found onlineatwww.benfranklin300.org Benjamin FranklinTercentenarycanbe celebrate Franklin's300thbirthday.The to studyandrecommendprograms of fifteenoutstandingAmericanschosen Franklin TercentenaryCommission,apanel Congress in2002createdtheBenjamin Pennsylvania. Inaddition,anActof Museum ofArtandtheUniversity Company ofPhiladelphia,thePhiladelphia Society, TheFranklinInstitute,Library institutions: theAmericanPhilosophical by aconsortiumoffivePhiladelphiacultural Franklin Tercentenarywasfoundedin2000 of thevaluesheembodied.TheBenjamin legacy andinspiringrenewedappreciation educating thepublicabouthisenduring (1706-2006) withacelebrationdedicatedto anniversary ofBenjaminFranklin’sbirth Trusts, wasestablishedtomarkthe300-year grant of$4millionfromThePewCharitable non-profit organizationsupportedbyalead The BenjaminFranklinTercentenary,a www.gophila.com/ben Cover Portrait by Michael J. Deas OFFICIAL GUIDE WINTER December — March 2005-6 December —March 1706 -2006 300 BEN www.gophila.com/ben PHILADELPHIA Franklin table of contents WWWWWWWWWWW N How to Use This Guide 1 O Ben Franklin 300 Philadelphia: I An Introduction to the Celebration 2 T C Benjamin Franklin Treasure Trail 3 U D Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World 4 O Ben Franklin Coffeehouse Challenge 5 R T 300 Years and Still Current: N America Celebrates Franklin’s 300th Birthday 6 I Calendar of Events 2005-6 December 7 January 15 February 26 A Happy I March 30 H P L Ongoing 35 Birthday E D Hotel Packages 38 A L Benjamin Franklin! I Restaurant Information 39 H Ben Franklin 300 Philadelphia is the year-long P Special Offers 40 celebration of Benjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday in 0 0 Index 41 Philadelphia and Its Countryside™. This city-wide 3 festival in honor of Franklin’s life and continuing legacy N I HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE kicks off in the fall of 2005 and runs through 2006. L K This publication is the second issue of the official N The centerpiece of the celebration is the world A guide for Ben Franklin 300 Philadelphia. It covers the R premiere of the international traveling exhibition, F period from December 15, 2005, through March 31, Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, at the N 2006, and includes more than 70 events, exhibitions, E National Constitution Center. This engaging and unique concerts, and tours organized in honor of the 300th B exhibition, a gift to the nation from The Pew Charitable anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth. Trusts, will bring Franklin to life for visitors through The events are organized by month and date. multimedia activities, immersive environments and the They are followed by a section for programs that are largest collection of Franklin artifacts ever assembled. ongoing throughout the four-month period. An index This winter, more than 150 Philadelphia area cultural and at the back will help you find particular locations or arts institutions, hotels, restaurants and retail organizations keywords quickly. For more information on the events will be offering a Franklin-flavored experience for visitors. and programs included in this guide, as well as the You’ll find countless ways to join in the celebration, each latest updates, please visit www.benfranklin300.org. as individual and delightful as the man himself: from almanac-making to concerts, and scavenger hunts to Keep an eye out for the third issue of the official ballet, there will be something for everyone. guide, including many more new performances and events, to be released in April 2006. Above: Benjamin Franklin and his invention, “The Armonica”, The Curtis Institute of Music 1 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE www.gophila.com/ben 2 S T N E V E Benjamin Franklin L A I Treasure Trail: C E P A Journey of Exploration S an’t decide which Franklin event to go to next? Then follow the C A Benjamin Franklin Treasure Trail! I Pick up a free treasure trail passport at the H P National Constitution Center, and collect stamps L E D by visiting any of the twenty-one local institutions A L featuring Franklin-themed exhibitions. Once I H you’ve experienced an exhibition, visit the P 0 Treasure Trail Stamping Station to emboss the 0 3 official stamp in your passport, and to find out N I the answer to a Franklin trivia question. Armed L K with your new-found knowledge, you can go N A to www.benfranklin300.org and take the R Designed to celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s 300th F Treasure Trail online quiz to win a certificate birthday, this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition invites N E of achievement, and be entered for a chance people of all ages to experience the adventures of an B to win official Ben Franklin 300 collectibles! extraordinary man. Through multimedia interactive displays, never-before-seen artifacts, and a special guide just for kids, the exhibition brings to life Franklin’s legendary achievements and makes them relevant for our times. Highlights include a 25-foot ship environment that you can climb aboard to recreate Franklin’s method of charting the Gulf Stream; a whimsical simple animation of a young Franklin swimming with a kite to save energy; and five of America’s key founding documents, all originally signed by Franklin. For more information and tickets, call (215) 409-6700. 3 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE www.gophila.com/ben 4 5 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE – – www.gophila.com/ben 6 BEN FRANKLIN 300 PHILADELPHIA SPECIAL EVENTS calendar of events Benjamin Franklin: An American Idol WWWWWWWWWWW December 2, 2005, through January 22, 2006 Wednesday through Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Nexus/Foundation for Today’s Art, 137 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 R E Nexus/Foundation for Today’s Art together with Media B Tank presents this dynamic exhibition exploring three M major themes from Benjamin Franklin’s life: technology, E mass communication, and civic engagement. Be inspired C December E by prints, performance, websites, and documentary films. D Daily Guided Tours: The Art of Benjamin FREE. For more information call (215) 629-1103 Franklin’s Time in Philadelphia, London, or visit www.nexusphiladelphia.org and Paris December 1, 2005, through July 30, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. Boatloads of Ben: Franklin’s Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, “Strong Inclination for the Sea” Philadelphia, PA 19130 December 10, 2005, through September 5, 2006 Three distinct tours of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 South Columbus Boulevard, A Permanent Collections on the art of Benjamin Franklin’s I time, presented on a rotating basis and focusing on Philadelphia, PA 19106 H P Philadelphia, London, and Paris. Discover how Franklin applied his genius to the nautical L E Free with Museum Admission; $12 for Adults; $8 for Students puzzles of the day at this fun and informative exhibit. Did D you know he charted the Gulf Stream, studied sail design, A (with valid ID); Sundays pay what you wish all day. L For more information, call (215) 763-8100 and organized America’s first navy? I H or visit www.philamuseum.org P Adult: $9, Child: $6, Senior or Student: $8, call (215) 413-8630 0 for group rates. 0 Franklin’s Flippers For more information call (215) 413-8655 3 or visit www.phillyseaport.org N December 1, 2005, through August 31, 2006 I Show times to be scheduled daily L K Adventure Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, NJ 08103 Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World N A Did you know that Benjamin Franklin invented swim December 15, 2005, through April 30, 2006. Sunday to Friday, R F paddles and flippers? Trace the evolution of swimming 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, N apparatus back to the 18th century with our expert staff, E while you try on replicas of early swim fins, as well as Philadelphia, PA 19106 B modern counterparts. Designed to celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday, Admission is $16.95 for adults, and $13.95 this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition invites people of all ages for children (2-12) and Senior Citizens. to experience the adventures of an extraordinary man. For more information please call (856) 365-3300 Through multimedia interactive displays, never-before- or visit www.adventureaquarium.com seen artifacts, and a special guide just for kids, the exhibition brings to life Franklin’s legendary achievements and makes them relevant for our times. Adult: $14, children ages 4-12, seniors, college students, and active military personnel: $12, groups of 20 or more: $8.50. Admission to the National Constitution Center’s award-winning permanent exhibition is also included. For more information, call (215) 409-6700 or visit www.gophila.com/ben 7 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE www.gophila.com/ben 8 Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard: PECO Franklin Family Fun Day: Anatomy of an Almanac Benjamin Franklin’s Apprentice December 15, 2005, through March 19, 2006 December 17, 2005, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, Philadelphia, PA 19106 R Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and E from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. B Do you have what it takes to be Ben’s apprentice? Test Closed Mondays and national holidays. M your skills and learn the tricks of 18th century trade just The Rosenbach Museum & Library, 2008-2010 DeLancey Place, E like Ben did when he was 12 years old. Try your hand at Philadelphia, PA 19103 C papermaking and printing, and learn all about soap E A selection of Franklin’s Poor Richard almanacs will be the making and blacksmithing. If you complete all the trades, D centerpiece of this absorbing exhibition.