Colonial · 1 block from Society Hill Hotel
Benjamin Franklin Museum
Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia home stood on this block. Though the house itself was demolished in 1812, Franklin Court — a Robert Venturi-designed 'ghost structure' of steel beams outlining the original footprint — marks where he lived, worked, printed, and eventually died. The Benjamin Franklin Museum sits underground below the courtyard. One block from Society Hill Hotel, 2 minutes on foot.
Walking distance
2 min on foot
1 block from 301 Chestnut
Address
317 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Hours
Courtyard open 24/7. Museum typically 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Wednesday–Sunday; verify at nps.gov/inde.
Admission
Courtyard, print shop, and post office are free. Museum charges a small fee (around $5 adult).
Hours and admission change seasonally. For the authoritative schedule and any day-of closures, check the official site.
What to expect
What a visit actually looks like.
The courtyard is open and free to walk through 24/7 — the skeletal white steel frames give you the volume of the house and his print shop without pretending to reconstruct them. The museum below is compact (plan an hour) and organized around Franklin's personas: scientist, diplomat, printer, civic founder. Don't miss the working B. Free Franklin post office on Market Street, the only post office in the country that still cancels mail with the 'B. Free Franklin' signature he used to protest British postal policy.
A short history.
Franklin lived on this block from 1763 until his death in 1790. The court held his house, his grandson's house, a tenant house, and his print shop — effectively a family compound at the center of Revolutionary and early-Republic Philadelphia. After the family sold it, the buildings were torn down in the early 19th century. The National Park Service commissioned the ghost structure and underground museum for the 1976 Bicentennial.
Tips for visiting
- 01The courtyard is always open — walk through at night for a quieter view.
- 02The museum charges a small admission; the courtyard, print shop, and post office are free.
- 03Mail a postcard from the B. Free Franklin post office for the unique cancellation.
- 04Combine with Carpenters' Hall and Christ Church for a tight Colonial-era morning.
While you’re in the neighborhood
Three more within a few blocks.
Staying in Old City?
Society Hill Hotel is 1 block from Benjamin Franklin Museum.
Twelve rooms in an 1832 building at 301 Chestnut, in the heart of Old City. Walk everywhere you came to Philadelphia to see — Benjamin Franklin Museum is a 2-minute walk from our front door. Mobile keycode check-in. No front desk. Piccolina, a contemporary Italian restaurant, on the ground floor.
- · Walk to Independence Hall in 4 min
- · Restaurant downstairs
- · Mobile check-in, no desk
- · 1832 building, fully restored
Reserve a room
Mobile keycode check-in. No front desk.