The
Franklin Institute is the national memorial to
Benjamin Franklin, that serves to perpetuate his legacy; the museum contains many of Franklin's personal effects. On
February 5,
1824,
Samuel Vaughan Merrick[?] and
William H. Keating[?] founded The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts. The mission of The Franklin Institute Science Museum is to stimulate interest in science, to promote public understanding of science, and to strengthen science education. Exhibits on display cover several subjects such as science and industry, physics, astronony and history. The
Fels Planatarium[?] and the
Mandell Center[?] are also located in the museum.