Artifact Cases
Portfolio :
Ben Franklin Tercentenary
Client:
Ben Franklin Tercentenary
"Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World"
To coincide with the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's
birth, this 10,000 square foot traveling exhibition made
its world premiere at the National Constitution Center
in Philadelphia. A very close collaboration of professionals
including the design team of Staples and Charles, curatorial
staff, AV and Proto Productions was needed to put together
this exhibition of Franklin's life, intellectual pursuits,
and all of his diversities. His life story was addressed
from different vantage points, which created six arenas
in the exhibit. From the simplicity of flip interactives
to one of the high tech interactives, the computer driven
audio admonition by Lord Wedderburn directed at the life-size
Franklin mannequin in the audio theater which is triggered
by approaching visitors, Proto developed and fabricated
a series of interactives which enticed the visitors
to meet a myriad of challenges and acquire more knowledge.
Prominent
text panels capture the attention of the visitors and showcase
Benjamin Franklin as one of the country's greatest scientist,
inventor, diplomat, humorist, philosopher and entrepreneur.
Settings were created to showcase specific stages of his
life and the inventiveness of his time. From the Craven
Street setting showcasing the printing business to the
Market Street setting of his home in Philadelphia, the
visitor is able to envision his life and get an up-close
look at paintings, documents, original art, and artifacts.
Period artifacts and five Original Founding Documents,
signed by Franklin, were displayed in our highly visible
conservation display cases with micro-climate desiccant
chambers, high security locks, and electronic security
monitoring system.
Set atop a pair of faux leather bound books, a ten foot
wide pair of spectacles, each lens being composed of 738
plastic tiles which move to reflect the image of the visitor
as he approaches the spectacles, leaves you with a final
thought, "Do you see yourself in Franklin?"
