What You Will See
The Franklin Institute has several components:

• The Science Museum is devoted to "the science of yesterday and today," including everything from a recreation of the Wright Brothers Cycle Shop, a 350-ton Baldwin locomotive, and hundreds of interactive, hands-on exhibits.

• The Mandell Center focuses on computers and the Internet, and often hosts block-buster traveling exhibits.

• The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial is a tribute to the city's most well-known scientist. See the 30-ton marble statue of this remarkable man, and then be wowed once again by the variety of his inventions and accomplishments.

• The Tuttleman Omniverse Theater features science movies that virtually come alive on a 4-story tall domed screen with 57 directional speakers.

• The Fels Planetarium is where the stars hang out -- you can see the latest in space exploration as well as dazzling laser light shows that are choreographed to classic rock, modern rock and the latest alternative music.

More Fun Nearby
Located in the Franklin Institute's own backyard is the CoreStates Science Park, which was developed in collaboration with the Please Touch Museum (located across the street). This outdoor, interactive, learning center includes about 30 interactive elements, such as speaking tubes that permit kids to talk to friends across the park without raising their voices; the Sun Dial which shows children how to use the shadow of their bodies to tell the time; the Spindancer which makes streamers dance in the air; and the Granite Ball, which weighs 400 pounds, but spins easily because it sits on a bed of pressurized water. Don't miss the The Sky Bike, which allows two visitors at a time to ride 18 feet above the ground in a demonstration of gyroscopic stability.

Admission to the CoreStates Science Park is free if you have paid for either the Franklin Institute or the Please Touch Museum that day. The Park is open each year from May through October.

Getting There
The Franklin Institute is located on Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 20st Street in the heart of Philadelphia's museum district. For hours, admission fees and detailed driving instructions, see the Institute's web site.

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