Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Circus! and 101 Inventions at The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute is famous for having the some of the coolest visiting exhibits ever, and from the high-flying, crazy world of the Circus! to the inspiring 101 Inventions, this summer's are no exception.  Both are creative and imaginative and loads and loads of fun!

Circus! takes visitors behind the scenes to discover the science and secrets of the big top.  Do sword swallowers really swallow swords?  Can a person hold immense weight with just their hair?  Can anyone contort themselves into a box?  Head to the side show tent to find out if these and other wonders are true.  Learn about the animals made famous in the center ring and make your way to clown alley to find out why we laugh at the tricks up their sleeves.  The dress up tent in the back of the room looked like a big hit among the younger set (and the unselfconscious adults).  We loved adding our own soundtrack to various acts and seeing how they appeared different with "fun" or "serious" music.  One of the most fantastic parts of Circus! is the opportunity to brave the tightrope walk and try out your best flips on the trapeze.  Plan to spend a lot of time in Circus! since everything is hands on and interactive.  Every inch of this exhibit had us going: "Ohhhhhhh!" as we were let in on the secret and got into the act.

Make sure that you don't miss 101 Inventions that Changed the World.  Its presentation is amazing!  We entered what is essentially a completely dark room where the walls, floors, and giant columns in the center were all covered by massive screens.  It's unbelievably sensory to the point where you want to start whirling yourself around the exhibit Sound of Music style and just lie down in the center of it all at the same time (unfortunately it's difficult to get away with either of those when there are other people in the exhibit, so choose your moment wisely).  The screens are ever changing, walking you through each of the inventions and how they impacted the world around them.  Passing out of that room, you come to a display of all the inventions together.  From the wheel and the anvil to glass and the ball point pen, they make you realize what great ideas they all are.  Visitors are then encouraged to create and build their own personal inventions.  Will you build #102?

Circus! and 101 Inventions are only at The Franklin Institute until September 1st and are included in the price of general admission, so make sure you include a visit in your summer plans.  We loved our experience at them, so we are really excited to announce a 4-Pack Ticket Giveaway to send one of our readers to see these two amazing exhibits themselves!  Enter the giveaway below!





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12 comments:

  1. Would love to go back to Franklin Institute again....this time with the kids! :)

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  2. LOVE the Franklin Institute...i can't wait to see the Brain Exhibit

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  3. I'd love to see the circus exhibit!

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  4. I've gotten a chance to go once to see the new exhibits but it was too crowded to enjoy everything.
    I'd love to go back and experience all as it was intended!

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  5. I haven't been in so long I can't wait to take my own kids!!

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  6. My kids have never gone- I'd love to take them to see the circus exhibit!

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  7. https://twitter.com/MommyEntourage/status/495619740253958144

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  8. I've yet to bring the kids to FI! I think they'd love to see the 101 Inventions that Changed the World

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