Benjamin Franklin Museum
4.6(1,165)4.6 out of 5 stars, 1165 reviews Philadelphia, PA
About Benjamin Franklin Museum
The Benjamin Franklin Museum is a small, affordable, and information-packed historical attraction that offers a concise yet thorough understanding of Benjamin Franklin's life, inventions, and philosophies. It uniquely blends historical artifacts with interactive elements and educational displays, making it suitable for a quick, enriching visit, especially when paired with other historical sites.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a concise and educational historical experience.A quick, enriching stop as part of a larger historical tour of the area.Children in elementary and middle school interested in American history or hands-on learning.Families seeking an affordable and not-overly-crowded attraction.**Elementary-school aged children:** Find plenty to do with hands-on activities and 'please touch' displays (e.g., making rubbings).
Why families love it
- Engaging overview of Benjamin Franklin's diverse life, inventions, quotes, and writings.
- Specific hands-on activities, including 'please touch' displays and rubbings, appeal to elementary-aged children.
- Active printing press demonstrations available next door on Sundays, offering insight into 18th-century publication methods.
- Friendly and welcoming staff enhance the visitor experience.
- Considered a 'worthwhile attraction' that is 'information packed' despite its small size.
- Interactive 'please touch' displays for children.
Insider tips
- **Visit on a Sunday** to experience the active printing press next door, demonstrating how Franklin's team produced publications.
- **Pair your visit** with other historical attractions in the area, as the museum is a relatively short experience (30 mins - 2 hours).
- **Bring a 4th grader with an 'Every Kid Outdoors pass'** for free entry for the child and their family.
- **Allocate 1-1.5 hours for adults** and up to 2 hours for children who are eager learners.
- Expect a 'quaint little museum' that is information-packed rather than expansive.
Good to know before you go
- If you are expecting a full-day, large-scale interactive science center; this is a smaller, more focused historical museum.
- If your children are toddlers or very young preschoolers, as the primary engagement is reading displays and some light hands-on interaction, not extensive play areas.
- Not designed as a full-day attraction; visits typically range from 30 minutes to 2 hours, so manage expectations for visit duration.
- Crowds
- Reviews indicate it is generally 'not super busy', suggesting manageable crowd levels even during peak times.
- Value
- The entrance fee is $5 per person, which is consistently described as 'very affordable' and offers good value for the amount of information and the quality of the exhibits. It's free for 4th graders and their families with an 'Every Kid Outdoors pass'. No hidden costs mentioned.
What parents say
"This is a neat little museum in honor of Ben Franklin. It's five dollars to enter, and we spent about 30 minutes walking around and looking at all of the exhibits. It's definitely a worthwhile attraction to visit, although I'd recommend pairing this visit with stops at other historical attractions in the area."
a month ago
"This small museum has some fascinating insights into the brilliant mind and extraordinary life of Benjamin Franklin. There are several artifacts showing the diversity of efforts and events of his lifetime, his inventions, his quotes and writings, and more. It took about 45 minutes to walk through and read most of the displays. The entrance fee is $5. If you come on Sunday, the printing press next door is active so you can see how Benjamin Franklin and his team would have produced their newspapers and other publications."
3 months ago
"This museum is a great way to get a thorough understanding of Benjamin Franklin within a couple hours. My middle-school aged kids found plenty to do to be entertained, and they learned quite a bit. My elementary-school aged child loved the hands-on stuff and made some rubbings of a few "please touch" displays. I'd recommend about 1-1.5 hours for adults, maybe 2 hours for eager-learning children. Also, it is free with a fourth grader and their Every Kid Outdoors pass!"
5 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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