Benjamin Franklin Statue, Boston

Benjamin Franklin Statue, Boston

In front of the old City Hall, on the site where the original Boston Latin School once stood, you'll discover the 8-foot bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin. Created by local sculptor Richard Greenough and installed in 1856, it was notably the first statue of a human to be placed in any city in America. It's worth noting that while many people think of Benjamin Franklin as a U.S. president, he was, in fact, one of the Founding Fathers, a statesman, and a diplomat, but he never served as President of the United States.

Born in Boston in 1706, Franklin attended the Boston Latin School as a young boy; however, he did not complete his formal education and instead began working for his brother, who owned a printing press. Franklin eventually started publishing his own articles and ventured into politics, where he advocated passionately for the abolition of slavery and the protection of Native American rights. He holds the unique distinction of being the only person to have signed all four of the most significant documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence, the Alliance with France Treaty, the Peace with Great Britain Treaty, and the Constitution of the United States.

In addition to his political career, Benjamin Franklin was a renowned scientist and inventor. In 1749, he invented the lightning rod. He also played a significant role in establishing the first public lending library and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.

Tips:
For better lighting when photographing the statue, consider visiting in the morning – though you can still capture a decent photo in the afternoon. If you're a meat lover, Ruth's Chris Steak House is located nearby, making it a good dining option.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Boston. 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.

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Benjamin Franklin Statue on Map

Sight Name: Benjamin Franklin Statue
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Boston, Massachusetts

Create Your Own Walk in Boston

Create Your Own Walk in Boston

Creating your own self-guided walk in Boston 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.
Harvard University Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
North End Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Historical Cambridge MA Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Boston Shopping Areas

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


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