American Philosophical Society

The American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in the United States, was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for the purpose of “promoting useful knowledge.” The Museum exhibition changes annually to highlight a different area of the Society's collections which include the history of the sciences, early American history, Native American ethnography and linguistics, and digital innovation. Each exhibition offers imaginative programs that encourage visitors to explore exhibition themes more deeply and to make connections between history and present day.