Franklin Court
centrally located in the block between Market & Chestnut, and 3rd & 4th Streets
part of Independence National Historic Park
Philadelphia
(215) 597-8974

Writer, printer, statesman, diplomat, scientist, inventor -- Ben Franklin was a true Renaissance man. Franklin Court serves many functions, which is appropriate as a tribute to a man who had so many interests and achieved so many things. Take your time while you explore the museum and the other exhibits and you are bound to learn something about Dr. Benjamin Franklin that you didn't know before.

What You Will See
As you enter the Court (which is accessed via an alley from Chestnut Street or through the row houses on Market Street), you'll see steel frames that mark the sites of Franklin's "good house" and his grandson's printing office and type foundry (both Benjamin Franklin and his grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, were printers when they were young). The original buildings were destroyed in 1812 and not enough information survived to recreate them as Benjamin Franklin would have known them. So instead, the steel silhouettes (sometimes called "ghosts") were built to suggest the presence of the 18th century brick buildings.

The underground museum contains exhibits describing Franklin's achievements. You'll see his desk and several of his inventions. Our favorite exhibit, however, is called the Franklin Exchange. Pick up a phone and call someone with whom Franklin corresponded by letter and hear what the exchange was like. We also like the presentations of Franklin's quotations (many from his "Poor Richard's Almanac" days) -- many, like "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise," have become firmly entrenched in American culture.

Adjacent to the Court is a print shop and boundry with an ongoing demonstration of what printing was like in the 18th century. You'll also see examples of some of the publications that Franklin printed, reminding you that it was his print shop that brought him the considerable wealth that allowed him to devote his time to public life and diplomatic duties in his later years.

Postmaster General was one of the many public offices Franklin held. So it is entirely fitting that the U.S. Postal Service has recreated a colonial-themed office here in his honor. Be sure to mail a postcard or a letter here so that you can see it hand-stamped with the "B. Free Franklin" postmark that Franklin used.

Getting There
For detailed driving directions and other logistical information, please see the write-up of Independence National Historic Park.

The Philadelphia Insider Directory: