Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World - National Constitution Center

I admit that I've always been confused about Benjamin Franklin. I've been unsure what to think of him. Maybe it's because I've lived in the Philly area my whole life and a part of me has always thought Franklin was over hyped. After all, he's everywhere both in name and in body thanks to Ralph F. Archbold's amazing portrayal of Franklin at numerous venues and events. He has a museum, a parkway, a city square, a court with the frame of a non-existent house, an ice cream shop... Need I go on?

I know Franklin was one of the founding fathers, a great inventor, a statesman and that he had quite a sense of humor. If he had been born 200 years later he probably would have been Secretary General of the United Nations. In fact, the United Nations probably would have been his idea.

I've known for many months about the upcoming Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary. (I can't ever seem to pronounce that word, but I know it refers to the 300th anniversary of his birth.) I've also known about the Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World exhibition which opens today at the National Constitution Center. I knew I'd be invited to the preview of the exhibition and I knew it would likely be a major attraction in Philadelphia from now until it closes on April 30, 2006. What I didn't know is whether I would enjoy it and in some way clarify my opinion of old Ben.

Let me say right away, the exhibition is amazing and should be seen by everyone who has any chance to see it. That old Ben was quite a guy and more importantly he not only played a big role in the 18th century, but he plays a big role in today's world and the little thing we call the United States of America.

It's Cool, It's Hip and It's a Lot of Fun

If you think that this exhibition is a collection of old artifacts and paintings dealing with Franklin, you're right. There are over 250 of them, including many owned by Franklin’s family and never before displayed in public. However, this exhibition is a lot more than that. It's cool, it's hip and it's a lot of fun. There are over 40 interactive devices - all available in three languages - English, French and Spanish. Franklin would have liked that. He probably also would have liked that his life is recapped not only with items from his day, but with all of the modern hi-tech gizmos that we modern folks seem to depend on and enjoy.

I guess I should have known better. I've been to the Franklin Institute countless times since I was in first grade and know that Ben's museum always tries to be on the cutting edge of science and technology. Heck, where else could you have seen the internationally acclaimed Titanic exhibit last year and go today and see an exhibition like Body Worlds which features real human bodies that have been preserved through a process known as Plastination?

Bob Schieffer Comments on Benjamin Franklin

Bob Schieffer, interim anchor of The CBS Evening News, attended the preview luncheon. Schieffer noted that of all the founding fathers, he would most like to sit down and have dinner with Benjamin Franklin. Franklin surely would have accepted the invitation. Of all of those first leaders of our nation, Franklin is the one who could most easily adapt to and enjoy the challenges of our modern times. He probably would have some ideas to help us today.

Exhibition Overview

So then, what will you see if you visit the Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World exhibition at the National Constitution Center? Let's start with how the exhibitions title was selected. The title of the exhibition - Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World - was chosen to express the exhibition’s central interpretive theme: all of Franklin’s astonishing achievements stemmed from his life-long desire to understand and improve the world around him.

The 8,000 square foot exhibition is divided into five sections, each examining a period in Franklin's life including Character Matters, B. Franklin Printer, Civic Visions, Useful Knowledge and World Stage. A final section, Seeing Franklin, looks at Franklin's impact and legacy since his death in 1787.

Character Matters: 1706 - 1723

Character Matters is where the viewer meets the young Franklin in the Boston of his youth. Franklin was profoundly affected by his upbringing in early 18th century Boston where he was steeped in Puritan traditions and teachings, and where he received his training as a printer. Books he read, an animation about of the story of Franklin and his whistle, and a computer game called Seeking Opportunity are included in this section.

B. Franklin, Printer: 1723 - 1748

B. Franklin, Printer covers the years when Franklin made his fortune as Philadelphia’s premiere printer. Arriving in Philadelphia in 1723, Franklin steadily expanded his network of personal and professional acquaintances, advanced his publishing business, and became a wealthy man by the time he was 42. An entrepreneur, Franklin also diligently pursued the cause of self-improvement.

This section features Franklin’s original printing equipment juxtaposed with several hands-on activities and multi-media experiences. In addition, the stories of Franklin’s family - Deborah, William, Sally, and little Franky - unfamiliar to many, are recounted in this section.