Reviews of The Franklin Institute. (Museum) in Chicago (Illinois).

The Franklin Institute

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Museum

Science museum

222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States

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Information of The Franklin Institute, Museum in Chicago (Illinois)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

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Reviews of The Franklin Institute

Sara Beth Wade

I came for the Harry Potter experience and stayed for the rest of the museum. And I would say as an adult on my own, that took me about half a day. If I had kids, it would take significantly more, I think. The Harry Potter experience takes a solid hour or so to go through. You check in and get a wristband that you can tap throughout the experience to earn points for your chosen house. It's beautifully lit and designed, with several interactive bits and photo ops. I loved most the port key and the dueling wands! From HP, you can more or less make your way from the top of the museum to the bottom, via a large central stairwell featuring Foucault's Pendulum, proving the rotation of the earth on an axis. There's a kinetic energy area great for little kids, a sport zone where you can test your skills, a 3D printer in a tech studio, walk inside a giant heart (adults can totally fit!), play with electricity, stand on a map of Philadelphia, pretend to do a weather forecast, climb into a fighter jet, and see a humongous steam train up close. It's mostly aimed at kids, but I still enjoyed walking around and touching stuff. I even caught a fun theater show about liquid nitrogen. If you're an adult and interested in Harry Potter, you might want to just do that, but if you've never been to the Franklin Institute, it's definitely worth walking around the rest as well.

Jenny B

I expected that our group of six would enjoy our time at The Franklin Institute, but I can truly say that it exceeded our expectations. This is not your average science museum. I think the main difference and why it’s so delightful is because it offers lives shows and hands on exhibits. The lives shows are designed to keep even the smallest of children engaged, laughing, AND learning. The hands-on exhibits provide children with the ability to learn through visual displays and touch. As an adult, I was incredibly impressed to see how the exhibits help you visualize and understand concepts that you may think you already know. This museum isn’t cheap, so make sure to schedule the most from your visit by prioritizing the live shows and then exploring the hands-on exhibits on your own time.

Craig Kirsner, MBA

The Franklin institute is one of the coolest science museums we've ever been to! There are 4 levels of super cool exhibits and the Harry Potter exhibit we went to was spectacular. It has a planetarium, trains, planes, space stuff, electricity, brains, heart exhibit... everything that is fun to look at scientifically. Even the restaurant inside was delicious. I highly recommend it! 👌

Stacy Kroptavich

Loved visiting the Harry Potter Exhibition and Franklin institute. Lots of hands on experiences, and while they did have some hand sanitizer stations, I felt it helpful to have my own with me. My girls loved exploring this place! Also, we ate lunch at the Eatery, which was such a positive experience. We were a bit confused when we first came in, but a friendly woman was right there to point us in the right directions. She even had the cooks prepare my daughter a burger without cheese. Everything was great! The burger was amazing

Lilia Benson

Amazing! It had so much things to do! The Harry Potter exhibit was outstanding! I recommend going there. The eatery was amazing cheap and good food. The workers where super nice and helpful. Tip when I got there parking near there was full so try to find somewhere else to park. Also you'll have to walk a few.blocks to the Franklin Institute.

Nikki Martin

Visited for the Harry Potter Exhibition. The Harry Potter stuff was cool. Lots of things to see, like props, clothing and classrooms from the movies. There were a few interactive spots as well. Best of all, there are plenty of places to take pictures! Overall, I was impressed with the exhibit, but I think I expected more from it. It was very fast to go through and even though we went on a weekday, it was very busy. After we completed the Harry a potter Exhibit, we walked around the rest of the museum which probably took no more than 45 minutes. I would say the museum is geared more for kids than adults.

Travis McDonald

Really cool museum! Wish we could've spent more time there. But the Harry Potter exhibit was super cool. Very interactive, good for all ages. Detailed descriptions of costume making and behind the scenes decisions. Very cool. 🧙‍♂️ …

Cin M

I came to see the Harry Potter exhibit and it was absolutely amazing. There was so much to see, I honestly did not expect it. There were little games along the exhibition that you can play to gain points towards the house you chose. I had previously seen the Jurassic park exhibition and it was also amazing. This place is a gem and a mix of you’re in the area!

Grace Won

Visited The Franklin Institute to see the Harry Potter Exhibition. It was an amazing experience. My husband who is really not into Harry Potter as much as I am and only has watched the movies had so much fun! It was great to have things that were hands on and earn point for your house. They definitely did great making the exhibit. I recommended it to anyone who LOVES Harry Potter!!! Didn't post too many pictures... Didn't want to ruin it for anyone.

Noemi Martinez

Buy your tickets ahead of time and plan your visit. There is so much to do! My kids are 14 and 16 but they still wanted to race in the sports area. They touched everything! Don't worry, there are plenty of sanitizing stations set up at the entrance and exit of each exhibit. We were there for four hours before the Harry Potter exhibit! We did not get to do everything we wanted and ended up so tired! We even took a break right before by sitting through one of the planetarium shows. Harry Potter fan? Make sure to dress up! You register at a kiosk and they take a picture which will appear on every interactive screen you swipe your special wristband on. You also earn points for your house! You can take a picture by the portrait of The Fat Lady, the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, or Umbridge's desk. And much more! I don't want to ruin it if you haven't been. But definitely plan ahead.

Natalie

Fun place to spend an afternoon. We didn’t pay extra for the Harry Potter exhibit but there was plenty to do! We walked through a human heart, saw a real Tesla coil up close and working, learned about the human brain and a bunch of other fun interactive exhibits. The planetarium could definitely use an upgrade and make sure to sit in The center of the room…. All in all a fun 5 hrs

Ken Peluso

Brought our family here for the Harry Potter exhibit which was awesome! If you’re a fan, get in to see it before it’s gone. We explored the rest of the museum after finishing the exhibit and we’re very happy with the entire experience. We have to teens, 12 and 16, and both really liked the entire day.

Daralis Weikel

1st of all I went to the Franklin institute when I was an elementary school. I went there today for the Harry Potter exhibit and it was nothing like I remembered. Don't get me wrong the Harry Potter exhibit was neat, but pretty expensive. Just not worth as much as they charged. Secondly the museum definitely had character before and now it's all monochromatic and modernized nothing indicative of the architecture outside. It used to be charming and full of character and now it's kind of depressing. All that aside my kids still enjoyed themselves. FYI the gift shop is still it's outrageously expensive.

Karen Kwan

Couldn't miss the Harry Potter exhibition here and i'm glad we didn't. We had to much fun and love all the interactive exhibits, even at the regular part of the Science Museum. Our first time here and we were pleasantly surprised. The Harry Potter exhibition made you feel like you were a part of the whole story. From creating your own profile and getting to choose which team you were on, to picking your wand, and your special friend. Going from room to room, there was always a special task for you to complete in each. Getting the opportunity to see the actual costumes the actors wore was amazing. Also, the actual wands they used as well! The regular Science Museum is really great for all ages. My favorite part was the actual heart that you could walk in and actually go through all parts of the heart. My only complaint was the parking. $20 was expensive!

Mike D

Review is for Harry Potter only. Great interactive fun exhibit. I am a casual Harry Potter fan, but definitely not a super fan by any means. Bought the Harry Potter only evening ticket ($30 + fees). Spent about 1 hour total. Interacted with a couple of the exhibits. Great background on all of the movies. Cool clothing items and stories told. Educational for the casual fan and super cool for harcore fan. Recommended for all.

Kinitra Epps

The Franklin Institute is a great place to visit when visiting Philadelphia. It's great for those that like science and history and getting in involved with inactive displays. I live in Philadelphia and I vist with my son a few times a year. You can spend an entire day there and still want be able to soak it all in. Their hours are from 9:30 -5, with extended hours during special exhibition to 8:30. The price can range from $19.00 for kids up to $45, depending on what you like participating in that day. There is on-site parking that's 20.00 for the day. You can get a membership that offers discounts entry on general admission and some exhibits. It and interactive museum for kids of all ages.

Angel Bermudez

Wonderful science museum for curious people of all ages. We loved the Amazing Machines room, the hidden jelly fish room, and the Electricity room. We spent 3.5 hours there, but could have easily spent all day. If you collect National Park stamps, make sure to go to the front desk for your Benjamin s Franklin Memorial stamp. We also went to the Harry Potter Exhibit, but it's really only for hardcore HP fans; it's not very exciting for us muggles.

Matthew Cowan

If you love Harry Potter or skew towards the 10 and under crowd, a visit to Harry Potter the Exhibition may well be worth a visit. If you have been fortunate enough to visit Orlando, London, or Broadway those HP experiences surpass anything you get in Philly. It's a well produced exhibition with fun and interactive features but also has whiffs of a shameless cash grab. The Franklin Institute itself may hold nostalgic value for some individuals but even the ever so friendly staff can't revive this dated museum. The giant heart needs a defibrillator.

Trish B

The Franklin Institute is your go-to spot for all things science! Currently featuring the Harry Potter Exhibition, expect to find a large crowd in the morning if going on the weekend. The Exhibition features interactive experiences plus the clothing and sets from the movies. Separately, the rest of the museum should not be missed. Our favorite exhibit was the electricity exhibition, where we ended up getting shocked, in a good way! Other exhibits included machines, space, the earth, and of course, the planetarium. Science and dissection shows were also occuring throughout the day as well. Parking is tight but conveniently located in the museum. Lastly, the Harry Potter Exhibition is on in Philly until September. A must see if you're a Potter fan!

Alice Chau

The museum is mainly for kids. I came specifically for the Harry Potter exhibition. Saw a lot of costumes and props from the movies. There’s one or two exhibit for Fantastic Beasts. There are some interactive showcases to play with, but you can only do it once. They give you a wristband and you have to tap that to do the showcases. If you from NY, the stuff they have in the gift shop you can probably find in the NY shop.

Melva martin

It was great fun and informative! Definitely a place to take school age children. With life size heart and brain to walk thru and many other things to see as well! Greatly enjoyed our time there.

Anne Guanzon

We went for The Harry Potter Exhibit in Philadelphia 9/2022 and it was spectacular. Really I'm a huge HP fan and everything was great. Loved it. Unfortunately this is a pop up so it's very limited and this will actually end 9/18/2022.

Michelle Wadleigh

Went to see the Harry Potter exhibit. Nicely done. Lovely museum. My grandkids loved the machinery exhibit. Parking lot gets full easily but other parking was pretty close. Great experience.

Tara Brown Beauty

Went to visit The Franklin Institute yesterday with my family. It's just as wonderful as I remember it as a child, but so much better now! My kids had a great time! Place was really clean and not too overcrowded. The updates are incredible!!

Julia Smith

We went specifically for the Harry Potter exhibit they had there. It was amazing. We spent some time walking through some of the other parts of the museum. Overall nice museum, well kept up. Nice employees.

Christopher Simmons

I want to be able to give the Franklin Institute 5 stars, because I absolutely loved it as a kid, but I'm giving 3 because they really need to keep after their exhibits, particularly those that are handled. We've been there three times this year, and each time there are things broken, not maintained/missing parts, or just plain malfunctioning. I get that people are rough with things, but it is truly disheartening to take a child here and attempt to use the exhibits as a fun and interactive way to teach them concepts, only to have many of those things be defunct. You have an amazing and invaluable asset here, and I hope that it becomes possible again to get everything in good order and keep it there.

Lola G

Pottaaa!! I honestly thought it would be a little walk through. But it was fantastic! Interactive, alot of props from the film and just overall fun for any potter head. It turned out to be a 3 hour experience in the potter exhibit alone. Of course we played in the 🫀. Great museum for all ages!

Wendy Whitaker

Went for Harry Potter exhibit but we all liked the other exhibits better. Cool HP things from movie but way too crowded, unable to do everything in the exhibit due to crowds. Loved amazing machines and changing earth exhibits!

Amanda Zhang

First time here and I came solely for the Harry Potter Experience. The experience was great honestly, with many things to see and interact with, being up close with props used in the movies. It was a tad bit crowded though, but it was worth it! Walked around the museum as well afterwards, since we had the time to spare. The heart exhibit was eye opening and really interesting. Would definitely come back again!

Respect The Process

If your looking for an epic time, this place is for you. The Franklin Institute never gets old, there is so much to see and experience. The parking is decent, it's a great place for the kids and family to participate and enjoy science, astrology, human anatomy, historical technology and etc. Hand sanitizers and cleansing wipes are located at every entrance and stairways. Must wear a mask before entering.

Zoltan Dorogi

Great activities and exhibits throughout. All staff members were very friendly. Eatery had modest selection of foods but taste were inline with food price. I liked how mist of the serving materials were recyclable. Only downside was that car park is expensive and both electrical car chsrgers were out of order.

Laura Pariso

Like many others, my first time being in Franklin Institute was for the Harry Potter exhibition. As a life long Slytherin I was more than excited that they have decided to come to this location. I was surprised by how spacious it was, and the NFC technology incorporated into the whole experience. Now I need to sign up to see what exhibition is coming next!

Mario Christianto

I was only able to see maybe half of the Franklin Institute because i really came for the Harry Potter exhibit. The Harry Potter stuff was not bad at all, because it was interesting enough and there were interactive things to do throughout the exhibit, but it stopped just short of being great, as the interactive materials were not truly innovative (full disclosure, i like Harry Potter but i wouldn't call myself a super fan, so take my opinion with a grain of salt). The rest of the Franklin Institute itself, on the other hand, was actually what stood out for me. There were plenty of things to see and do, interactive science materials, planetarium, exhibitions, etc. I would certainly come back to see the rest of the Institute.

Britt Kirk

Decided to visit on a whim after seeing an advertisement for the Harry Potter experience. And I’m sooooo glad I did this was by far one of the best science museums I’ve been too. The Harry Potter experience was interactive and AMAZING! What really set this institute apart was the people!!! EVERYONE was friendly, happy, helpful and just wonderful to be around!

ashena sparrow

The exhibition was great except for the crowds. We chose the evening during the week when the museum was closed to hopefully avoid large crowds. They really need to find a way to limit the amount of people in each room/area. They start off counting for the first two rooms and then it's a free for all and people on top of each other.

J C

A few tips. 1. Arrive early for parking at the museum. Go downstairs, as most cars go up. 2. Only take the tip of the sticker off the wristband. We made the mistake of taking the backing off the entire wristband. 3. Wait times for the planetarium show can be long. We waited, but it wasn't necessary as there was plenty of seating available for the 11am. 4. If you go early, you can leave for lunch and go back in with the wristband.

Ray d

Great museum. There are plenty of hands on exhibits and live demonstrations throughout the day. Definitely recommend seeing an IMAX movie if you have the time. There is also an entire locomotive in the basement.

Monica Santiago

Very nice to take kids. Best to go during the week. We came in a Saturday before and left shortly after with how packed it was. We could barely walk or breath. Going on a Monday is smart.

JORGE SUAREZ HURTADO

The Harry Potter exhibition is great, they really made you feel the nostalgia of living in the movie. Great service from the staff. The ticket cost me only $30. It was worth it. But the cost of parking is a bit high, $20.

Phil Luthman

Note: this review is solely on the Harry Potter exhibit. The Harry Potter Exhibit is worth the tickets! However I will say, try to take advantage of the reciprocal museum membership from your hometown. That made our admission FREE (instead of $23/ea.) and discounted the $43 tickets to HP down to $30/ea. This is an incredible collection of props and clothing from the movies. Using personalized NFC tags you wear, there are different experiences for each member of your party along the way (e.g. summoning your patronus or creating a potion properly to score points for your house). The use of material, light, projection, sound, and interactivity was really fantastic. It made the experience feel immersive. We started our tour at 10am and it was already a little crowded. Recommend getting there at museum open or close to it to avoid crowds. We spent 1.75 hours in the exhibit, which was easy to do. The gift shop at the end had a really great assortment of items. Take your time to find something just to your liking. Depending on your energy level, you can start your tour through the rest of the museum when finished. We left the museum shortly thereafter though since we were a bit worn out. Recommend highly to any HP fan, young and old. Quite a bit of reading which was really interesting. Take a phone that has a good low level light camera to read some items later to save time.

Rosemary

Did not see the museum as we went only to the Harry Potter exhibit. The one in NYC was more comprehensive and less expensive. The VIP tickets were $59 and all your recieved was a lanyard, a audio tour (on your own phone so if you were taking photos with your phone, forget the audio tour and 10% off of a photo). This was a high touch exhibition with interactive games to win house points but in the 2 or so hours we were there, none of these surfaces were cleaned. There was not much room to navigate with a wheelchair or stroller. But the most annoying feature was they almost went out of their way to ensure you couldn't get good photos by putting glass seems right down the middle of the costume as well as back lit them giving you the most glare. That said, for the price of a general admission ticket ($43) and parking ($20) this would make a hard core Harry Potter fan happy.

Stacey Turnbull

I took my nephews to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Franklin Institute and it was super fun! Nephews (10 and 8) had just finished reading the series and watching the movies so coming here right after was exciting for them and as someone who read the books as they were coming out, I loved seeing all of the different activations and memorabilia from the movies. Would definitely go again. Also, the FI as a whole is just the best museum in Philadelphia hands down.

Lisa Diee

Museum was cool. Although a little more for young kiddos than I was expecting. We went for the Harry Potter exhibit which was so cool! But the lines were too long so I recommend going at night. My teens loved it.

Ben Park

Very good museum. The heart dissection was very enlightening. The planetarium show was a bit disappointing. Overall, the museum is a gem because of the interactive exhibits. They are clean, very well-maintained and very creative. I loved the ones in the electricity and the train exhibits.

Amy

Let me get the negative out of the way, do NOT buy the VIP pass. It does absolutely nothing for you. No one there knows anything about it. It’s not like VIP at other events you don’t skip lines it’s all just crowded and disorganized anyway. The PHOTO op advertised was CLOSED so that wasn’t even an option to get the DISCOUNT on but if the discount is like the .80 cents you save on the audio tour (again no one knew about but you’ll find a QR code on the wall) than who cares anyway you practically paid double the regular admission. I really feel deceived and taken advantage of. The lanyard is basic not like the ones in the gift shop or even close to a keepsake for a HP fan. With that out of the way, the displays and theatrics are enjoyable for any fan. It was interesting to see the robes and such up close and see the details put into it. It felt mostly like a bunch of photo op setups so not what I was expecting but once we adjusted our expectations it was enjoyable. It would be helpful if they allowed at least 10-15 minutes between groups entering so it doesn’t get so over crowded in each small room and everyone trying to push ahead to the interactive screens. We did enjoy the Franklin Institute exhibits as well, they are for a younger crowd but it’s been a few years since our last visit. The science shows were short but fun and the presenter was very good at her job. The planetarium shows are nice too but could benefit from chairs that recline slightly.

s khan

We went to see the Harry Potter Exhibit. We really liked it. It is an interactive exhibit: you get bracelets and sign up at kiosks that then link up with the bracelet. You tap the bracelet at different exhibits to get points for the House you chose.

SimplyKoala

It's a great museum! I went there for a trip and visited every place there and I was very satisfied! The science, electricity, and interesting machines. I also really liked the body electricity transfer, it was really interesting. The thing that made me give it 4 stars and not 5 is the food, the foods at Franklin institute is kinda expensive do if you're planning to go there you should bring food with you. But other than that the whole museum is amazing!

Stacey Dookie

I came here to go to the Harry Potter Exhibit. It was great! I loved all the rooms and the length of time it took to wake through. I think they should have more of an organized walk through. The lines to take pictures or do the special things were left up to the guest so people were just rushing little areas and it made things longer and I just didn't do some because it got too crazy. I also thought it was way to many people in one room up there. The rest of the museum was fine.

Indraneel Borgohain

Awesome experience. Every item has been designed and defined so well. Learnt a lot of HP trivia extra beyond the books and the movies. A must for a fan, do hurry it is ending on 18th Sep, 2022

Eniyah Williams

I planned a trip to philly with my boyfriend to see the weeknd and came across this Harry Potter Exhibition as we were planning our visit. We are huge harry potter fans and were super excited! However the experience was not the best because of all of the kids running around like it was a playground. Since this was at the museum we didn't think it would be so chaotic and unenjoyable. We couldn’t do too much interacting with the hands on stuff or even just walk the exhibit without a kid running into you or breaking things that were apart of the exhibit. I would recommend going on a week day and to an early entrance. We did 2pm on a saturday and we should have done 9am at the opening. I know theres not much staff can do about misbehaving children since it is the parents responsibility I just wish there were more “rules” in place or something because we spent $90 on two tickets and couldn’t even have a good time. The Harry Potter exhibit itself though was amazing and very well done there was so much more than expected!! Would def recommend trying mon-thurs!!!

Owen Iozzio

Visited here to see the Harry Potter exhibit. It was a nice exhibition, though it didn't handle crowding too well, as lines were frequently forming to view the various stages on a Saturday. The rest of the museum was nice as well and not too crowded.

Monica Keeley

Incredible experience for any age of Harry Potter fan. Interactive activities throughout made you feel like you were living the iconic scenes. Great photo-ops and no restrictions on what you could photograph! Did this for a birthday activity, the whole group loved it.

Michelle Peterson

The Franklin Institute never fails to impress. Always clean, staff are friendly and enthusiastic about their jobs. The exhibits are spaced out and always functioning properly. Timed tickets made our visit feel safe as there were not many people there. It is accessible with a stroller and there are many places to park near by. We are excited to be members for the next year so we can take our time exploring all it has to offer.

Kelly C

Interesting place. It was nice and clean, hand sanitizers were everywhere. Took my kids here for a birthday. The electricity area was fun for them. They liked going inside of the heart. The Sir Issac’s Loft was their favorite area. It was interactive. There were live science shows which were cool. We got to see a dissection of a cow’s eye, too.

Nicole Valenzuela

Super friendly staff, clean environment, price a bit high in my opinion because the most exciting thing is the planetarium, some events were closed due to COVID. I was disappointed because I thought there was the Marvel exhibit but they told me that was 2 years ago. It is a beautiful place to learn, mostly for children, but I do think you need more entertainment to learn.

Anirudh Pillai

Great museum with lot of exhibits. most exhibits have shows. Staff is really friendly and knowledgeable. Space ones are quite popular and must see. I really loved Space, Sports and Train room...also don't miss the Giant heart which you can walk into. I would recommend spending atleast 4 hours - half day if you plan to see all exhibits. It's great place for kids to learn and have fun. IG:- journey_man16

Jennifer Petrino

My family and I had a great time at the Franklin Institute. We really enjoyed how well the Harry Potter exhibit was presented.

Johum Mirza

Wow, just wow! 3 floors of interacting science exhibits and free shows. Kids had a lot of fun, one of the best science museum I have been to in USA. Must vist if you are visiting philly. We purchased go city explorer s pass from groupon which included tickets for this as well, this way we saved significantly on tickets!

Justin Rice

Went for the Harry Potter Exhibit. The staff was friendly. Mix of kids and adults of course. Parking was a bit of a rip off. Usually like $10 but $20 for the exhibit. Other than that it was great 👍 …

Island Gurl Dat

Home School Extension The Franklin institute is a wonderful addition to any homeschool program. I took my student here for many years while homeschooling. We primarily visited on Community Nights, when admission was free. My student enjoyed this program, as well as socializing with other students.

Daina Migdel

My husband and I visited to check out the Harry Potter exhibit and it did not disappoint. The staff is really friendly and the exhibits were awesome!

Lisa S

I visited this museum for the first time yesterday and I have to say that this place is absolutely fantastic. The exhibits are so interesting and totally interactive. It is a great learning experience for young kids and adults like myself. My favorite exhibit was The Giant Heart, but be forewarned even though you can enter the actual Giant Heart it is a tight squeeze and if a person is claustrophobic they are going to feel very uncomfortable. The museum makes sure that there are plenty of hand sanitizing stations located at every exhibit and encourages people to use them. Children between 3 and 12 need to wear a mask inside of the building. For those interested they have a parking lot on the 21st Street side of the building and they also have stroller and wheelchair access as well. I highly recommend this museum and I will definitely come here again in the future cause I still need to see the Planetarium.

Kyle Goodman

Have you ever had such an amazing time at a place that you apply for a job there the same day? I can now say that I have. Their mission is to inspire science. Information is presented in a way that leads to curiosity. The exhibits encourage learning through experience and giving visual feedback. They make the smallest details exhilarating to learn about. This place is truly remarkable and the staff are so kind, knowledgeable and helpful. I can't help but want to be one of them.

Stephanie Showell

Love love love this place I have a non verbal but very mobile 7yo with some other special needs. Usually I would not attempt a museum but I am so happy we settled on this weekend day trip it was awesome and wore both of us out! I'd go back a million times!!

Miriam Brown

Great place for kids. Harry Potter exhibit was awesome but a bit crowded. Highly popular.

Laura and Rich

Had a pretty good time at the Franklin Institute. Most the exhibits were functioning. Bathrooms were clean. Would highly recommend for family’s.

Merrill Allen

The heart and the brain are great, but you should honestly only go here if you have kids- I think other adults would find the below aspects quite frustrating. This place is REALLY confusing about what it's about, the point of it, and just the general layout/setup of it all. Lots of exhibits seem hastily put together, like signs that might be on the floor, signs that are unplugged, boxes laying about.. another issue was there is a huge amount of exhibits that are not protected, like displays (both interactive ones and also observation only ones) that should be in a shadow box or plexiglass but are just open to be touched/stolen/damaged. If you've been to a professional or well staffed museum like Boston, you will likely not know what this means until seeing it in person. The staff is another issue- we went on a slow-ish (but far from empty) day and there was just.. nobody working there. Soooo many exhibits that should've had some level of supervision were being completely swarmed and overtaken by kids, many things did not work or were partially taken apart because of this. There were more buttons, machines and displays that didn't work in a single section of this museum than in the entirety of many others we've been to. I'm always appalled at how parents will let their kids run wild, but it's really discouraging and sad to see that the museum is pretty run down and not taking care of itself, at least based on our first impression. Lastly, it is a surprisingly easy place to get lost, with signs that aren't noticeable/accurate and it would be really easy to miss exhibits as there are lots of areas that have huge hallways and long distances in between exhibits, with basically zero idea of where the next place to go is. I hope they get more staff/funding or whatever it is they need to get some of the things fixed..The giant heart playground thing was really cool.

Nicole Flood

Went here recently for a Homecoming Gala event for my school with my boyfriend and it was so much fun, the staff were really nice, the food they had for the event was great too. This was the first time I’ve been here since I was young so it was fun seeing a lot of the things that I saw here as a kid.

greg macer

Just stopped by for a quick visit as part of the shared museum membership thing. We were quick to get in and through a teacher discount were able to bring some friends along for a free visit. For a Saturday it was surprisingly not too busy and we were able to engage in many of the interactive displays. Really great place to deepen your appreciation of science!

Scott Perdue

Very neat museum for kids and adults alike. I went by myself using my all-inclusive Go City pass. This was my favorite museum in the whole city. Highlights included walking through a giant heart, seeing Franklin’s lightning rod, and seeing the planetarium show.

Jason Neal

Great experience for grade school children to teach science while making it fun. Special exhibits they bring in like Harry Potter, Marvel Comics, and upcoming Disney 100th anniversary are worth the extra admission

Dan Urban

We came into town to see the Harry Potter exhibit here, and really enjoyed the museum. The approach is very hands on, which makes it very engaging for children. The exhibits are very interesting for adults and children alike. The museum is clean and modern, and the staff are friendly and helpful. There is much to see and do, so don't try to do it all at once. Just go in and enjoy. Oh, and remember to request your military discount!

Osula Lam

I came here by bus on a Wednesday morning in late June 2022. They had the Harry Potter Exhibit but I didn't want to spend an extra $47 to see this walk-through interactive installation. The receptionist at the front said it's only cool if you really like Harry Potter so I didn't do it. I did, however (and you should too), take a picture of the programming times for the entire day and made an effort to attend each one. They also take CityPass. If you have some time to kill, which I did, I would recommend checking this place out. I understand why people usually spend 3.5 hours here because there are three floors exhibits which aren't that big but the place is like a maze so definitely pick up a map at the front if you want to cover all the different rooms. They have a cafeteria-style eatery and prices were as you'd expect: $3 Powerade, $5 one Hotdog, and $2 for one cookie. Mostly all of their displays were interactive and were designed to make you curious and want/encouraged to touch everything. I went on a bad day because they had multiple school field trips there and a ton of kids were there. They tried to have wet wipes out but definitely not enough and the kids were not using them. I only had time to go to the Astral Almanac and the Combustion shows while I was there. Both were really good and only about 25 minutes. I especially enjoyed the Combustion show as the person conducting the demonstrations was very lively, funny, and light a bunch of things on fire which is always a good idea indoors. 😜

Rock Philipa

Always having educational and entertaining activities. Staffs are polite and helpful. Bathrooms need just a little more attention.

Nikia Toomey

Amazing experience. Geared more for children but fun for all ages. Interactive, informative, and intriguing. The Harry Potter exhibit was fantastic, but very crowded. Highly recommend for a bit of indoor entertainment for those visiting and living here alike

Christian M. Salas

This is a great place for experiential learning for kids. I came by myself but know that our boys would have had a blast. The exhibits are very kid friendly and explain things like: the brain, the heart, machines, and the airplane in a way that makes it fun for kids and adults. I also came to the Harry Potter exhibit. If you make it here before this exhibit leaves... GREAT! It is worth the ticket price.

Riya Thomas

Great interactive museum. Many little displays out of commission due to age or removal, but still worth it. The planetarium was more fun for us over the Harry Potter exhibition. Harry Potter was overpriced for the experience, $8 extra for an online audio tour via a QR code and $25 for a green screen picture. Overpriced HP gift shop. The museum is large and we didn't even get through the whole thing in 6 hours.

Dani Herzog

Super cool museum. We loved walking through the heart

Anderson Winters

Harry potter experience was great and the interactive features were really interesting. The rest of the museum was good as well. However some of the exhibits are from 20+ years ago and need to be updated. However this is totally a place to bring kids or go on a date or just get out to have some educational fun. Will definitely return.

Ross Hamza Foy

This institute is beautifully developed and does a great job balancing the educational needs of both children and adults. I am still giving five stars, but I would like to recommend having verbal or written signs encouraging people to stay a wider distance away from the Tesla Coil before it turns on.

Robert Naccarella

Harry Potter exhibit was amazing and the reason we went. But the rest of the museum was also extremely interesting with very well done exhibits and interactive sections. Also, while a great museum for kids it's not to be missed for adults too. Highly recommend visiting.

Kathryn Corselius

This museum has so many amazing exhibits that explain mathematical and scientific concepts in an easy-to-learn way. The exhibits on the brain and the heart were especially memorable. Also make sure to check out the planetarium while there.

Tamara Xavier

First time there in years. It's nice to see through your kid's eyes. Food is good but so expensive.

Carol Koronec

If you want to a really special time. With creative with Harry Potter movie. Head over to the A magical moment. Coming to it's end thank

Steve Bichlmeier

Great place to learn about Franklin's accomplishments. Learning experience for kids.

Marc & Bella

A bit crowded even during the week but very fun. Kids love hands on learning. The food at the eatery was ok. Parking is $20 for the day.

Donna Brennan

Most of the exhibits were very interesting and well maintained. The bathrooms were a disgrace!. No toilet paper and trash cans over flowing. Was really excited for the Harry Potter Exibit. It was very interesting. The interactive part was fun but it was so crowded we barely experienced 30% of it. Having been to these special exhibits before and enjoyed them so much. I was really disappointed.

A. Maisto

Fun science museum with decent accessibility and free admission for Philly Public School students with id! Otherwise costs to get in. If you’re squeamish about heart stuff, avoid the giant heart exhibit. Tesla coil is rad. Only place I’ve ever been that blasts Tame Impala in the parking garage. Lots of fun for people of all ages

Edward Anderson

We loved it. Kids 6 and 9. First time here and we ran out of time for things to do. Usually I’m annoyed when planetariums are not available because that is usually our thing but no need here. Dante in the combustion presentation was so friendly and patient with my talkative children. Highly recommend!!!

Barb Hauck-Mah (barbhmphilly)

Our family has visited Franklin Institute at least a dozen times. It offers unique, family-friendly exhibits and IMAX movies that make STEM concepts come alive. Their special exhibits are first-rate! As dedicated Harry Potter fans, we really enjoyed the immersive exhibit, from the Great Hall, the wand room, Chamber of Secrets and more. Highly recommend getting a family membership: you get admission discounts and priority access to special exhibits. Their restaurant is decent and it's convenient to public transportation.

B K

This is an awesome museum that is much more than you'd expect from a so-called "normal museum". Something here for all ages to admire and learn from. I would definitely put The Franklin Institute as one of my must see places in Philadelphia. Go. Go now. 😄 …

Elena Angeli

This is a good place to let your child's inquisitive mind wonder about many various subjects.

Shelly Rice

The Franklin Institute is such a vibe for children and adults. Adults love it as much as children do. They have different exhibits featured such as Jurassic p park, Harry Potter and coming 2023 Disney 100th. The museum already has things to do when you walk around. The child(ren) will love this for a day trip and a bite to eat. Visit this museum with the kiddos you will not regret it. Have fun!!

Adam Brown

Disappointed. I have really fond memories of this place as a kid. My experience as a parent was less than stellar. Far too many exhibits were broken, missing pieces, or entirely inoperable. IMAX theatre has been closed since the pandemic with no stated reopening date. It is wildly expensive for how degraded the exhibits are.

Tonya Wilkinson

My 17 year old son & I had an awesome time there was plenty to do and see. The food was a little pricey for the quality to be like store bought frozen chicken and pizza.

Apurva Jani

Amazing place for kids to explore quite a few things. You need at least two days to explore it fully. I recommend to go for membership that easy you save money.

Norman Tweet

One of Philadelphia's top attractions. It's more oriented toward kids, but adults will enjoy it too. It's huge, so you can spend hours here with the wide variety of exhibits and activities. It's always busy, so expect to see many classes on field trips or families with kids.

SaiSuki1329

Best experience ever!! Great fun for the whole family but also an amazing date idea too. Good for both old and young. Several hands on exhibits and so much to do that you will definitely need the whole day. Great Museum and great learning environment. And the Escape room was absolutely amazing. Definitely advance and technological the best escape room Ive ever been to(and I've done several of them). This whole place is a recommendation and you really do get your moneys worth here.

ClairNAnna Kauffman

This was the first time we took our four kids ages 8-18. We got there at 9:30 when it opened and left at 5:00 simply because they wanted to close. Our kids were not done there.

Rob Formica

I love the Franklin but they really need to get it together. Compared to the Maryland Science Center, it's just shabby and disjointed. It's bigger, but its a lot of cold empty space and dead ends because it's cobbled together from a few buildings, seemingly without a lot of thought. About a third of the interactive exhibits are broken and some haven't worked in years. It's as if they put all this work into an exhibit area and then never touch it again. Philly deserves better and so does ol' Ben.

T Johnson

Great learning experience for the family and students of all ages...

Josh Cervone

The Franklin Institute is a perennial favorite for families. They have all kinds of interactive exhibits that teach kids about all different kinds of science. My kids LOVED it! They also have a rotation of special exhibits that are always super interesting. Additionally, they do a wonderful job with COVID protocols and addressing visitors who aren't complying with them.

Lauren Michetti

Our wedding at the Franklin Institute was perfect and STUNNING! My husband and I knew we wanted our wedding to be in Philly because it represents us as a couple since we spend so much time out and about in the city. We have no regrets with choosing the Franklin Institute as our reception venue. It was an amazing night that our guests and we will never forget! My Mom and I booked tours at 9 different reception venues in Philly. The Franklin Institute was the first of our 9 visits. As a teacher that has had field trips at the FI, I just wasn't sure that I wanted to have my wedding at the same location that I've brought kindergarteners to for a field trip. Boy am I glad I gave it a chance. After seeing the Franklin Institute on the first day of our first visits, it was clear that every other venue paled in comparison. Sure, there were some beautiful venues but none of them came close to the unique and breathtaking elements that the FI had to offer. You can have your cocktail hour in the brain which is so unique. We loved that our guests could have an interactive experience! It was really neat for out-of-towners as well as people that just haven't been to the FI in ages. The light and sound package can't be beat! As your guests enter the main dining room, the lights change, a video plays and the whole reception experience transforms right before your eyes. You choose all of your light settings ahead of time and you are able to project any logos, photos or videos that you want! There are engineers on site the night of your wedding to ensure everything is running smoothly. We got lots of compliments on the slideshow we had running throughout the length of the reception. Even more amazing than the light and sound package?! The GINORMOUS statue of Ben overlooking the most amazing night of your life. You can't get a better dance floor than a true marble floor. We were able to line the stairs with candlelight which looked gorgeous. The chiavari chairs unfortunately aren't included but they are absolutely worth it and will make your room look amazing! We had a representative from the FI and one from the catering company that worked together to help us plan our event. On the night of our wedding, we had a bridal attendant that was amazing! She was there for everything we needed the entire night! We loved that there can only be one wedding per night so everyone was focused on our event and not multitasking with other weddings. They validate parking for $7 per car which is amazing considering it's Philly. Trolleys will drop your guests off at the front steps which makes for an epic entrance! The bathrooms are pretty ugly since they aren't a fancy venue but you can do things on your own to give them a personal touch. There are soooooo many amazing photo opportunities throughout the FI and they give the bride/groom and photographer full access. Lots of options as far as where you put your bars, your food stations, photo booth, etc. The food is all made from scratch from the Frog Commissary. We had a few bumps in the road during our two year planning process but overall everything was great; our wedding day was everything we dreamed of and so much more! The Franklin Institute is an amazingly unique venue that you and your guests will rave about. Thank you to Gina, Beth and everyone else that helped make our wedding reception the most special, amazing night of our lives. We will never forget it!!!

Melanie Weiss-Roper

Great experience overall! The reception desk clerks were super friendly. Admission is only $2 per person with the PA Access card! Gift shop has some really great items for adults as well as children.

Katy Mae

Really amazing day especially Mr. Fox who did the science displays.my son loved talking to him after the show and hopes he tries the lava lamp experiment. He loved running thru the heart as well. Very great with covid procedures only sad that the climbing part of the brain was closed but I understand why. The Crayola Experience was fun too

JessKa Daniels

Had lot of exhibits for the price. The wax museum was very diverse and included a lot of African American history which I appreciated. You have to buy the tickets online in advanced. I went on a Saturday and it wasn’t crowded. Social distancing is good here. Plenty of spots with wipes and hand sanitizer. I felt really safe.

Jeff Olen

Wonderful Museum! I haven't been here in over 30 years. We had such a wonderful time! They have exhibits for all ages... Young and old alike. It is a little pricey, but you can easily be entertained for 8 hours or more. We totally ran out of time. We were there for the "Game Masters" exhibit. It was awesome! They had some of the early video games all the way up to the modern. Games of today.

Audrey Metzger

Went to the museum with a PA access card. General admission was reduced dramatically. Was a great experience the museum has this awesome room full of fun activities for the whole family. Sports room on the 2nd floor to the left where the pendulum steps are located. Had an amazing time, very busy however large enough that it wasn't crowded

Mike Fell

Love this place. A lot of things you can do and have fun with. Around this time it is not that busy. It is about 25 dollars per person. They have deals as well. Unfortunately when I went the airplane part was closed. Even with it closed up, it is still a great place to go and learn!

Michelle Merino-Taroli

Great place to bring the kids. Some things weren't working. With the money that flows into that place everything should be working. Some exhibits are old.

Bryan Belnap

This is a great museum, but not the best that I've been to. Our kids really enjoyed the brain and heart exhibits, my wife and I enjoyed the machines visit. Perhaps the best thing about the museum is at the cafeteria is not ridiculously priced like other places, and Fountain drinks have free refills. This is great because you can get a cup when you arrive and refill it in the cafeteria or at the cafe in the center area. Food is allowed throughout the museum, except for in special noted areas. We were there during the Terracotta Warrior exhibit on the second last day. I'd seen them a couple of times in the US and China, and this time was average-at-best. The main issues at the were so many people trying to see the exhibit. The most difficult part were the folks with the audio tour and photographers stopping the flow of traffic to gaze at a display for minutes on end not allowing others to pass by. Would probably be better to have special tours for audio narration and photography.

Maurice Powell

I love going to this museum... This is one of a few museums that I would say take things up a notch. Recently visited there for their Marvel experience. Very nice. Won't spoil it.. but if you've not gone yet, here's some pics of my visit that I hope you'll enjoy. The other exhibits are nice as well, and they keep you coming back because things are always changing. Last time I went there they had a robotics exhibit along with some nice things from Google. Plenty of food options for everyone in the family. Plan ahead and arrive early if you can and you'll have a nice time

Adam Felibrico

Absolutely phenomenal museum, not to mention the Marvel Exhibit was amazing. If you're able to check this out, I absolutely recommend you do. I couldn't believe how many prints and costumes they have to display. Of course, the Iron Man display is incredible. 100% check it out.

Jason Persaud

We made a day-trip to the Philadelphia ZOo from NYC and were looking for another stop to make after the zoo before heading back. I've known of the Franklin Institute for a while now but never had a chance to visit during our few trips to Philadelphia. To my surprise, I noticed that there was a Marvel Exhibit going on. Myself, wife and 8 year-old are all huge marvel fans so this was definitely added to the to-do list. Now there are few price options. The standard museum admission is about $23 for adults and $19 for children, but this doesn't include the special exhibit at the time (currently, the Marvel exhibit). For $35 adult/$31 child you can have access to both. Additionally, there is an evening option which only includes the special exhibit and costs $20 adult/$15 child. This option was perfect for us since we were spending the entire early afternoon at the Zoo. We were able to get tickets at the museum counter, but keep in mind that you may need to buy them online on busier days. We went there on a Wednesday evening, so it wasn't too bad. Keep in mind that the museum itself offers parking for $20 but there are lots of parking meters around the area which cost about $2.50 per hour. You can use card, cash or coins. The card option was broken on the meter we used, luckily we had cash on us. We arrived around 4:30 PM and got tickets for the 5 PM show. Big gift shop with lots of marvel things in the main gift shop. The Marvel Exhibit itself is AWESOME and I would highly recommend it for any marvel fan. There is a short 5 minute video in the beginning which takes you through the brief history of the beginnings of marvel comics. After you proceed at your own pace through the exhibits. Lots of costumes and items from the various MCU movies. They also go into details about the main (Avengers) characters giving them each their own exhibit, while the others such as the Netflix Defenders characters had smaller exhibits. They had some cool statues there such as Spider-Man, Black Panther, the Thing and the most epic of all...the 10-foot Hulk statue. Be sure to take your time and read all the exhibits. There are some cool fact in there about the comics and movies. At the end of course there is separate gift shop with all marvel stuff...typical over-priced books, toys and collectibles. We spent about 1.5 hours going through the exhibit with reading everything. Overall we had an amazing time..I highly recommend this to any Marvel fan. If we had more time, I would have done the combo with the Museum included.

Asaf Bochman

Wonderful museum for just. I have 13 year old and 9 year old. They both interested themselves within 5 minutes and we had to drag them out after 5 hours. Highlights include the electricity room and the flight center. I especially enjoyed the brain attraction, very impressive.

Chris Taylor

This place has a lot going on and the exhibits are interesting, interactive, and challenging. There is a new Marvel exhibit that is truly awesome even if you're not a fan of the comics or movies. Really enjoyed the place and how much fun everyone seemed to be having.

I.T.

Amazing science museum in Philadelphia, established in 1824, named after the famous American scientist Benjamin Franklin and it also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. It's one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States. Highly recommended to visit, great experience!

Chrissie B.

Loved it. The IMAX theater and the planetarium are a must see. So many amazing things to learn about. My daughter, who is 15, and myself had great time trying out a bunch of things. Great for people of all ages.

Credible Critic

One of a better science museum in the country. It has an IMAX theatre, a planetarium, and numerous open "lab" areas for live demonstrations and experiments. Its rolling exhibits are top-notch. We have enjoyed the terracotta warriors last year, and this year the Vikings. Food court is clean and spacious, you can also bring your packed lunch there. Parking is a bit pricey, as its location is in the heart of the city. Families can easily spend half a day there.

Justine Cruz

Had a wonderful time with my children and father ages 4 7 and 76 (I'm 32)! Definitely going again

Steve Lex

It's a great place to take young kids. Gets too crowded sometimes. The Exhibits they bring in are world class. It would be nice if they could expand but there's really no room too. This year I went to see the Terracotta Soldiers, the statues we're unbelievable.

A F

So much to do and so much to learn! The staff has always been very friendly and informative. We also love going when they have the observation decks open at night to see the moon, stars and whichever planets are visible at that time.

Lorena Hernández J

Amazing museum. The kids love it and we too! You can spend here like 5 hours, so be prepared.

Travis Arrington

Came here for the marvel exhibit in the afternoon. Really awesome exhibit. They have so much history about Marvel, from its origins, it's comic books to the movies. When you first come in you watch a little video then you can explore the place and see all the wonderful characters. They have the fantastic 4, Spiderman, black Panther, Iron man, the Incredible Hulk. This is definitely a must visit for marvel fans or anyone who loves the movies.

Alex Woodruff

Did not realize that can make a whole day out of this museum. We originally went because of the Marvel Exhibit (which was amazing) but quickly found our way to the rest of the museum. Very interactive for kids and adults alike.

Jason Picarello

Amazing place for kids. Mine are 6 and 9 and there is so much to do. Also of you or of you know someone who has an access card for insurance or any other benefits there is a heavy discount. It has been the only way we were able to afford it sometimes. It even gives you access to the exhibits for more then 50% off. Amazing program and great place for all ages of kids.

Rose Shamalov

Super duper time with the whole 7th grade of my sister's school. Everyone was so amazed but all of the interactive exhibits, the liquid air show, and all the other small little acts along the way. One guy guessing birthdays really caught the girls attention. Your Brain and Sports Zone we're their favorites. Electricity and Changing Earth were really great too. Going through the first heart was pretty cool too. All in all a great day was had and the 3 hours we spent there wasn't nearly enough! The kids didn't want to leave and can't wait to go back!

Timi

Best place ever. This place has great customer service, awesome presentation and mind opening quotes. I learnt a lot that I never knew. The dancers on the 3rd floor were awesome. My favorite part was the building blocks and the “Giant Heart”. The Electricity room was also awesome. I never knew what greenhouse meant until I went there. The person that made the announcement was cheerful

Janine Beatty

Came for the Science Festival in April. Had a great time going to all the exhibits outside on the parkway, then went inside to do some of the exhibits. Love how interactive everything is for children. My kids always have a great time.

Samantha Grey

Great place to learn a little science and history! Very interactive and a great place to bring children. In fact, there were too many children to enjoy the museum as a lone adult. They should have an 18+ day once a week or something so we can explore the museum without having to dodge sprinting and crying children left and right. The Imax was amazing as well as the Planetarium, definitely a must see.

Skip Zimmerman

An amazing interactive experience for young and old, science and history buffs. There's something for everyone here. The staff did an awesome job with our overnight "Camp-in", with planetarium shows, observatory, IMAX shows, and special movies, along with all of the exhibits open until around 11 PM. Our Upstate NY Scout troop had a BLAST! As an added bonus, we got to see the temporary special Marvel exhibit; a huge treat for a few of our boys (and dads). Don't miss this awesome museum if you're a family or if you have a youth group. Worth every penny!

Natasha Danielle

Always a nice place to go as an adult and a child. There are usually very nice exhibits that cost extra along with the price of admission. The museum can be expensive especially if there is a group. If you have an access card you can use it for $2 admission for up to 4 people. I would also suggest bringing your own food. The food is medicore and pricey. Other than that the museum is fantastic and you can learn a lot.

J A

The Franklin Institute is a great place for a date, family day, or even just to go and get lost for a little while by yourself. They always have an awesome special exhibit going on and even without that, the rest of the museum is so much fun. The IMAX theater is always worth the extra cost as it's super immersive and seeing movies with that view is unreal.

R Mackey

I haven't been to the Franklin Institute in forever(since I was a kid!) it was great! I almost ran to go thru the heart...I got so claustrophobic! 😝 The planetarium was fun too! The now have an escape room of course this is extra and I look forward to the after hours events. …

Thom Cain

Great place to bring the family. My wife had fond memories of her middle school trip here. There is a good deal to do here, I expect that even after the 6 hrs spent here , that we have at least another 8 or so to cover everything. As a added bonus they have lunch room where you can bring your own lunch and eat. Beats other attractions that ban you bringing your own food in and sell you over priced junk food.

Jennifer Krantz

Brought the family for the new Marvel exhibit! It was amazing!!! Very informative on comic background and will definitely have to go back without kiddos in order to read through it all. The heart is a favorite!! Even after 25 years it's just as fun for me as it is for the kiddos. We spent a lot of time in Isaac's loft. Great for hands on/please touch activities for the kiddoa

Yang Li

Awesome place for families, friends activities. They have tons of events going here. Summer camp, daily museum shows, and Marvel Shows here. You definitely should go, try and experience the amazing show.

kristy varunan

The museum was very cool, so big and so many different things to see we didn't even go to the 3rd floor. Unfortunately though a lot if the exhibits weren't fully working, like a light up floor in the electricity room and a balloon thing in the airplane room. Every room had a few things broken. But despite that we had fun, my 11 yo step daughter had lots of fun but so did my 46 yo boyfriend 😁. We also appreciated the discount for access card holders, $2 pp vs $25. The museum does not have to participate in this program but we are so glad they do as we wouldn't have been able to go at full price.

George Edelblute

The exhibit, Marvel universe of superheros, was off particular interest to my five year old grandson. Having been an avid reader of comic books as a youngster, I experienced renewed wonder when seeing this exhibit through my grandsons eyes.. And some of the things that we there when my wife and I were younger, the heart, the stories and props regarding flight, among others were new discoveries to a 5 yo.. The visit was money and time well spent and a great way to spend an afternoon away from TV and video games.

Patrick McKenna

We really enjoyed the Harry Potter exhibition. It was quite well done. That said, that rest of the museum was a bit of a disappointment. Many of the exhibits simply didn’t work and the the museum is starting to look dated and worn. The parking garage is an adventure as the spaces are wildly too small for any car. Also $4 for a bag of potato chips is a fantastic crime. I love the institute and I’ll always go back, but I left disappointed.

Laura Todd

More people should take advantage of the Franklin Institute now that it's basically empty, due to the covid restrictions. As a kid, I used to wish I had more time to play with all of the activities. I finally had that chance today with my son! Not to mention that the outside area is open to run and play in as well. Only downside is that you need to remember to bring your own food. Only vending machines are open.

Katrina Buckreis

Great time with the kids today!! Very clean facility, fun attractions. The sports zone was very interactive and we loved the surf board!! The giant heart is still there and my 6 year old enjoyed it as much as I did as a kid! The only thjng was there were alot of attractions down and I didn't see much staff around to tell. In fact in some rooms there. Was no staff... Overall a great time!!!!

Michael Hixson

The Franklin institute is awesome, there is so much to do here. The most current attraction is the terracotta warriors exhibit, I spent a whole day here and it was well worth it. I actually learned alot and had a great time interacting with all of the displays. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a cool way to spend the day.

Dana Giuliana

I have three boys ages 8-14 and we had a great time at the institute. Although we went for the Marvel exhibit we ended up just paying the the general admission and had fun enjoying a few major areas of the museum - space, sports, energy, trains, body. We definitely didn’t see everything in the three hours we were there. This is a first class museum with a lot of things to touch and interact with. We did find quite a few things broken and it was very hard to find a staff member - they really could have more there to help.

Roma Zabo

Pretty nice place. Good place to spend 3-4 hours. I have 2 and 12 year old both liked it a lot

Amber Billman

Excellent hands on experience for the young and young at heart! Lines move quickly, exhibits are handicap friendly, and the staff was energetic, informative, and happy. The live shows were well done, entertaining, and lasted just long enough to not get bored. Parking was extremely close and cost $20.00. The food court was decent and typical overpriced fair (pizza, burger, tenders). Highly recommend!

HEY DRONIE'S!

This is 1 of my all time favorite museums. Can't count how many times I've been here. If u get 2 our great city of PHILADELPHIA. Make sure u c this place. COWBOYEDD.

MS Tabu Winslow Morris, MBA

We took our Upward Bound Catonsville CCBC students to The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and I didn’t really know what to anticipate. I remember seeing the heart exhibit on television a while back when it first opened up. However. I truly enjoyed how they made science fun, engaging, and informative. We didn’t have a wait in line when we arrived. It was neat, clean, and good instructions on how to find the different exhibits. My group went to the space exhibit first. That was outstanding. I felt like I was out of space. I loved how they showed our scholars how our cell phones work with all of the technology we use and what satellites do what. I went into the heart which was a little tight. I don’t know if would have done that if I knew how small it was inside. The first thing we saw was the squid being dissected. That was very informative. Learning how you tell a male from a female. Lastly we went to the Sports exhibit. That was hands one learning. It was funny watching my scholars and Director to a throw in the baseball cage. I would recommend it for families and other Educational programs. Awesome experience! Thank you!

Jacquelyn Markovich

Definitely a great place to spend the day! We went to see the Marvel exhibit, in my opinion it's more geared towards adults not as much for the younger kids to do. There are many exhitbits in general at the Franklin Institute. If you happen to collect food stamps/ have an EBT card there's a program where many of Philadelphia's museums you can get into at a reduced rate. If you plan on parking at the museum get there early, the garage fills up fast.

Dani Davison

We had a great time celebrating a 10th birthday here. We arrived at 10 and stayed until closing and that was just about enough time to see nearly everything without hurrying. A bunch of the electronic things/games weren't in working order in more than one exhibit. Also, I tried to use the Franklin Institute App but didn't find it particularly useful. And I hadn't found prior info saying the parking garage is $20. Be aware of that. For these things I subtracted a star. Otherwise, the actual Museum is a class act.

Aubrey Smith

I haven't been to the Franklin institute in so long! We specifically made the trip for the Worst-Case Scenario Experience and were not disappointed! After that, we saw the IMAX movie about volcanoes and spent about four hours seeing all that the Franklin Institute had to offer. I really enjoyed the train room and learning about how they got the 6000 into the institute.

Linda Shaffer

I always love my time here. We were a group of 7 went to see the new Viking exhibit. It is really good for all ages with interactive pieces everyone would love! Be sure to charge phone and no flash allowed. We spent about 4 hours between the Viking exhibit and imax show. The show may be a little boring for younger people. I wish the store would have more variety of things related to the exhibit at reasonable prices.

Rob Dovi

Always an interesting visit. My boys wanted to see the Marvel Comics exhibition. I always like to watch anything on their IMAX parabolic screen with stadium seating and an amazing surround video and audio system. Movie Superpower Dogs was amazing. Marvel exhibit included history of Marvel comics from the beginning to present day. Costumes used in most recent movies.

Jennifer -

There is a lot to do. Schedule at least 5 hours to walk and visit. They have all kinds of exhibits from the brain to the universe. The store and food is expensive. I went to the Gamers exhibit and it was a HUGE waste if money. Half of the games weren't working and there honestly was little there.

Carolyn Hurley

Took two kids under 8 to the museum today. They loved the planetarium, train room, and all the hands in exhibits. We parked in a side street for $5. Beautiful area of town.

E&C Cox

We went for the Harry Potter exhibition. It was okay, really crowded and hard to see everything due to the crowds. I feel the hosts could have done more to reduce the crowd sizes due to Covid. Shortly after 1pm, it was practically empty. The rest of the Institute was very hands-on and had something for everyone. Kids and adults can enjoy a 3-4 hours here. Parking garage on site: $20 per day.

Joe Duell

I came here for the Harry Potter exhibit and stayed to check out the other sections. The Harry Potter exhibit was neat (mostly movie props) to see, but the rest of the museum was really cool. The planetarium was awesome! I could see the museum overall being geared more towards kids, but I think there's plenty for adults to see and experience as well.

Eli Alshanetsky

Great place, went with my 3.5 year old and he was absolutely able to appreciate the exhibits. Will definitely come back…

Andrea J-K

Exhibits on a variety of scientific topics with great hands-on experiences for children. There are experiments and interaction for all ages. Easy to find plenty of souvenir penny machines around the ticketing on 2nd floor. Also fantastic art of scientists and scientific achievements.

Charlene Silberg

Always a joy visiting The Franklin Institute!!! So many fun things to explore. Nice gift shop, food court and outdoor area too. Children are having so much fun, they might not even be aware of how much knowledge they're getting with this experience!

Curtis Carpenter

During a recent visit the Philadelphia my 3 boys and I spent a day at the Franklin Institute. We paid extra for the Marvel special exhibit. We really enjoyed the entire visit. The regular exhibits are great for a science museum because there is focus on interacting with the science being explained. Our favorites were the science of sports exhibit where the boys were able to run, throw, surf and jump. We liked the human body exhibit with the giant walk through heart and the brain maze. The museum was so big that we did not even get to all the exhibits. We also really enjoyed the Marvel special exhibit, it had a great mix of artifacts, exhibits and information.

Alissa H

Good museum for families. Our favorite exhibit was the brain. Only complaint is that several of the exhibits were out of order or not working correctly. We attended while the Jurassic World exhibit was there and it is definitely worth the visit!

Ryan Archibald

Very well done Science Center for families. Burger and fries at the eatery were actually really good and the system of distributing food was very quick even though it was totally full of families.

Cory Hopf

A must go.... it's a great experience for either a short walkthrough or for an in-depth viewing. A very hands on museum with almost all exhibitions being interactive. Bring you're kiddos along for an intuitive learning experience. Also there are many attractions within the Institute such as an Imax Theatre, Planetarium, Learning Center, Escape Room and a current attraction on the third floor. I had a very good time and would return in a heartbeat!!!!

Carolyn Triplett

We had a very nice time at this museum. It is not a free one so be prepared to pay. We did pay extra for the feature collection, Marvel. That was well worth it, we spent an hour and half just in that section. They had actual costumes from the Marvel movies, very cool. Life size figures to take pictures with too. Other exhibits included, sports mechanics, the brain, the heart, electricity, space to name a few. All had inactive displays the kids and adults could enjoy. My son particularly like the sports section. Great place to take the kids on a rainy day or if it is super hot out. Be prepared to spend a lot of time. We spent 3 hours and did not see everything or take in an IMAX show. A must see!

Kimberly Bowen

The Franklin Institute is a children’s staple! It’s always a good time and excitement for the giant heart last for generations! Covid-19 measures are in place and sanitation stations are all around.

D. Ryan Lafferty

A cool interactive experience, perfect for families and kids of all ages. World renowned exhibits take up residency here regularly. Take a walk through a human heart or check out a giant pendulum in constant motion, powered by the Earth's rotation. Giant steam engine trains and so much more. The perfect day trip with little ones that want to run around and have fun. A bonus Omniverse theater is even bigger than IMAX. Check out the latest feature and feel yourself slip away into an immersive experience. It's not shocking to think that Ben Franklin would be proud of this cool institution ;)

Chirag

A must visit if you are visiting Philly or you are a Philly native. Interactive and fun for kids and adults. Very beautifully curated and lots of fun activities. Parking is plenty available on the street or one block away. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance. The cafeteria has decent selection of food.

Jennifer Monahan

We really enjoyed our time here. We came for the Harry Potter exhibit which was amazing! The costumes and props were so nice to see, but the info and stories behind them were key. We loved that it was hands on. Each person could take turns casting spells in each room. We really liked that the rooms were decorated so extensively. You really did feel like you were in Umbridge’s office or Hagrid’s hut. We spent 2 hrs just in this exhibit and 3 more hours in the rest of the museum and still didn’t see everything!

David Brice, Jr.

been here since I was a kid still great hp exhibit was awesome

John Borat

I become a Kid when I'm Here!!! This place is made of Magic(Science). The Shows are the Best Part! So Enthusiastic and Fun!!!

Melissa Motz

We had a blast yesterday exploring the institute. Nothing like walking through a giant heart, or racing the fanatic! My daughter was very excited for the Minecraft day event. "Steve" being there made her giggle with delight.

Adam Solomon

Wonderful science museum, aimed at slightly younger set Really wonderful science museum. My family loved it. The heart exhibit and the amazing machine exhibits are particular highlights. Worth a few hours of time at the minimum.

Caetano Almeida

My kids (7 and 11 years) had a blast visiting this museum. Lots of interactive attractions that are interesting for kids and adults. I really enjoyed the planetarium and the section about physics. Food could be better.

Elizabeth Krumrine

Worth the price of admission for the Tesla coil that goes off on the hour. Other highlights, the live demonstration shows, exploring the brain, and obviously entering the human heart

Leni Toms

I've only visited here a few times but it's always a lovely experience! We really enjoy the trains and the space show! The only thing I don't like is the overpriced food and movie/show admission. If they're not going to drop those prices they should at least offer more coupons here and there.

Monticha Tanatammatid

Harry Potter Exhibition was great. Will go back again soon as a member.

Jennifer Raub

Visited for the Marvel exhibit they had. The Institute is a great place tip take a day trip, and explore all of the exhibits. Lots to see and do and a lot of the exhibits are interactive.

Jesse Nyman

Very cool science museum. The Marvel Comics exhibit was amazing. Lots of great things to see and do. Kids can get involved and try out many activities and science principles. Good value for the price.

Rhonda Vaccaro Young

I am visiting my son who is based here in the USCG. We came to the FI to see the museum and the Harry Potter exhibit. On a positive note, the museum is beautiful and very kid/family friendly. The HP exhibit was so packed that we could not see a significant amount of the attractions. Also, there was very limited direction on which way to go to see all sections. Then we rushed down to the planetarium to the night sky view. We waited in line and we were 10 people away from max capacity and it was the last show. I paid over $150 including parking for 3 adults and I feel that I definitely did not get my money's worth. This whole experience was frustrating and could have been perfect if the HP exhibition would have reduced the amount of people mulling through at the same time.

Family Pictures

Wonderful place to visit with a lot of great exhibits. We went later in the day at 3:30 on a Thursday and it was perfect! It was not crowded at all and we could take as much time as we wanted exploring. Highly recommend.

Leslye Hampton

So much fun! My daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed this interactive museum. We caught the MARVEL exhibit and could really appreciate the old costumes and sketch pages they collected. Learned lots about the history of comics that we hadn't considered. The brain, heart, air, electricity and sports rooms are unforgettable experiences.

Justin F.

There's truly something for everybody here and the experience is always fantastic. The exhibits are always well thought out--always neat to see what they have to offer. If it's still there by the time you read this try and do the Marvel exhibit-the history is incredible.

Paulette Paglia

Wonderful museum! Fantastic special exhibits. We saw the Terracotta Warrior Exhibit. Ancient Chinese bronze artifacts & warrior statues were gorgeous. The exhibit was excellent & well designed. There is also a beautiful planetarium - Fels Planetarium. As well as an IMax Theatre. The membership plans are a very good deal, especially for families. Museum employees are friendly & helpful. Negative: garage parking is expensive. Street parking on BF Parkway is much more affordable. After 6 or 7 pm it is free but must pay at kiosk for all morning & afternoon hours Sun-Sat. We arrived at 10 am on Sunday & parked 2 blocks from FI (less than 5 min walk) paid $6 for 4 hrs maximum time - other parking areas are 3 hr max (carefully read signs!). Street parking is paid Sun-Sat, except from Thanksgiving thru New Year's Day when Saturday street parking is free from 11 am onwards. Rest of the year best to arrive early. Museum opens daily at 9:30 am. Highly recommend!

Shay R.

I really enjoyed going to the Franklin Institute. It seems like a great place to learn for kids and adults as well!! The kids I saw running around seemed to really enjoy themselves. There was a lot of interactive activities to do at each of the rooms although it was busy so you may have to wait a little. I wish I got the chance to see the theater so I'll definitely be going back!

James Buckley

The family and I had a great time enjoying the Game Masters exhibit! at the Franklin Institute. We've visited before for the Pixar and Da Vinci exhibits in years passed but never really got to look at more of the building. This time we were able to check out several other exhibits and events and everyone had a blast. We're members now and look forward to visiting again. Some practical info. - Parking structure available but we found it a tight squeeze with our small SUV. The pillar marks attest to lots of scrapes so be careful or take your smaller car. - Food court was solid, very kid friendly - Some of the exhibits need repairs, I'm sure it's tough keeping up with the sheer volume. - Make sure you come EARLY if possible before the crowds arrive.

Johannys Jimenez

This Museum is an authentic Philadelphia gem! My family and I had an amazing time. The giant heart and the brain room are great learning space. Every room is enjoyable. The staff was very polite and attentive. The space was clean and neat. They follow Covid-19 precaution by rule. Give yourself a treat of good science and visit them!

Brian Moore

This was my first visit to the Franklin Institute and I left a bit disappointed. Many of the exhibits were broken or missing parts. Compared with other science museums around the country, the signage for and explanations of many of the exhibits felt subpar. My 8 year old daughter, however, still enjoyed herself and insisted that the museum was closer to 4 stars.

Ritesh Shah

Loved this place! So many interactive activities - great for kids and kids at heart alike. This has been on my Philadelphia bucket list for so long, glad I finally made it hereI went here during a community night and it was worth the trek during the middle of the week. The museum gives access to patrons after hours during the evening, allowing for lots of different groups to enjoy this Philadelphia institution. I was extra pleased that I found nearby parking (need to get there early evening to snag this accommodation, but luck does favor the prepared =P) There's a bunch of seasonal exhibitions available (such as the mirror maze), as well as staples (need to check out the big heart exhibition!) In addition, the museum is starting to do escape rooms - how fun! The flow of the museum is also well organized and I was able to go from one exhibition to the next seamlessly, it's nice not to have to find your way back after finishing one thing before starting the next item. Everything is really interactive and also educational - really can't beat that! Some things in the exhibitions were closed (like the planetarium) or broken which was a bummer. Really want to make it back here in hopes of gaining access to the things I missed. Go when you have some time, as it is a fairly large space with multiple floors. There's food available indoors, and be sure to bring your camera - great for picture taking (the pendulum staircase is awesome!) Happy exploring!

Veronica Hannah

We had a great time. The marvel exhibit has great. A little to old for my 1 and 2 year old but they did enjoy getting their pictures with the superheros. I was super pump to know that my Canadian membership to our local science Museum had reciprocal discounts. That was nice on the pocket book. The Museum its self was great . Full of learning.

Steven Vona

We take the kids here often. They always rotate interesting exhibits. After 30 years I still love walking through the giant heart. It's a great mix between the learning experience of a museum and the fun of a playground.

Christopher Alicea

Maybe it's just me, but the Marvel universe exhibit could of had a bit more for the price, maybe some people dressed as Marvel/DC characters for the hype..... I don't know.. I'm a big Marvel fan so perhaps my expectations where set too high. Overall very cool to see the costumes! WAKANDA FOR EVA!!! 😁 I AM IRON MAN!!! 😫 …

Christopher Abbott

Excellent museum. Very family friendly. Restrooms on both floors that are very clean. Exhibits are very informative. Most are hands on type exhibits that provide a very real experience. Hand sanitizer dispensers were at most of the doorways. Very highly recommend. Be prepared to learn many things. Enjoy the experience. We most certainly did.

Goonie Googoo

Cocktails for a business event in the space section very nice. Dinner in planetarium, food was very good, presentation was missing a camera. After the meal upstairs to the heart, earth, electricity and weather sections. Quite a few exhibits/activities were broken, unfortunate.

Nelson Matias

It was my first visit and I gotta say it was not to shabby 😀. It was enjoyable. Everything pretty much ran according to plan. I went for the Marvel exhibits and was not dissapointed. …

Bharathi Valentina

The museum was great leaving I would give a 5 star but this 3 star is because of the worthless Harry Potter museum. It was not organized well heavy waiting queues. Family with small kids suffered a lot with the exhausting wait.

Clark Ken

Is very expensive and not as exciting as I imagined. They only have one good place that doesn't have much variety and a lot of vending machines so it's hard to get something healthy for the kids.

Kindra Smith-Scott

Harry Potter exhibit was very cool.

Christina Ritz

A great family experience. We visited the Harry Potter exibit and loved it. Totally immersive. The restaurant had some awesome quick serve foods and the museum was fun.

Charlrs ChuckyD

Been there many times. They have a Harry Potter exhibit that cost me a member an additional $20 usd. Parking inside for another $20usd 5 usd discount if you are a member. IT IS a good place to bring children.

Will T. (Crane422)

At first I was disappointed in the condition of everything. All of the exhibits are well worn and quite a few were broken/out of order. My daughter (13) told me to be more positive. If things were worn out its because they are fun and everyone uses them. Kids are much smarter than we give them credit for. We were able to get free admission since we are members of our local science center. We spent 2 hrs inside. If you do movies, etc I would allow for at least 3

Keith Roussel

As a mechanical engineer I can appreciate the scientific knowledge being showcased here. There are many exhibits that are designed to engage with children in a hands-on manner. I can't help but think that Benjamin Franklin would be proud to have this institute named after him. This is definitely a place to take the family. It could provoke the though and interest of young minds curious about science.

Aladdin Riad

They make science accessible and fun. We initially were drawn to the Terracotta Army exhibit that is currently at the museum, but once we spent a day there we became members. Every month there is a new themed science after dark event which makes science relatable to everyday life.

Mohammed Alshamsi

The Franklin Institute, considered to be one of the most important scientific museums in Philadelphia, has several halls about man and machine, there are also cinema and dining halls, good for children to learn.

Lav Fish

I surprised my girlfriend with tickets for the Harry Potter exhibition and we really enjoyed it! So many great pictures too. 😌

Katherine Fogarty

So very much enjoy to browse in The Franklin Institute's exhibits. There are lot of fun activists such as illusion exhibits! Even there are lot of fun things in The Franklin Institute! I must recommend you to visit The Franklin Institute. So much rich experience and learn about brain is very interesting too. Why? The brain (exhibit) is so very interesting and more information even images or objects that show what brain does and other stuff!

Tanya Davis

Great family outing. My grandkids loved most of the exhibits, especially the Planetarium. We will definitely be coming back.

Jared Gonzales-Pryor

I have tons of memories from coming here as a kid, and now as an adult it was just as fun. Most of the exhibits work great, some work okay, and very very few aren't working, but that doesn't distract from the fun!

Rick S.

Went to see the Terra Cotta Warriors and absolutely loved it! Fantastic exhibit that gives you a glimpse into ancient China and one of their greatest emperors. Seeing the skill set that they had back 200+ B.C.E. is mind blowing to say the least.

Roberta L Card-Murdock

Our trip to visit FI for Chinese ceramic soldiers was awesome. Great institution featuring diverse cultural programs. The museum stop was the only one in the United States for this World Tour.

Shanirah Rogers

Photos are from the Vikings exhibit : Museum is okay to visit. I took my nephews here snd they enjoyed it. I would personally recommend clearing out your day to go here. The Museum has about three floors and the children get a liking towards one of the exhibits and never want to leave. Thats why i think its good to clear out your schedule becauee it might take more than a fee hours to get through the whole Museum. Do lunch. Etc.

Mauricio Pretto

Very nice interactive museum! Amazing for kids and adults ! So fun and easy to learn!

237

Kids love it. I loved it as a kid. They still have the great stuff from the 80's and have not only improved on that, but introduced new and great ideas for everyone.

Dleko Urial

An amazing museum not only for children but for adults. I was able to walk through a giant human heart, see turblent flow around wings, touch a iron core meteorite, and play with electrical currents. It was by far one of my favorite days in a very long time. The only bad point is the issue of parking. You may have to walk at least 20 minutes from parking lot to museum.

Jason Fore

Great Museum, the best I have ever been to. Tons of exhibits to see. Give yourself plenty of time to see all the exhibits. The cafe / lunch room has great options to choose from for the whole family.

Lisa Kelly

Fun for the whole family. Limited garage parking on site $9 an hour. Went to see a special exhibit (extra cost), Qing Dynasty, which also featured a fun interactive and informative app. A lot of hands on activity, my kids made paper and we're able to bring their sample home with them. Some of the exhibits are a little worn, but most are functional and offer a fun opportunity to learn. Cafe on site had ample seating and good variety of things to eat, not too expensive.

Diana Cossio

I liked the Benjamin institute. It has several areas full of interactive learning stations. There is interacticity at different levels. The planetarium is great as well. There are only 3 different shows of 25min each that seems like Alan Musk Next infomercials or recruiting propaganda, nevertheless, I like the propaganda, selling the astronaut dream of setting foot in Mars is a good idea for young people. Perhaps, you can do it all in a day, tweens might be easily bored, however, there is big enough space to act a bit silly and be lough having fun by doing trivias or competitions. We got lucky with parking, as we notice a out of service parkmeter with a limit of 3hrs over the N 21 st in the intersection of Winter St and N 21st. There is a minor show projection at the 5pm to draw the crowds to the big entrance and exit, where there is the main and tall Benjamin Franklin Institute. PS. Please do not confuse The Franklin Institute with the Benjamin Franklin Museum.

Emily Burds

Such a cool venue! Enjoyed a magnificent reception in the great hall which was beautifully done and even all of us adults had too much fun in their current brain exhibit which is fantastically interactive. Great for adults and kids alike and steeped and surrounded by history.

Mark Nichols

It was my first time to a night time event at the Franklin Institute and my first time at the Night Skies event. I had a great time. I saw Saturn and Jupiter through the telescopes. I am giving 4 stars because I would give the Franklin Institute a 4 and the Night skies event a 3. It was only $10 (5 for members) and I was very excited about the cash bar. It was the saddest thing ever. The bar was a bunch of liquor bottles on a tableclothed card table in a brightly lit room that reminded me of a Econolodge continental breakfast. I was hoping it was on the roof with the stars. It was so tacky I didn't even get a drink. It was a waste of money and I didnt want to give the impression that I approved. The 2 planetarium shows I saw were amazing. I will probably go again.

Crystal Melon

Overall very good experience. My daughter loved it! Imax theater wonderful, and dog movie brought a tear to my eye. Definitely need to check out the Marvel area if you go, it's incredible!!! 😁😎👌 You can even buy astronaut food in the gift shop. Check it out! …

Fred Davis

Great place for student trips & lots to do with hands on experiences, as well as changing exhibits. The current Marvel exhibit is a must see for anyone interested in the marvel universe as there are props & costumes from the movies, but it is only running until September.

Mira Lee

Our family had such a good time. Take public transportation. My kids loved buses. Takes short, no worrying about parking and you get to see the heart of city while you are getting there. You need 2-3 days to enjoy and see everything. BUY TICKETS before you visit and avoid lines. Unfortunately, we had to spent over an hour in the line because their system was down the day before.

Marissa McKenna

We took the kids to see the Jurassic park exhibit, which was fun. We were disappointed though in how early the Institute closes. We were only able to see one other exhibit, so we'll visit again soon.

Manny Pesto

Great place to visit. I wish more of these museums were more affordable so I could go to more of them

Margaret Rickards

Terracotta Warriors. of the First Emperor exhibit at Franklin institute. $$ Spectacular exhibit presentation as always is amazing by the institute. Ends on March 4th so go soon. Be sure to get the self guided recorded walking tour. There is an AR app for your phone that displays a 3d image that you can turn 360 and shows the weapons and will show you text of that character. The photos you see here with yellow dots are these AR images right next to the real sculpture. Each soldier has a different face. There were 8000 of these found in the tomb.

the Fire Lotus

On a whim, walking downtown with my son, we decided to go to the MARVEL Superhero Exhibit. We loved it. It was such a great time bonding and having mother/son time with a teenager where you seem like the cool person for a change.. lol 😁 Lots of pictures opportunities with hero props but I do which they had a bit more to see and plenty more interactive components. There were NO XMEN present at all!!! I wish there had been Magneto's helmet or professor X wheelchair to sit in or wolverine's claws. The exhibition is about 45-50 minutes long spanning two long floors that ends with a gift shop that should be called a Con Shop...$26.99 for some socks!!!🤯 ONE PAIR Overall I would go but just take pictures and have them be your souvenirs. The only reason it had this many stars is because it gave me a chance to make a priceless family memory that we both needed at the time.

Mel

Huge museum with great exibits, many of them hands on for kids but the most unbelievable marvel exhibit ever, original costumes, comics and props.

Lorrie Danner Gartner

This place is awesome. Love going here and seeing what's new and exciting. Also, love the stuff that's been here for years. The staff is friendly and helpful. Here are just a few pictures from my visit on 8/15/18. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

David Terifay

I haven't visited onna couple decades and it was great to visit with my daughter, but with some displays not functioning, and the attitude given by the gentleman towards my daughter (maybe I'm just not used to the snappy Yankee attitude, but my family and I get treated better at grocery stores amd no one seemed really helpful) I can't give it five stars, but it was a good time with family

Kai

The marvel exhibition was really dope. Seeing all the costumes and props from the movies and original story boards was really cool. I recommend checking out this exhibit

Brittany Wingate

Lots of fun and a very interactive educational experience. It's a sizable place, but not too large that it's overwhelming. You can most certainly get through all the exhibits in a few hours.

Felicia Monteiro (mommoshome)

Went for the Harry Potter Exhibition. We had a good time.

LeDonna Geohagen-Allen

I went there on 1/11 for a Camp-in and we had a blast!!! My daughter had so much fun learning and exploring! There was plenty to see...we also had an opportunity to explore the "worse case scenario" and it was so much fun!

David Sax

I have been going here since I was a kid, and I ALWAYS have fun! There is something for all ages. It is hands on science-themed fun, but not the boring kind. More like, the "Hey, let me see if you can left me using these pullies!" kind of fun! They have IMAX movies, a planetarium, special (extra cost) exhibits, and a building full of great stuff. Make sure you get to the observatory on the 4th floor. During the day they have special filters so you can look at the sun!

Renee Thompson

I am sad we didn't schedule more time here, as we only came for the Marvel exhibit. It seemed to have a little something for everyone and the regular exhibit seemed very hands on. The Marvel exhibit was amazing! So gald we came!

Pat Errico

The giant walk through heart lives! When I was a kid in 4th or 5th grade I walked through the heart, I have brought my elementary school students to walk it and have now returned with my 13 year old daughter to the do the same! In addition to many timeless features like the train room, items from the Wright Brothers collection and the planetarium the museum has modern exhibits as well. The newly installed Game Masters exhibit is a perfect example. Covering arcade and home video games from the 1970's through today it showcases actual arcade cabinets, designs sketches, storyboard art, programmer's notes and more. All of the games on display are playable as these aren't museum pieces, they are meant to be played! It's a great museum with many hands on activities that engage and get you involved while learning a thing or two.

Chor Wah Lee

Best science museum so far. Better than one in Raleigh, Atlanta even Singapore. Many interactive exhibits. High quality too. Must go if you have children.

Kristi Pearce

Such an impressive place every time we come here. If you haven't been here with your kids, you are missing out! And the new Crayola exhibit was fun. My son is 11 and loved it.

Agnes Edwards

A wonderful day spent with an elementary school class. Lots of interesting things to keep them occupied.

Anne Vilello

Harry Potter exhibit was awesome 👍🏻

B.

Beautiful museum with lots of things for kids to do. They planetarium and giant heart is definitely worth visiting.

John Xie

I only visited the terracotta warriors and the gift shop. However from these 2 places I can see that the institute is very well managed as well the artifacts are kept in prestige condition. The gift shop is way overpriced but that is like all gift shops.

Lori Haggerty

Would’ve been 5 stars if the day hadn’t cost $73 for 2 people-Terra Cotta exhibit and movie. Amazing exhibits and lots of interactive for kids. Really enjoyed, and look forward to returning.

Leena Natrajan

No words needed. A wonderful place for children to visit. It inculcates a liking for science. The machinery exhibit and pendulum best part of visit.

Zhi Li

Very nice institution with many interesting things, the brain exhibition, giant heart, and the trains just to name a few. The layout was extremely confusing, it's not intuitive at all. Things seem to split off. The Terra Cotta exhibition was extremely interesting, it was a rare chance to get to see them. Must say I was super disappointed to hear that someone was able to get into the exhibition and breaking a thumb off. This is complete unacceptable in a museum. Even after they increased security it still seem lacking overall.

Jasmine Hale

There was so much to see and do! It is an interactive museum. Their use of technology to bring the exhibits to life is masterful. We spent 4 hours running around and didn't get to see it all. Definitely going to have to plan another trip!

Daria Morgendorffer

We paid a lot of money and half of the exhibits are broken. I really liked coming here as a kid but it was pretty disappointing.

tom siko

I love this place. You can easily spend all day here. It's fun for all ages. I got the membership because it's so much cheaper. You can honestly spend from open to close here. It is mostly hands on and the kids loved it. Super amazing friendly staff who are eager to teach anybody that wants to learn. The one bad thing is that out of the whole institute there were maybe 10 displays that were broken. They weren't tagged that they were, just normal wear and tear. In previous years we saw the Lego exhibit and this year we saw the viking one. Breathtaking. The IMAX theater is sooo amazing. I learned so much about Vikings. Without a doubt go here. You will not be disappointed.

Clarence Searles

I've been coming here since I was a kid myself and it still provides lots of entertainment and education! This trip was with my cousin's children for the Marvel exhibit which was absolutely amazing! Fantastic displays with comic covers, videos, and costumes from many of the MCU characters! And if course there's the classic exhibits , the human heart, train factory, planes and sciences! Definitely a worthwhile spot to visit for the whole family!

Dan O'Rourke

The whole family loved this place! From art to science everyone can find something to love here. There are a multitude of interactive exhibits and activities. Unlike many other kid friendly interactive exhibits, almost everything was WOrKING!😀 From Harry Potter to the Giant Heart, from the baseball pitch analyzer to music, everyone can find a collection of favorites to stimulate your brain. You can easily spend the whole day and still not see. YES it is worth the trip.

Helen Kim

Marvel super hero exhibit till September 2, 2019, recommend to all ages, you could spend all day.

Kevin Wallace

I have loved this place since I was a child, I'm nearly 60 years young and the place still fascinates and holds worlds of wonder. Under the aegis of ... "you're never too old to learn" I took "Intro to 3D printing" it was really interesting and truly fired my imagination. Generally speaking FI has kept the exhibits fresh and relevant, and like science itself, keeps moving forward. Go, enjoy, you will not be disappointed.

kyle buck

This is a fantastic place to spend a day! There are a lot of cool exhibits that are hands on for those young at heart, and a decent number of historical artifacts to give you a deeper dive into the topics. Their IMAX theater is reasonably priced, but the seats don't recline at all so I would recommend get a seat pretty high up. It is also conveniently located within walking distance of downtown in a beautiful building!

Sara Jane Samson

I think I loved it more than the kids!!

Sue R

Perfect place for kids! My son loves here, especially their real airplane and trains. Big beautiful fountain in front of the Institute is a bonus in summer time.

A D

Great place. Must visit.

Yung Rich

I loved it because I love harry Potter and I went to the Harry Potter event and I got a huffelpuf water bottle for only 20 bucks I do recommend getting the tickets in advance I got mine in November and went in February If I got them any later I would have been not able to even step foot in to the place.

David Valentine

Did the science after hours summer ball event which was fun. Since it was the end of pride month there was a huge representation of LGBTQ+ which was great to see people able to express themselves in a positive way. The food was limited but good the drinks were decently priced compared to other events and plenty of stations to buy them so no lines. Seeing the city from the rooftop was an awesome view of the skyline. Events inside were entertaining and varied seeing all the exhibits while tipsy definitely made it more enjoyable

Christie Toth

We went for the Marvel exhibit. It was reealllyyy good. Well worth the trip. The rest of the Franklin Institute was very interesting as well.

Shae Daniels

Terracotta Warriors exhibit was very interesting. Imax theater was a bit much but captured the overall theme if you missed anything on the floor.

Yamilet Encarnacion

It was my first time in this museum and it was amazing, enjoy it a lot. I went to the Harry Potter exhibition and I loved it and even more that it was interactive.I loved!!!!

vikrant bansal

Lot of activities for kids. There are shows, IMAX, planetarium, special exhibit. They also have small canteen. They also allow home food. One side note : They don't allow food in IMAX , Planetarium and special exhibit. Though they allow Popcon n soda in IMAX. It has something for all ages. Parking in complex is 20$ and generally full. There are other parking outside complex and is costly 32$ for full day.

Nadia Worthington

Theres so much to do but it's also one of the biggest tourist attractions so it's usually pretty crowded and alot of the interactive stuff doesnt work for long. Either way it's always a good time with lots of opportunities to learn something new.

Doug Ruby

Fun time for the kids and a lot to do/see. Would be 5 stars but a lot of the interactive pieces in various exhibits did not even work.

Jay

Great experience both times we have come. Once for the Marvel exhibit, another for the Harry Potter exhibit. Very impressed by the set up and ease of entry. Well done!

Robert Burns

This is just an amazing science museum. Lots of interactive exhibits for both adults and kids. IMAX was very good. Would definitely come back here

Ling Huang

There are a lot of interactive exhibits here. It's worth spending a whole day here with kids. Food is expensive and lacking healthy options. The science Museum is a grandiose historical building with artifacts from Franklin's time.

Catherine McLeod

The Franklin Institute is a great museum for both young and old. There are many interactive, educational displays. They have many events for all ages as well making this a place for return trips.

Arthur Hugand

Family friendly place with a wide array of museums and halls, A little on the pricey side if you're on a budget but the Marvel heroes exhibition is very nice !

hannah rogers

fun science museum for kids and adults! so many different parts to look at (even without paying extra for the exhibits that aren’t included) we stayed for hours and didn’t see everything

Robin Rusnak

The Marvel exhibit was awesome!! I brought my son for his 26th birthday and he loved it, as did my 28 year old.

Donald Nehez

Came for the Harry Potter Experience, stayed for the rest of the exhibits. Our kids loved the hands on nature of the museum. Great exhibits. The Heart gets all of the press, but we were fans of the electricity exhibit.

Will Rishel

This is an incredible historical landmark. The architecture is one of a kind! The museum is great. It is large with a lot of exhibits, you can tell there was a lot of money put into this. Sadly, I cannot say about the Imax theatre as I did not get to go.

Ajibola Rivers

The Franklin Institute always has very interesting exhibits. This has been the case since the very first time I went there as a 4th grader years ago. Some things have remained the very same, like the sky bike and the incredible statue of Ben Franklin that you can't miss. The IMAX theater is always a unique attraction and there are some very unique items in the gift shop these days. Other things, like the amenities and the exhibits themselves, are always fresh, and you'll never find yourself seeing the same exhibit twice, unless you go back before it leaves town. It always amazes me how they are able to transform that space. Most recently we went to see the Game Masters exhibit, and somehow despite walking through the same rooms and corridors, it looked day and night different from the Terracotta Warriors exhibit last year. If you haven't been, check it out. And if you're looking to go to a particular exhibit, they have information about that posted online. We had a great time!

Paury Flowers

GameMasters exhibit was perfect for my 9 year old and the rest of FI was great for my 2 year old. We were there for 2.5 hours and barely made it to most of the museum. This is really easy a 4-5 hour trip with a few snacks and breaks.

Jason U.

This is a good place to take kids. I would say it's really a children's museum. It has lots of interactive activities including demonstrations and hands-on learning exhibits. Still fun for adults too.

Amber Rakofski

Fun family experience. Great place for kids. Even cute for adults

Saurabh Jain

Super place for both kids and families. Took my 7 years old son here for New Year’s Eve and he had a blast here. They have so many things to be learned. Don’t miss the stars and the comet shows.

Anthony Michael Santangelo

The Franklin Institute was awesome in fact I've been here before this isn't my first visit I was here for the Star trek the exhibition back in 2009 when the reboot movie series came out also when the star trek exhibit returned in May 2016 for the 50th year anniversary (I wasn't able to make it that year I heard about it though) The exhibits were excellent there's no favorite really I loved them all I was there yesterday for the Harry Potter exhibition and that was absolutely spectacular it felt like being featured in the actual film it didn't disappoint either wow I mean just wow Love it all sometimes you don't have time to see everything in a whole day just like Washington DC due to the fact the Franklin Institute is that big I'd you want to see everything in a whole day you might need to plan that way ahead of time still these exhibit places didn't disappoint not at all I usually do this because I just don't come for the Harry Potter exhibit that to me personally sounds like a waste of a whole day just for the one exhibit so I do a lot more to do a lot of them I'll get back one day because this place is great

Rodolfo Nunez

Amazing science museum for the kids. The exhibits are in good shape and they are interactive. The kids saw a museum staff talking about fireworks and LOVED IT

Sara C.

Great fun for the entire family. We visited during the video game exhibit and had a wonderful time.

Estrella Olvidada

Very interactive. You go from the human body to technology. You should take your time going through everything there. Definitely family friendly. They have an in house eating area. Handicap Accessible. Parking $. Bathrooms on every floor. Pick up a map so you don't miss anything. Some of the activities did not function or needed some def. upkeep. That is why I gave less than a star. It wouldn't deter me from going back as it was about 1-2 in each theme.

Julia Glace

This made for a fun day in Philly! Lots to do, especially for younger kids, but even as college-aged students my friends and I had a great time. Only negative was that scattered items throughout the facility do not work, so you can’t demonstrate or observe their scientific purpose. We didn’t eat at the facility but there appeared to be several options for quick meals and snacks. Overall, great experience.

Kaycie

Very cool hands on museum. Spent 3+ hrs and didn't do it all. Staff we encountered in exhibits were friendly. Parking way overpriced but seems the norm in Philly. Was really bummed Marvel exhibit was not included. Didn't encounter anything that didn't work which is not the norm for these types of museums.

TJP443

A very cool place with an exhibit for everyone. My personal favorite was the space and planes. It was a little pricey, but worth it. Good luck finding parking. Live long and prosper.

Rachel McGarvey

I'm a huge fan of Harry Potter (both books and movies) and the exhibit exceeded my expectations - it was much bigger than I expected. I was there over two hours, but I did take time to read most of the informational plaques. There were rooms showing props for each Hogwarts House, the classes (Potions, Divination, etc), and other aspects of the wizarding world such as the Ministry of Magic and Fantastic Beasts stories. Only drawback is that it gets a bit crowded in some of the exhibit rooms when a lot of people are there and therefore is a little hard to move around. I was there on a weekday around 12pm.

Kevin Thompson

I took my son to the Franklin Institute for the video game exhibit. I have to say it was great There were tons of video games to try out and play. There were videos to watch by the creators of some of those games. I had fun and my son definitely enjoyed himself. I definitely recommend going to the exhibit before it is done on 9/3. There are also some great exhibits for people who are not video game enthusiasts.

Andrew Sabados

This is just a great place to take a child of any age, including me at 50. They can touch, push buttons and experience great science experiments. Sit in a real military jet, walk thru a beating heart, race the philly fanatic and climb aboard a historic locomotive (and blow the horn)... its 191 years old.. I think they have figured fun out.

Allison Moore

Fun time exploring the nervous system, giant heart and aviation areas! Frog Commissary makes the food for the cafeteria, and my chicken Caesar salad hit the spot. Loved the Panda movie at the IMAX. The membership really is worth it!

Jessica-Claire Jones

Great exhibits for elementary age children. The brain and heart exhibits were engaging and memorable. The Sports zone kept my 5 year old boy entertained for an hour.

julissa acevedo

1st time here with my 8 year old. He LUV'D the heart, brain & Harry Potter exhibits!!! Parking was easy & convenient. Bought tix online. The online tix kiosk check-in was longer than in-person on site tix purchase. Bathrooms were available everywhere and no lines! Cafe had great food options for kids & grown-ups! Overall AWESOME!!!

Ariana Bawerman

We visited the museum to see the terracotta warrior exhibit. I was impressed with the detail of there figures and the number that were built. After that exhibit we went to the heart exhibit and did the walk through the huge heart. It was very interesting and I would recommend a visit.

Stephanie Dunak

We went to the institute for the Harry Potter exhibit we enjoyed it very much!! We planned on going through the rest of the institute but went to lunch and headed home. We plan on heading back and getting the rest of the experience there!

Martina Evette Bennett

The Marvel exhibit was beautiful exciting and very informative it was so nice my kids loved it of course the Franklin Institute have room to get around play and be excited and be informed

Omega OMC

Best place to visit to bring kids for an educational tour and to hangout with family. The services are great.

Christine

I went there with my family because we were all very excited for the harry potter exhibit. So many others were there for the same thing. It was a very cool experience but they were allowing to many people into the exhibit at the same time that we missed certain parts . It was too over crowded barely even had space to walk though at some parts . In general my family always love going in general.

J.R. Elliott

Great place! The kids loved the sports zone and the gear zone and the Legos. And all of us loved the Marvel exhibit!

Paul Butler

A lot of exhibits really geared towards school aged kids. It's frequently crowded. Consider visiting a time where there are less school trips. Some of the exhibits need to be refurbished and really show wear and tear or outright do not work. Check their calendar for special events. There are occassionally events held at night for adults. My faviorite parts are the observatory up on the 4th floor and the planetarium which also hosts it's own events.

Ryan Kaprowski

This place was very informative, interactive, and fun for all ages. From connecting neurons in the brain to being able to walk through all the chambers of the heart, this was definitely worth the trip.

Jay Sergo

Always great. Marvel exhibit was very cool. Great place for little kids.

stkop

Great exhibits for kids of all ages. It is fun and educational. A great place to visit.

Ronnie Hang

Nice little museum. The planetarium was lacking but it has lots of small sub stations to explore and was quite enjoyable place to get out of the heat and enjoy firing up the rarely used brain cells.

Brian Adams

Always great going to the Franklin Institute. Plenty of things to do for kids of all ages. Went recently for the Jurrassic World exhibit.

Richard Zych

Always a treat. Today, Monday the Vikings exhibit was not overwhelmed and very enjoyable. All aspects of exhibit were accessible and appeared to be functioning. One or two pulses of very loud students but they blew through so quickly, aside from the noise not really a distraction. Took our time and saw everything, read all the descriptions and interacted with every exhibit that had the capability. Very enjoyable day.

Prashant Kumar Singh

Amazing place! Enjoyed my time there and would visit again. Loved the sports section where you have a lot of interesting stuff to try like sprinting against famous athletes, learning how to pitch etc. Loved the Apollo 11 documentary at the Imax theatre as well. Overall a worthwhile visit.

Walta Ownzu

Came here for the night observatory. Staff is great and funny. They seemed very enthusiastic and knowledgeable.Planetarium was lots of fun to watch. Also was great fun looking at the stars through their telescopes!

C F

Awesome exhibits Went with a school trip... kids had a blast but I would rather go when it was less crowded so that we can get to enjoy the attractions!

Tommy Boy

Great place for kids. So much fun and lots of hand on things to do to expand your minds

Whiskey WheelKicks

Had tons of fun, very interactive and staff is also very informative and very enthusiastic about their job. Overall a great experience

Maria G

Really a lot of fun for the whole family young and old. Even when I think it's going to be crowded it never turns out to be too bad. The special exhibits are worth it and we always look forward to what they will do next.

Ricki Manwaring

Lovely building with wifi. The museum has a planetarium that has shows thay run about 15 minutes they unfortunately do not match the quality of that Smithsonians planetarium but still enjoyable. This place is very much geared towards a younger audience, I would say anyone over the age of 12 would struggle.

Celia S

Always love coming to the Franklin Institute! A great place for kids and adults alike. The Terracotta Warrior exhibit was great, although it was very crowded and difficult to make it through. I'd suggest coming on a weekday if you can to avoid some of the chaos.

patrick G

If you have kids a must it all hands on stuff kids will enjoy did the extra fee to see harry potter expo

Karla Francis

The Franklin institute is the best place to go if you need a little science in your life. They have everything from outer space down to Atoms. It is a really cool place to be. And it gets the collage crowd. They also have a gift shop in almost all of there exhibits.

Andrew Simpson

Went to Madam Tussands wax exhibit and the figures were life like. It was alot of fun and so realistic with a space to chat outside at the end, i would definitely do that again.

Hobbs Family

We just got a family membership and our 3 year old daughter is in love! Even more fun when you can come with friends. So many things to touch, do, and explore. I do wish the parking was free, however, as the description was a little misleading on the website. Otherwise a great visit!!

Joe lewis

I love the Franklin Institute because I was in a fake heart and we looked at real brains and we looked at the avengers movie and we look at who made the avengers and it was cool and fun trip to the Franklin Institute

Kimberly Vaughn Stout

Attended the science after hours exhibit. It was very entertaining and educational. Really enjoyed the event.

Pamela Von Tress

We went to the Harry Potter exhibit and it was wonderful. The exhibit us well planned out and takes you through the full journey. My family loved it. It was booked up for weeks but well worth the wait.

Tiffany Balay

Visited as to reminisce since the last visit I was barely 8-9 years old. Still a great museum - kids absolutely love it - very hands on!

D Rollins

Parking is in the rear of e building it's $20 for the whole day. Park your car there, go through the museum and then walk the neighborhood. Check out the fountains on a hot day or the Rocky statue.

Ó R

This institute is great for kids (and adults alike) who are curious in the sciences. Make sure to check out the interactive pieces involving movement, your senses, brain activity and language. There are activities for everyone but be mindful on use as there are other people waiting to have fun learning about science! Although this area of the institute is Free the IMAX movies are not. So keep that in mind. So if you are headed to Independence Hall drop by to the Franklin Institute first to take advantage of the fun activities waiting to be explored inside and make it an exceptional learning experience overall.

Liz Clark

There's sho much for a young mind too learn here. They are forever changing the exhibits 3 times are not enough times to come; it is worth the investment for an annual family membership😍😎 …

David Elker

Been here multiple times since late 1980s. This past visit was for Harry Potter exhibit. My wife, teen child and myself had a great time in the exhibit and museum. The live science show was fun and entertaining thanks to Dante's knowledge and personality.

Amanda Thomas

We love it here. This time we went for the Harry Potter exhibit.

Teresa Rathell

Interactive, great for kids, and have very good special exhibits ,such as the Terra Cotta Soldiers and Vikings

Jessica Caraballo

The Harry Potter Exhibition was absolutely wonderful! I'm glad we waited a few weeks after opening because it was still crowded. But everyone was really good about keeping pace and moving things along. I would definitely do this again!

poo

This is a terrific science museum for everyone. There are a lot of rooms you can visit in this museum. My family loved the jelly-fish room. There's even a escape room. My family spent 5 hours there, it was a nice and fun experience. This is not a waste of money at all. Very clean, I recommend going to this science museum, if you're bored.

Naren Majeti

Went here a couple of years ago for a orientation event for my University and I have to say, all of the exhibits were pretty fun and everyone I was with also had a great time. There's just so much to see that you could easily spend a whole day there.

天

It’s a museum of much more science rather than history, some play room for children, some physical knowledge about light, power etc... if you have a child less than 14, I will recommend this place, or it will be just a waste of time. BTW, there is a 4D cinema inside.

Steve C

Ben (sorry) going for decades. Hasnt grown for the better. Some interactive exhibits can be high concept and not intuitive for the point of the interaction.Younger kids dont get it and can be tough to explain. Especially when crowded. They should consider dividing exhibits into age-appropriate sections. Gift shop is a toy store; no souveniers of featured exhibits?! My nieces did have fun on a recent trip.

Bovi Kurian

Awesome place for kids, best in the Philly area. Exhibits are current and have lots of detail. Enough content to spend all day at the museum, recommend getting the membership as it will pay itself over a couple of visits.

Katie Burrows-Stone

A fun day outing for all ages! I brought my mom (a career pediatric neuro-psychologist) and she said the brain exhibit was one of the best she's ever seen. We also saw the Secret Oceans movie in the Franklin theater, which was really cool.

Lily River

Did the planetareia (however it's spelled) whining kid in there but overall the seats were comfy and I enjoyed it.

steve peterson

Their special exhibits have become an annual family thing. My kids remember them all. This Harry Potter exhibit was among our favorites. Excellent interactive exhibits and exciting props made a great day.

Bryan Sharp

Awesome place with so much cool stuff for the kids to do! The Marvel exhibit was amazing the kiddos loved seeing all the movie props. This is a must do anytime you are in the Philadelphia area!

Robert Eberhart

Great place for the whole family. You can experience the entire place in one long day. So much to see and enjoy. The food options are not great, but you are not there to eat a gourmet meal. So many hands on exhibits, the kids will want to return to some of them over and over. If in Philadelphia for a few days, make a point of adding The Franklin Institute to your must see places.

Ginny Robison

Great place for kids to play. I personally think its more suitable for older kids. For younger kids, it's harder to understand what some of the activities mean and may lose their interest. Took 2 year old toddler.

Maria McWilliams

The Harry Potter exhibition was too crowded to be enjoyed. After waiting in line, we had to wait in line again. We purchased time tickets in advance which seemed to only guarantee a place in lines. The interactive stations were too crowded to get near. Just because you can cram a bunch of people in the exhibition doesn't mean you should. The gift shop was nice. The prices in the eatery were reasonable. We didn't have time for the other exhibitions which I'm sure are well done.

Jenny Benny

Went to the Marvel Experience. It officially ended 2 days ago. It was wonderful!

Alexander Bowen

The Franklin Institute will always hold a special place in the hearts of those that grew up in the Philadelphia Region; And that is why it saddens me to say that it simply isn't what it used to be. My recent visit to the "Jurassic World" exhibit left me deeply disappointed, as the exhibit was more of a theme park attraction than a scientific exhibit. While the exhibit itself was well put together, there was little to no Real information available to visitors on what dinosaurs may have actually been like, nor was there any information on the construction or use of animatronics. It was simply a display of movie-esque dinosaur props. After touring that exhibit I made my way through some of my childhood favorites, like the Electric room, and the Giant Heart; only to discover that the majority of displays were in a saddening state of disrepair, and some even entirely non-functional, or gross and sticky to the touch. I have not given up hope for the FI yet, but it is in serious need of rejuvenation, and renewed focus on learning.

Gideon Morgan

Had a lot of fun at the Franklin Institute today! It’s great for kids (and grownups!) of all ages. Everything is interactive so even if your kid can’t read yet they’ll still have fun and learn something in the process. The one downfall is that a lot of school groups visit so it often gets very loud and crowded

Jason Ashby

The museum was nice from what I was able to see of it. I would advise planning to be there at least four or five hours of time.

Corey Murphy

Fantastic science museum. We've gone to several around the country and this one tops them all. The exhibits are well designed and encourage learning through play. It's got something for a group spanning ages 4 through retirement. I can't recommend it enough.

Ian Katzman

What a fabulous place! Had a wedding I the planetarium that was spectacular!

Scott Randolph

As ASTC members, we enjoy going to different cities and always check out their science centers. This one was amazing!! So many interactive exhibits!!!

Douglas Mackay

Lots to see and learn. Fun, well presented, and worthwhile. One of America's premier museums. Harry Potter Experience superb.

Mystikal Ninja

We went yesterday 5/13. Loved Harry Potter!!! We got tickets for the building. I want to come back. I haven't been here since middle school early 90s. 💜 great experience! …

Michael Curran

First the Franklin Institute is an awesome place. My wife and I were here for the Harry Potter exhibit. My wife read all the books and saw all the movies. She is a huge fan and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you or your children or grandchildren are fans you will have a good time. A lot of children there. Me? Not a Potter fan!

Jason Corelli

Great exhibits for most ages. Traveling Marvel exhibit was really cool!

Seto Kaiba

The membership is worth the cost. This is a great museum! Game Masters is going on as well.

Lissette Lau

As an adult who loves science, this place was amazing! There's so much to do here. There's a lot of activities that will keep children and adults busy for hours. A must do in Philly!

Alan Jean

My fiancée and I went to the Marvel exhibit here and enjoyed ourselves so much. Great place and they have their own parking lot which helps

Saskia Fradasi Novanyon

Bubble Pop activities were a blast. We always love coming here.

Recca B

The Jurassic World Exhibition is spectacular! Definitely a kid and adult friendly museum.

Katie Burns

great for people young and old. I have not been disappointed yet by their exhibits. Jurassic World was great!

Marysa Nieves (Echa)

Tickets can be pricey the larger your group is, but it's fun and worth it. Conveniently located in a nice area of downtown Philadelphia, I recommend taking Septa. My 6 yr old loved playing in the brain exhibit as well as the heart, and the steam engine in the basement. Great place for active children, with lots to do and keep them entertained. Be sure to check out an interactive science demonstration in the lobby. You can ask the info desk for showtimes. We came for the video game exhibit, which was fun but not mind-blowing. We had a ball.

Rebecca K. Shipman

The regular exhibits are all classics - fun and educational for all ages. The traveling exhibits are amazing (I've seen Star Wars, Narnia, and Jurassic World - all were fantastic!).

Alysha Ortiz

Amazing and fun staff ! everyone was so sweet from the start to end !

Hadley Winthrop

Great place but they severely missed the mark in 2 areas. 1) Child Safety: There are sharp corners next to the touch screen displays right at head height of 1-2year olds. 2) Planetarium is just on a different level compared to the rest - not for kids or the rest of the audience that comes in. Went in there as a family of 6 kids and 4 adults; 3mins in we all fell asleep. You've got to know your audience.

Laure AUBLET

We have been to the Harry Potter exibit. It was very interactive so very nice fir the family. The Franklin Institute is very interesting too. We have already been there with my 2 boys 7 and 9 years old and they loved it as myself.

Oscar Eppley

Went for the Marcel exhibit and it was one of the best exhibits I’ve seen. 100% checking out the other ones

Mike Long

Honest review: This place is good for kids 5-12 years old.

Lori Samson

Great time at educator's night out. Even got to see Saturn. Family friendly educational fun.

Gabrielle Gouveia

I was kind of disappointed about the observatory being closed and the planetarium having very limited shows. I feel that for the money you pay for, you should get access to those simple things. Overall good experience. There are many kids and a lot of people (even when you book a specific time to go).

Miriam Ruminez

It's a very fun experience! My kids had a lot of fun here. We went to a live science show and it was very cool. The Fels Planetarium show was a very cool experience to be in. I would definitely recommend coming here. I will come visit this museum son. I also think having a Titanic exhibit would be cool since my soon is intrested in the Titanic. We didn't get to see all the exhibits the day we went to the museum, but it didn't matter. I also liked the Amazing Machine exhibit. It was very cool. Well I will eventually come back to the museum, I am thinking of going to the Ship Museum that is 11 minutes away from the musuem. Overall it was a very fun experience.

kristopher drechsel

1st time visiting. The staff was very helpful and the exhibits were interesting and educatriobal

Jean Paula Cruz

If you are visiting Philadelphia, please do not miss the opportunity to visit the Franklin Institute! A family member suggested that we visit and we thought why not since we were already in Philadelphia... we are so glad that we did. This is the most interactive science museum that we have ever been to and it was proven by the fact that we stayed there for quite a long time. We also recommend spending the few extra bucks for their game masters exhibition!

mark doman

I have been going there since I was in grade school. And it's still just as awesome. I'm old. Lol

Sai Tarun Meka

Loved the marvel exhibit. The planetarium was a great experience, it was 30 minute show. The tuttleman imax theater was breathtaking. Went for the 'Pandas' documentary. It was a 40 minute show. The observatory was closed due to rain. Would love to visit again.

Phillyphil215

If you are a Harry Potter fan, do not forget to dress up when you visit! You register at a booth and they snap a photo that will show up on each intuitive screen you swipe your great wristband on. You likewise acquire focus for your home! You can snap a photo by the picture of The Fat Lady, the entry to the Chamber of Secrets, or Umbridge's desk. I suggest going there. The restaurant was astounding modest and had great food—the specialists were very overall quite accommodating. Tip, when I arrived close to there, was full so attempt to find elsewhere to stop. Likewise, you'll need to walk a few blocks to the Franklin Institute.

Frederick Akinkunmi

Great! Really ideal for the family, so much to see. The kids love it.

davin pagan

Went to the Roaring 20s Science After Hours Event. It was a great time. Staff was great, place was very clean, learned a lot of new stuff, saw very cool and interesting displays, and would definitely recommend going.

Russ Hickman

This is not just a cool museum, it's also a wedding venue! I just photographed a couple who got married in the planarium under the stars and it was breathtaking!

Wes Lee

Great props exhibit, gives you some cool fun facts about the filming process and bringing the story together. However, major error at the end of the exhibit with the wands placement, Elder vs Harry's wand representing the final duel. Tsk tsk. Unless they fix it after seeing this review, a true Potter fan will know it when they see it. 4 stars only because of such a critical error, otherwise a 5 star review! 😄

Ampersand Man

It's science center is more for the younger crowd but it is still fun to look around for adults.

Jeremy Eakin

I had a super time here today. The staff is very helpful and theres plenty to keep you busy. Great place for all ages

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