Vikings: Beyond the Legend brings people from the Viking period to life with a wealth of unique objects, multimedia productions and interactive elements revealing the captivating story of the explorers who set sail from Scandinavia centuries ago.
For more than half a century, walking through the Giant Heart has been a rite of passage for children in Philadelphia. No visit to The Franklin Institute would be complete without visiting the icon that generations love with all their hearts! Learn how to keep your heart in tip-top shape as you explore this 5,000 square foot exhibition.
You'll gain new insights into the anatomy and physiology of the human body through interactive exhibits that emphasize the importance of exercise, healthy diet, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Watch open heart surgery or find out how much blood is in your body. Crawl through a giant artery or see a how a human skeleton works as it runs. This exhibit is a celebration of the heart—inside the human body and inside The Franklin Institute—and we think you’ll love it with all your heart, too!
Fun Fact: The Giant Heart is the right size for a 220-foot tall person—someone about twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty!
Your Brain:
Travel through a two-story tall neural network climbing structure with dynamic lighting and sound effects that are triggered by your footsteps.
View a digital collage of video and visualizations of the brain created by a variety of brain imaging technologies.
Your brain is always changing. Find out how and why when you explore Your Brain, The Franklin Institute's largest exhibition. Brain science is advancing rapidly as modern technology is helping us begin to unravel age-old mysteries about ourselves. What is the brain? What does it do? How does it work?
The exhibit invites you to think about how you think. It's all about real life and what's happening inside your head everyday as your brain makes sense of the world around you.
You'll zoom in to begin your exploration at the cellular level where neurons fire chaotically. Fire a model neuron to see how brain cells use chemical and electrical signals to communicate at incredible speeds.
Where are those signals going? To the discrete pathways that enable your brain to control your body functions. When you see how parts of the brain control functions throughout body, you'll be glad that the signals travel so quickly.
Electricity
Spark your curiosity of the wonders of electricity in this interactive exhibit dedicated to the Museum’s namesake—Benjamin Franklin! Just as Franklin engaged in hands-on experimentation with electricity, you will too! Use your body to complete the circuit and discover how series and parallel circuits regulate the flow of electrons along a conductor or "feel" the electricity required to power up different kinds of light bulbs. Insulate yourself from the hair-raising effects of the Van de Graaff generator which demonstrates the effects of a buildup of electrical charges.
Learn how electricity is created and explore the fuel sources needed to generate our electricity. Retrace the path of electricity from a common wall outlet back to the power plant. You’ll feel the force of electricity by manipulating electrical phenomena, exploring authentic artifacts (including Franklin’s Lightning Rod), and tackling questions of sustainable energy.
The Franklin Air Show
Put your piloting skills to the test in this lively air show that introduces you to the history, majesty, science, and technology of powered flight! Hear the roar of planes overhead as you explore the basic principles of aeronautics and explore life stories and artifacts from the earliest aviation pioneers, including the Wright Brothers, Bessie Coleman, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Amelia Earhart.
Learn about airflow and how to control it for flight. Stand in front of a giant fan while wearing foam “wings” on your arms and feel the lift force. Try flying a kite like the Wright Brothers did to see how challenging it can to balance the forces. Make a paper whirligig and watch it rise on an updraft. You’ll find the activities in this exhibit uplifting!
Amazing Machine
Explore the amazing world of machines! You’ll be amazed at the similarities between the rarely-displayed machines from our priceless collection and the machines you use every day! While some machines serve practical purposes, others are entirely whimsical. A highlight of this exhibit is the Maillardet Automaton—a truly amazing machine that inspired the award-winning children’s book The Invention of Hugo Cabret and film Hugo.
Examine the fascinating inner workings of common household items like a vacuum cleaner or drill. “Exploded” views of these everyday machines provide interior views that vividly demonstrate how simple components can power complex mechanisms. Test your engineering skills and use gears, linkages, cams, and pulleys to create your own new machine. Discover how each component effects the design and function of the entire device. Try your hand as a crane operator and move blocks from one target to another. Here’s a hint: You’ll have to master power and control to move the crane and complete the job!
Sir Isaac’s Loft
If Sir Isaac Newton could design a playground we think it would look a lot like this exhibit. When you enter this “playground of experimentation,” you’ll be fascinated with falling objects, chain reactions, and optical illusions that bring Newton’s laws to life in whimsical and artful ways. Pulleys, prisms, and pendulums captivate the mind and illuminate classic scientific principles.Discover how a series of pulleys can allow you to lift your own body weight. Build a domino maze and create a chain reaction by toppling them all over. Gaze at optical illusions guaranteed to make you think your eyes are playing tricks on you! And don’t miss the new centerpiece of this exhibit— a George Rhoads kinetic sculpture that uses 18 smaller devices to circulate dozens of acrylic and golf balls. Its new name will be chosen from staff and visitor submissions, so make sure to drop your suggestion in the submission box next to it!
SportsZone is a new permanent exhibition that explores how sport connects the science of the human body, laws of motion, and technical innovation. Explore physical fitness, nutrition, equipment, and safety as you prepare to play. Then, hit the turf and go for it! Test your skills at pitching, jumping, surfing, and running all while investigating the fundamental concepts of health, materials science, mechanics, and motion.
Space Command
Exploration and imagination intersect in the Space Command exhibition. The phases of the Moon come into focus as you learn about Earth’s only natural satellite. Construct a rover and see how it fares on a rocky terrain. Spin a ball into the Gravity Well and see centripetal force in action. Touch the meteorite—the oldest thing you’ll ever touch.
Explore neighboring planets including where they are, how they move, and what they’re made of. Discover how the sun impacts each planet in the solar system by providing the light and heat necessary to maintain planetary conditions. You’ll experience the excitement of space exploration and develop an out-of-this-world appreciation for the night sky.
The Train Factory
How often do you get the chance to climb aboard a 350-ton Baldwin steam locomotive? Imagine yourself as the engineer of this massive engine in our simulated train factory. You’ll feel the heat of the steam and hear the sounds of the machines as you learn about the science and technology of trains. Learn firsthand how steam and coal powered the first locomotives and discover how diesel, electricity, and magnetic levitation are used to power modern day locomotives to travel longer distances at greater speeds.
This is an authentic learning opportunity for exploring physical science concepts like energy, pressure, friction, and magnetic force. Look for simple machines in the workings of the complex design of the steam locomotive. With propulsion provided by steam, the states of matter are also on vivid display. All aboard! Next stop: The Train Factory!
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