Press Release

TICKETS ON SALE FOR BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBITION
Benjamin Franklin, In Search of a Better World at the National Constitution Center

PHILADELPHIA, November 7, 2005 - Tickets go on sale on November 1 for the must-see exhibition Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, making its world premiere and only East Coast showing at the National Constitution Center from December 15, 2005 through April 30, 2006. The exhibition is being hosted locally by CBS 3.

Dr. Franklin's Profile

Image by Red Grooms

Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, is a blockbuster exhibition created to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Philadelphia’s favorite founding father. This exhibition will immerse visitors in Franklin’s world, expose them to his ingenious problem-solving methods and leave them inspired by his example.

Franklin’s own words narrate the 8,000 square-foot exhibition, which was designed in the spirit of his curiosity, wit and wisdom. Highlights include:

• Original copies of five of America's founding documents, the Albany Plan, the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Amity, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution.
• More than 250 priceless original items from 75 lenders, including many owned by Franklin’s family and never before displayed in public, including:
• • Portrait of Deborah and Franklin's son, Franky, who died at age 4.
  • The Franklin family Bible, given by Franklin to his daughter Sally; records births and deaths to the present.
  • Franklin's silver marrow spoon, with adopted family crest.
  • The portrait of Polly (Mary) Stevenson Hewson, the daughter of Franklin's London landlady and his surrogate daughter when he lived abroad. Portrait was recently found after having been lost for decades.
• More than 40 interactive opportunities, featuring special effects, hands-on activities and family-centered fun.
• Six whimsical simple animations, telling different Franklin anecdotes, at electronic kiosks throughout the exhibition. Titles are The Whistle, Brave Men at Fires, A China Bowl with a Spoon of Silver, The Window, Swimming by Kite, Dialogue Between the Gout and Mr. Franklin.
• 25-foot ship environment that visitors can climb aboard to recreate Franklin's method of charting the Gulf Stream.
• Seeking Opportunity, computer game. In this choose-your-own-adventure type game, you are 21, newly finished your apprenticeship and you want to travel from Boston to Philadelphia to find your way in the world (just as Ben Franklin did). Choose your profession, decide your method of travel, and take off. You never know what luck and life have in store for you.

Admission to Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World is $14 for adults; $12 for children ages 4-12, seniors, college students, and active military personnel; and $8.50 for groups of 20 or more. Admission to the National Constitution Center's award-winning permanent exhibitions is also included. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215.409.6700 or online at www.gophila.com/ben. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended for this highly anticipated exhibition.

The National Constitution Center is also hosting a variety of special events during the run of the exhibition, including Franklin Family Fun Days, Ben’s Birthday Pajama Party, Ben’s Birthday Breakfast, and a reunion of Franklin biographers moderated by Jim Lehrer. For details, visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, is the centerpiece of the Ben Franklin 300 Philadelphia celebration. Ben Franklin 300 Philadelphia is a year-long celebration of Benjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday, coordinated and marketed by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, the National Constitution Center and CBS 3. For more information about the exhibition, related programs and traveling to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com/ben.

The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary is a non-profit organization established to reaffirm Franklin’s enduring legacy in his 300th birthday year. Supported by a lead grant of $4 million from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Tercentenary was founded in 2000 by the American Philosophical Society, The Franklin Institute, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the University of Pennsylvania. For information on the Tercentenary, visit www.benfranklin300.org.

Located at 525 Arch Street on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall, the National Constitution Center is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution and its relevance to Americans’ daily lives. Opened on July 4, 2003, the museum dramatically tells the story of the U.S. Constitution from Revolutionary times to the present through more than 100 interactive, multimedia exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture and artifacts, and features a powerful, award-winning theatrical performance, "Freedom Rising". Also, serving as a nonpartisan forum for constitutional debate, the Center presents—without endorsement—programs that contain diverse viewpoints on a broad range of issues. For more information, call 215.409.6600 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery.

CONTACT:

Cara Schneider, GPTMC
(215) 599-0789, cara@gptmc.com

Cheri LaSpada, Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
(215) 790-7825, cheri@alta247.com

Denise Venuti Free, National Constitution Center
(215) 409-6636, dvfree@constitutioncenter.org