Today’s inktober is about the Franklin Institute, Pennsylvania’s most visited museum and one of Philly’s top tourist destinations.
In 1824, the Franklin Institute was founded by Samuel Vaughan Merrick and William H. Keating in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin Institute’s building was originally around the corner from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, but the building became too small for their research, programs, and library.
In 1934, the Institute moved to its current location on the Parkway and it became one of the first museums in the world to offer a hands-on approach to learning science.
The institute has over 400,000 sq feet of exhibit space (it has 12 permanent exhibits and it hosts amazing traveling exhibits), two auditoriums, and the Tuttleman IMAX Theater. The institute houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial and it also operates the Fels Planetarium, the second oldest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.
Side note: It’s my mom’s favorite museum and my favorite museum too. Her favorite parts are the IMAX theater, the observatory, and the exhibits they offer. I love the IMAX, the Planetarium, and the gift shop. Please go! It’s awesome.
Original drawing now available for purchase here.
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