Franklin Institute Unveils 10-Gallery Star Wars Exhibit
The 50th-anniversary display opens in Philadelphia in February with interactive lightsabers and full-scale props.
By Rebecca Lewis ·
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia revealed details of its upcoming officially licensed Star Wars exhibit on Thursday. The display, titled Star Wars: The Experience, will occupy 10 galleries and serve as the first stop in a five-year North American tour.
The institute announced that the exhibit will run from Feb. 13 to Sept. 6 of this year. This timeline coincides with the 50th anniversary of the original Star Wars film release.
Abby Bysshe, chief experience and strategy officer for the Franklin Institute, outlined the show's goals at a conference. She stated that the museum aims to create an immersive experience that moves guests beyond the screen. Bysshe emphasized that the exhibit also celebrates the people behind the franchise.
The collection includes specific movie props and interactive elements. Kylo Ren's three-beam lightsaber will be featured in a sound lab. Visitors can trigger specific saber sounds using RFID touchpoints in that gallery. A separate room will display a wall of stormtrooper helmets and other faceless villains.
Other galleries will house spaceships, such as the imperial TIE fighter, and maquettes used by designers for animated and live-action stories. A replica set of Queen Amidala's throne room from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is a central piece. The porg, a creature from The Last Jedi, will appear in a section dedicated to creatures and droids.
Fans can also see Darth Vader's armor, Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber, and Grogu. A full-scale prop of Han Solo frozen in carbonite is included in the lineup.
Tickets are currently on sale. Daytime admission costs $49 for adults and $43 for children. The institute offers $25 tickets during extended evening hours from 5 to 8 p.m., when only the Star Wars exhibit is open. The museum will match the first 100 tickets sold and donate them to the 7uice Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Sixers forward Jaylen Brown.
