The opening of The Franklin Air Show coincides with the national Centennial of Flight celebration of the Wright Brothers' first flight over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, which took place on December 17, 1903. The world will pause to recall the innovative spirit that lifted two bright bicycle-makers from Ohio to controlled powered flight above the sandy dunes of North Carolina. Their curiosity, scientific inquiry, and passion for flight opened the skies on that December day and made the world a little smaller. Today, The Franklin Institute's exhibits and educational programs inspire young scientists to pursue their own curiosity, follow their own inquiry, and find their passion for science.
The Franklin Air Show was made possible by funds from the Institute's $60 million capital campaign, Opening Young Minds, which will result in eight new state-of-the-art exhibits opening through 2006. The Franklin Air Show is the fifth new exhibit to open since 2000, including Sports Challenge, KidScience, Train Factory, and Space Command. Major support for The Franklin Air Show was provided by the Delaware River Port Authority, Mr. and Mrs. John K. Desmond, Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Heintz, the Heritage Philadelphia Program, Lockheed Martin, Verizon Foundation, and The William Penn Foundation. The exhibit was also supported in part by the National Science Foundation.
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a nationally respected pioneer in the development of interactive science exhibits. The Franklin Institute is Pennsylvania's most visited museum with more than 750,000 visitors annually, including over 350,000 school children.
