to eat.
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