Visiting Ben, part 1

As I strode briskly toward the Independence Visitors Center in the Old City of Philadelphia, the heavens opened.  Unfortunately, God didn’t come down, only sheets of grey rain on a day that had until that time been gloomy but warm.  Despite my chic London Fog rain hat and brightly-green rain jacket as well as hastily-employed umbrella, my jeans were soaked almost to the knees and my socks distinctly damp when I reached the Center, only to find that the half hour movie I’d hoped to see didn’t begin until 11 and I had to be at Reading Terminal Market by 11:30 for lunch.  So I headed for Ben Franklin’s house and museum and I’m glad I did.

Having read his autobiography ages ago (free here as a pdf) and a lot about him, I knew he was a man of many talents.  But the newly-redone museum showcases wonderfully what an eclectic man he was.  Let me share in photos just a small slice of his accomplishments.

This was one of my favorite things. Although Franklin may not have invented the glass harmonica, also known as the glass armonica, as Wikipedia states: “Benjamin Franklin invented a radically new arrangement of the glasses in 1761 after seeing water-filled wine glasses played by Edmund Delaval at Cambridge in England in May of 1761.[7] Franklin, who called his invention the “armonica” after the Greek word for harmony,[citation needed] worked with London glassblower Charles James to build one, and it had its world premiere in early 1762, played by Marianne Davies.” Music was created “by touching the rims of the bowls with water moistened fingers.” Can anyone say “Miss Congeniality” Miss America talent segment??? 🙂

Would the Post Office be losing money if Ben were still running it?

Still a good question to ask.

Turn the crank and light was produced.

Sudoku before Sudoku.

More on Ben in part two, coming up in the near future.