Isamu Noguchi first conceived the idea of this stainless-steel sculpture, which references Franklin's famous experiment of flying a kite in an electrical storm, for an exhibition in Fairmount Park in 1933. However, it took until 1984 before his design was constructed between the base of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and Franklin Sq.
Bolt of Lightning... A Memorial to Benjamin Franklin
Philadelphia
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Independence National Historical Park
0.31 MILES
This L-shaped Philadelphia park, bound by 6th, 2nd, Walnut and Arch Sts, protects and honors the institutions that formed the foundation of the United…
1.86 MILES
The premier cultural institution in Philadelphia, this epic art museum would stand out even without Rocky's famous antics on the east steps. Every visitor…
1.3 MILES
Since 2012, Dr Albert C Barnes' eye-popping collection of artworks – predominantly focused on French masterpieces from the late 19th and early 20th…
0.45 MILES
The 'birthplace of American government', this modest, early 18th-century Georgian building is where delegates from the 13 colonies met to approve the…
0.57 MILES
Getting the balance just right between food shopping hub and dining destination, Reading Terminal Market opened way back in 1893 and it's been a…
0.75 MILES
Although the fortress-like exterior of this 1873 building is pretty impressive, it's the spectacular interiors – which took a further 15 years to complete…
0.81 MILES
Completed in 1901 following 30 years of construction, City Hall takes up a whole block, and at 548ft is the world's tallest structure without a steel…
Museum of the American Revolution
0.51 MILES
This impressive, multimedia-rich museum will have you virtually participating in the American Revolution; interactive dioramas and 3-D experiences take…
Nearby Philadelphia attractions
0.07 MILES
Ringed by busy roads, this square – one of the originals from William Penn's masterplan for his new city – feels somewhat cut off from the other sights of…
0.09 MILES
For breathtaking views of the city and Delaware River it's possible to walk or cycle across this 1.8-mile, 800,000-ton suspension bride, which was the…
3. National Constitution Center
0.14 MILES
This whiz-bang museum makes the US Constitution jump off the page, starting with a dramatic theater-in-the-round presentation by a single actor relating…
0.16 MILES
Take the 45-minute self-guided tour to see coins being made (they can churn out 50 million of them per day), and to admire the Tiffany mosaics inside this…
0.16 MILES
Famous for its facade covered with the mosaics of Isaiah Zagar, this alternative arts space was founded in 1969 by a group of visual artists and developed…
6. Christ Church Burial Ground
0.21 MILES
Hard to believe, but back in the early 18th century this was the outskirts of town, thus the ideal location for a burial ground. The cemetery is the final…
7. African American Museum in Philadelphia
0.21 MILES
Founded in 1976, this was the first museum in the country built by a major city to house exhibitions on the life and work of African Americans. Exhibits…
0.25 MILES
Built in 1804 on land donated by William Penn in 1701, this is the largest Quaker meetinghouse in the US. The furniture is original and predates the…