Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, Philadelphia
The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, a significant monument to one of America's most illustrious figures, is located within the rotunda of the Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia. This monumental site features a grand statue of Benjamin Franklin, renowned as an American writer, inventor, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers. Crafted by James Earle Fraser, the statue stands impressively at 20 feet (approximately 6.1 meters) in height. Fraser worked on this project from 1906 to 1911, with the memorial being officially dedicated in 1938.
This enormous statue weighs about 30 short tons and is perched on a pedestal made from white Seravezza marble, itself weighing 92 short tons. The statue is the centerpiece of Memorial Hall in the Franklin Institute, an architectural wonder designed by John Windrim and inspired by the Roman Pantheon.
Significant enhancements were made to the memorial in 2008. These improvements included a restoration project that saw the introduction of a multi-media presentation, titled "Benjamin Franklin Forever." This 3½-minute show leverages digital projection, theatrical lighting, and audio effects to celebrate Franklin's legacy.
Additionally, the refurbishment enhanced the acoustics and incorporated state-of-the-art LED lighting. The oculus of the memorial was also restored and re-gilded to its original splendor. An engaging aspect of the memorial is the projection of Franklin's quotes onto the walls throughout the day.
This enormous statue weighs about 30 short tons and is perched on a pedestal made from white Seravezza marble, itself weighing 92 short tons. The statue is the centerpiece of Memorial Hall in the Franklin Institute, an architectural wonder designed by John Windrim and inspired by the Roman Pantheon.
Significant enhancements were made to the memorial in 2008. These improvements included a restoration project that saw the introduction of a multi-media presentation, titled "Benjamin Franklin Forever." This 3½-minute show leverages digital projection, theatrical lighting, and audio effects to celebrate Franklin's legacy.
Additionally, the refurbishment enhanced the acoustics and incorporated state-of-the-art LED lighting. The oculus of the memorial was also restored and re-gilded to its original splendor. An engaging aspect of the memorial is the projection of Franklin's quotes onto the walls throughout the day.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Philadelphia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial on Map
Sight Name: Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Create Your Own Walk in Philadelphia
Creating your own self-guided walk in Philadelphia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia
One of the most fascinating personalities in Revolutionary America, Benjamin Franklin, while still a teenager, left his Puritan family in Boston for Philadelphia to start a new life. Indeed, his life turned out to be quite remarkable. Franklin was a writer, a printer, a philosopher, a postmaster, a scientist, an inventor, a statesman, and a diplomat – the absolute purist version of the American... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Philadelphia Introduction Walking Tour
The sixth largest city in the United States and the largest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is a dynamic city heaped with old-world charm and contemporary infrastructure. Notable for its rich history, primarily as the birthplace of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Often called Philly, Philadelphia is also known as the City of Brotherly Love – a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Often called Philly, Philadelphia is also known as the City of Brotherly Love – a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour
King Charles II of England owed a lot of money to Admiral Sir William Penn. He paid in 1681 by signing over lands in America to the Admiral's son, William Penn. Young William, a Quaker and a thorn in the side of the King, became landlord of present-day Pennsylvania and Delaware. William sailed up Delaware, laid out a grid, and founded Philadelphia.
The streets of the grid run east and west... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
The streets of the grid run east and west... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Fairmount Park Historical Houses Walking Tour
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia's oldest park, established since 1867, is also the city's largest municipal park, sprawling over 2,000 acres adjacent to the banks of the Schuylkill River. The park grew out of the Lemon Hill estate of Henry Pratt, whose land was originally owned by Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
In 1972, the park was placed on the National... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
In 1972, the park was placed on the National... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Rocky Movie Sites Walking Tour
There's hardly any other character, fictional or real, as iconically Philadelphian as Rocky. Indeed, this American sports drama franchise, centered on the boxing career of Rocky Balboa, released in 1976, has become synonymous with and arguably done more for the city of Philadelphia than anyone else since Ben Franklin.
The cultural phenomenon was created by Sylvester Stallone, who wrote,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.3 Km or 3.9 Miles
The cultural phenomenon was created by Sylvester Stallone, who wrote,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.3 Km or 3.9 Miles
University of Pennsylvania Walking Tour
As America's first university, The University of Pennsylvania (aka Penn or Upenn, for short) has a history stretching back to the mid-18th century, closely bound with the city's colonial past and the birth of the United States. Initially, this Ivy League institution emerged as the College of Philadelphia, one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the US Declaration of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Philadelphia Souvenirs: 13 Unique Gift Ideas from the City of Brotherly Love
Looking for a great gift while visiting Philadelphia? Famous for its history, arts and culture, championship sports teams, and award-winning food and drink, Philadelphia is a top-rated shopping destination. Here, you'll find an amazing selection of items to choose from - something uniquely...