Walking through the entrance hall of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you’re confronted by a 20-foot marble statue of Benjamin Franklin sitting beneath a rotunda. It’s imposing in the way monuments to Great Men tend to be, but then you turn the corner and there’s a massive steam locomotive from 1926 that children are clambering over. That juxtaposition – reverence for science mixed with permission to touch everything – defines the place.
To skip the explanation, and just book Franklin Institute tickets, head this way.
Quick overview
General admission costs $29 for adults, $25 for teens (13–17), and $23 for children (3–12). This includes access to three floors of permanent exhibits, the Fels Planetarium, live science demonstrations, and daily programmes.
Opening hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
At a glance
| Price | Opening hours | Address | Free for | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults $29; teens $25; children (3–12) $23; under-3s free | Daily: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | Members only; under-3s free | 5:00 p.m. |
How much does the Franklin Institute cost?
Pricing is straightforward – general admission covers everything except special temporary exhibitions, which sometimes require separate tickets.
Admission prices
| Ticket type | Price | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | $29 | Ages 18–64 |
| Teens | $25 | Ages 13–17 |
| Children | $23 | Ages 3–12 |
| Under-3s | Free | No ticket required |
| Members | Free | Franklin Institute members (ID required) |
What’s included: Three floors of permanent interactive exhibits, Fels Planetarium shows, live science demonstrations, daily programmes, access to the Giant Heart, Baldwin locomotive, observatory, and Benjamin Franklin Memorial.
What costs extra: Special temporary exhibitions (typically $5–$10 additional), on-site parking ($25 per vehicle, $15 for members), food and drinks.
Booking tips: Buy tickets online in advance to skip queues and guarantee your preferred time slot. Tickets are timed admission. Members save on service fees – annual membership starts around $120 and provides unlimited visits plus parking discounts.
5 great things to do in Philadelphia
- 🥖 Taste the best of Philly on a food tour – including historic Reading Market.
- 🏛️ Get to know Philadelphia’s heritage sites – on a guided walking tour.
- 🍻 Go on a pub crawl – but learn the history between beers.
- 🎨 Let a guide show you Philadelphia’s best murals and street art – including Magic Gardens.
- 🌙 Discover Philly’s dark side – on an adults-only night tour.
Is the Franklin Institute free to enter?
No, though children under 3 enter free. Unlike some Philadelphia museums, the Franklin Institute doesn’t offer regular free admission days.
Philadelphia CityPASS includes Franklin Institute admission and can save up to 51% when visiting multiple attractions. Groups of 10+ receive discounted rates when booking in advance.
What time does the Franklin Institute open?
Daily: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (24 December), Christmas Day (25 December)
Important timing note: Weekdays before 2:00 p.m. see significantly higher volumes of school groups. For a calmer experience, visit after 2:00 p.m. on weekdays or anytime on weekends.
Planetarium show times vary daily and are included with admission. Check the daily schedule online before visiting – shows typically run every hour or so.
Do I need to book Franklin Institute tickets in advance?
Strongly recommended. Tickets are timed admission and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Booking ahead guarantees entry at your preferred time and lets you skip the ticket queue.
You can book online or purchase at the museum. Arriving without tickets risks disappointment during busy periods – weekends, school holidays, and summer months sell out specific time slots.
Members can reserve tickets online or by phone without paying admission. Groups of 10 or more must book in advance – walk-up groups aren’t accommodated.
History
The Franklin Institute was founded in 1824, making it one of America’s oldest science education institutions. Named after Benjamin Franklin, the institute began as a trade school offering evening classes in practical sciences to train working-class mechanics and artisans.
The current building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway opened in 1934, designed by architect John Torrey Windrim in Classical Revival style. The monumental structure was deliberately grand – modelled on the Pantheon in Rome – to signal the importance of science education.
The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, featuring James Earle Fraser’s 20-foot seated statue, was dedicated in 1938. It’s one of only two privately owned national memorials in the United States.
The museum’s signature exhibit, the Giant Heart, opened in 1954. Visitors could walk through the two-storey papier-mâché heart, experiencing the circulatory system from inside. It was revolutionary – hands-on, immersive science education before that was common. Recently renovated and incorporated into the Body Odyssey exhibit, it remains fundamentally the same experience generations remember.
Inside the Franklin Institute
The museum spans three floors organised around themes. You’re meant to wander, touch, experiment, and occasionally make things explode (under supervision).
The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial dominates the entrance hall – a dramatic 20-foot marble statue beneath a domed rotunda. Most children rush past toward the exhibits, but it’s worth appreciating.
Wondrous Space (opened 2024) is a two-storey immersive exhibit exploring space science. You can touch a meteorite, examine Mars rover technology, and experience viewing Earth from the International Space Station.
Body Odyssey centres on the renovated Giant Heart. You walk through chambers of a two-storey heart whilst listening to actual heartbeat sounds. It’s simultaneously educational and slightly unsettling. The surrounding exhibit explores human physiology, perception, and how technology enhances medical understanding.
SportsZone lets you test athletic abilities through simulators – surfing, rock climbing, pitching baseballs. You can analyse your performance on slow-motion video and learn about biomechanics and physics of motion.
Your Brain explores neuroscience through interactive exhibits. There’s a dissection lab where staff perform real brain dissections (cow brains) and explain neuroanatomy. Not squeamish-friendly, but fascinating.
The Hamilton Collections Gallery displays rare artefacts around the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive – a massive 1926 train. You can climb into the cab. The gallery includes historical scientific instruments and early computers.
The Fels Planetarium presents multiple shows daily beneath a 60-foot dome. Shows range from exploring tonight’s sky to journeys through the solar system. Presentations use cutting-edge projection. Shows are popular – arrive 15 minutes early.
Live Science Demonstrations happen throughout the day – staff perform experiments demonstrating electricity, combustion, liquid nitrogen, and more. Check the daily schedule for times and locations.
Sir Isaac’s Loft targets younger children (under 8) with scaled-down experiments – building structures, exploring simple machines, water play.
What’s included with your ticket?
With general admission:
- Three floors of permanent interactive exhibits
- All planetarium shows
- Live science demonstrations
- Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
- Giant Heart and Body Odyssey
- Wondrous Space
- SportsZone activities
- Your Brain exhibit
- Hamilton Collections Gallery and Baldwin locomotive
- Sir Isaac’s Loft
- Observatory access (weather dependent)
Not included: Special temporary exhibitions, parking, food and beverages.
Things to do near the Franklin Institute
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (400 metres, 5-minute walk) – America’s oldest natural history museum, founded in 1812. “Dinosaur Hall” features mounted skeletons including a T. rex, “Outside In” explores habitats from rainforests to polar regions, and live animal exhibits include birds of prey and reptiles.
Rodin Museum (600 metres, 8-minute walk) – One of the world’s largest collections of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures outside Paris. The garden features bronze casts of The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, and The Burghers of Calais.
Barnes Foundation (750 metres, 10-minute walk) – One of the world’s greatest art collections: 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, plus works by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Seurat. The eccentric gallery arrangement follows collector Albert Barnes’s original vision.
Philadelphia Museum of Art (1.5 km, 20-minute walk) – The monumental museum at the top of the “Rocky Steps” houses one of America’s largest art collections. Over 240,000 objects including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and complete period rooms. Run up the steps (for some visitors, this is one of the main reasons to visit Philadelphia, strike the Rocky pose, then go inside.
Please Touch Museum (1.8 km, 7-minute drive) – Interactive children’s museum for ages 7 and under. Exhibits include a life-sized SEPTA bus children can “drive,” Alice in Wonderland installations, water play, and a restored 1908 carousel. Genuinely excellent for younger children.
Elsewhere in Philadelphia, many of the city’s key attractions cluster in the Historic District. Key historic attractions in this part of Philly include Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center and the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial. The Benjamin Franklin Museum and Museum of the American Revolution are also here.
Practical tips
- Location: Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 20th Street, on “Museum Row” in Center City Philadelphia
- Getting there: SEPTA buses stop nearby. Suburban Station (regional rail) is 10 minutes’ walk. Museum parking garage $25 ($15 members) at 271 North 21st Street
- Time needed: 3–4 hours to see everything properly; 2 hours minimum if rushing
- Photography: Allowed throughout for personal use
- Accessibility: Fully ADA accessible with lifts and ramps. Wheelchairs available at guest services (first-come, first-served)
- Children: Extremely family-friendly – everything is hands-on. Suitable for ages 3+
- Strollers: Welcome, though large double strollers not recommended in special exhibition galleries
- Crowds: Weekday mornings before 2:00 p.m. busiest with school groups. Visit after 2:00 p.m. weekdays or weekends for calmer experience
- Food: The Eatery café serves meals and snacks. Outside food not permitted inside
- What to prioritise: Giant Heart, planetarium show, at least one live demonstration, and Wondrous Space
FAQs
How long should we spend at the Franklin Institute?
Most visitors spend 3–4 hours. You could rush through in 2 hours, but that’s cramped. With young children who want to try every interactive exhibit, allow 4–5 hours.
Is it suitable for teenagers?
Yes, though it’s primarily designed for younger children. Teenagers interested in science generally enjoy it. The SportsZone, Your Brain exhibit, and planetarium shows appeal to older visitors.
Can we visit just the planetarium?
No, planetarium admission is included with general admission – you can’t buy separate tickets.
Are the exhibits actually educational, or just entertainment?
Both. The exhibits are genuinely educational whilst being highly entertaining. Children learn through doing rather than reading.
Is there luggage storage?
No luggage storage. There’s a coat check during colder months. Don’t bring large bags or suitcases.
What if we can’t attend our timed entry?
Tickets are typically flexible within the day – if you miss your window, guest services will usually accommodate you if space permits. Don’t expect this during peak times.
Is parking difficult?
Yes, as with most Center City Philadelphia attractions. The on-site parking garage is convenient but expensive ($25). Consider public transport.
Can we re-enter if we leave?
Yes, get your hand stamped at the exit. Many families leave for lunch and return.
What age is too young?
Under-3s are free but may not engage with much. Sir Isaac’s Loft targets under-8s specifically. Most exhibits work best for ages 5+.
More Pennsylvania travel
Other Pennsylvania travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Understanding Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg.
- Review of the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.
- What to expect at the Flight 93 National Memorial.
- 4 great reasons to visit Pittsburgh.
- Review of the very weird Mutter Museum in Philadelphia.
