Ghost structure marks the site of Benjamin Franklin’s former house at Franklin Court courtyard, Independence National Historical Park

SITE OVERVIEW

The courtyard that makes up today’s Franklin Court attraction at Independence National Historical Park is where Benjamin Franklin’s house and a print shop he built for his grandson in 1787 used to stand. The buildings were torn down in 1812.

Franklin’s house was built prior to the American Revolution during a time when he was in London. His wife, Deborah, was in charge of the construction. Unfortunately, she died in 1774 when he was still away, so the two never lived in the house together. Franklin returned to the United States in 1785 and lived in the house until he died in 1790. His daughter, Sally Bache, and her family lived with him during this time.

The Baches inherited the house, but chose to move out and turn it into a rental property. The house was later used as a coffee house and even a hotel. The Baches eventually returned to live in the house in the early 1800s. Sally died there in 1808, and her husband stayed until his death in 1811. The next year, with the property value very high, the children decided to tear down the house and shop and build more rental houses and retail spaces.

LOCATION

The original entrance to Franklin Court is through the archway on Market Street between 3^rd and 4^th streets.

Original entrance to Franklin’s Court on Market Street, Independence National Historical Park

A second entrance is on Chestnut Street, the opposite side of the block from Market Street. Look for an alleyway between the National Liberty Museum and the First National Bank building. If you are coming from the Independence Hall area, this is where you are most likely to enter the Franklin Court attractions.

OPERATING HOURS

• Daily from 9 AM to 5 PM
• Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
• While this is an outdoor facility, the area is gated

Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Independence National Historical Park.

TICKETS AND FEES

There are no tickets or fees associated with entering the Franklin Court Courtyard.

WHAT TO DO

The courtyard has an outdoor archaeology exhibit. While Franklin’s house and his grandson’s print shop no longer stand, the National Park Service erected what are known as ghost structures on the site. These are metal-frame structures that show the outline and size of the original buildings. The larger ghost structure closest to Chestnut Street is the house site, and the smaller structure near Walnut Street is the print shop.

Ghost structure marks the former location of Benjamin Franklin’s printing shop at Franklin’s Court courtyard, Independence National Historical Park

When the area was excavated in the 1940s, the original house foundation was located. You can see the structure through a number of Plexiglas-covered exhibit areas. Also located was Franklin’s privy pit.

Benjamin Franklin’s privy pit at the location of his former house at the Franklin Court courtyard, Independence National Historical Park

Part of the original floor of Benjamin Franklin’s former house at the Franklin Court courtyard, Independence National Historical Park

Within the ghost structures are engraved stones on the ground that give details about different locations within the buildings.

Engraved stones at the Franklin Court courtyard detail the layout of Benjamin Franklin’s house and print shop, Independence National Historical Park

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

You can read all of the information at the various archaeology exhibits in the Franklin Court Courtyard in ten minutes.

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