Visit the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia
Did you know that Benjamin Franklin gave pet squirrels to friends? They weren’t white elephant gifts, either. I guess having pet squirrels was a thing back the late 1700s. While most people picture Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in a lighting storm, he was much more than that. The Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia is a great place to learn more about the life, teachings and inventions of this Founding Father.
Here’s a rundown on what you can expect and how you can plan to visit this informational museum in Philadelphia.
Tickets to the Benjamin Franklin Museum
Even though the Benjamin Franklin Museum is part of the National Parks system, ticketing works a little different. We have an annual national parks pass (known as the America the Beautiful Annual Pass), which gets us into national parks, national monuments and more for free. However, this pass does not apply to visiting the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
Tickets must be purchased onsite when you arrive. There is no option for advanced ticket reservations. The cost is $5 for adults, ages 17+, and $2 for children ages 4-16. Children under four are free.
If you have a child in fourth grade, you can save a few dollars on your visit to this museum. The Every Kid Outdoors Pass is a free annual parks pass available to every fourth grader. If you have this pass – and the fourth grader – with you when you visit this museum, the pass holder and up to three adults get free admission.
Another way to save money on your visit to the museum is to attend on one of the free admission days to all national parks. Those days for 2022 include:
- Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Saturday, April 16: First day of National Park Week
- Thursday, August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Saturday, September 24: National Public Lands Day
- Friday, November 11: Veterans Day
Keep and Eye Out for Skuggs
As mentioned at the start of this article, Benjamin Franklin had a close connection to squirrels. Apparently, squirrels were popular pets back in colonial days. While Benjamin Franklin was living in England, he had his wife send some squirrels to him so he could give them out as pets to his friends there. As the story goes, he gave one squirrel to a little girl, who named the squirrel Mungo. Sadly, the family dog ended up killing Mungo.
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During your visit to the Benjamin Franklin Museum, keep an eye out for skuggs. What’s a skugg? Apparently it’s what pet squirrels were called back in the day. Scattered throughout the museum are squirrel figurines known as skuggs. As you can see from the photo above, they’re also dressed in uniforms for various professions – scientist, author, etc.
The skuggs are something the kids can search for, which may help them keep an interest in the museum and learn a little something about Benjamin Franklin – beyond the fact that he flew a kite in a lighting storm.
Hands-on Exhibits at the Benjamin Franklin Museum
Beyond keeping an eye out for skuggs, you can also interact with several hands-on exhibits throughout the museum. You can learn about the printing press and even use a digital touchscreen press to create your own printing.
Some of the interactive exhibits are on digital screens, while others are mechanical. One of the most interesting exhibits was making music on an inventions from Franklin – the armonica (or glass harmonica). The musical instrument is a horizontal collection of glass goblets of sorts. The larger goblets are on one side, and the smaller ones fit into each other to a smaller, tapered end. The spinning glasses, when touched by fingers, will make a sound – similar to running a finger along the rim of a glass goblet. In the digital exhibit, you can try your hand at playing songs like God Save the King and Yankee Doodle.
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Take the time to check out all the hands-on, interactive exhibits. There are other exhibits that just sit there – like furniture or some of Franklin’s inventions. Did you know he invented the bifocal spectacles (glasses)? The lightning rod, swimming fins (think flippers), the Franklin stove and a urinary catheter are all inventions by the man himself.
Overall, the Benjamin Franklin Museum is a great way to learn about one of the many Founding Fathers. And if you want to see his burial place, visit Christ’s Church Burial Ground and find the spot on the northwest corner that indicates Franklin’s grave.
The Details
Address: 317 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Cost: $5 for adults; $2 for children between ages 4-16; Children 3 and under are free. Fourth graders with the Every Kid Outdoors Pass gets free admission, along with three adults.
Hours: Open daily, 9am – 5pm
Website: https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/benjaminfranklinmuseum.htm
Phone: (215) 965-2305
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