Household items found during an excavation of Franklin Court on display at the Fragments of Franklin’s Court exhibit, Independence National Historical Park
SITE OVERVIEW
The Fragments of Franklin Court is an archaeology exhibit housed inside row houses built by Benjamin Franklin in 1786. He purchased three existing row houses in 1765 and used two as rental housing and one as a wine store for his son-in-law, then tore them down and replaced them with a new structures. From Market Street you can view the building, though it’s hard to tell the separation of the houses—the photo below shows the layout. Franklin built houses 316, 318, and 322. His own home was in the courtyard behind the row houses.
Layout of Market Street houses in Philadelphia that were once owned by Benjamin Franklin
When Franklin originally purchased the property, what are today houses 314 through 320 were divided into five houses, with today’s 316 and 318 being three of them. Houses 314 and 320 were owned by other people. House 322 did not exist—this was an empty space between two buildings. In 1786, Franklin tore down the three houses that he owned and rebuilt only two in their place, 316 and 318. Before he built the archway that leads to the courtyard, the empty space now filled by house 322 was how people got from Market Street to the courtyard. Once the archway was completed, Franklin built house 322.
During an archaeological excavation of Franklin Court in the early 1970s, house 318 was torn down. The National Park Service rebuilt the front and back walls (those seen from Market Street and the courtyard) in time for the Bicentennial Celebration in 1976. The house was left gutted so that the original walls between it, 316, and 320 remained exposed. Partial floors that serve as scaffolding were built so visitors could walk between the former three interior floors and still view the exposed walls. This created the opportunity to learn how houses of the late 1700s were built. The new interior is also used to display the artifacts found during the excavation.
Those in wheelchairs can access the site via a temporary ramp. Call Independence National Historical Park ahead of time at (215) 965-2305 to make arrangements for the ramp to be put in place. You can also stop at the Benjamin Franklin Museum and ask to have the ramp set up.
Original wall of house 318 at Franklin Court, Independence National Historical Park
LOCATION
The Fragments of Franklin Count is located at 318 Market Street. The entrance to the exhibit is from the Franklin Courtyard.
Market Street entrance into Franklin Court at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia
OPERATING HOURS
- Daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day
- 12 PM to 5 PM
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 Fragments of Franklin Court exhibit.
WHAT DO DO
Fragments of Franklin Court is one of my favorite attractions at Independence National Historical Park. As mentioned earlier, the exhibit is a combination of architecture and archaeology.
View of the ground floor of the Fragments of Franklin Court exhibit at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia
Franklin built the houses to be fireproof, and the exhibit points out the features he incorporated into the design, as well as how typical late-1700s homes were constructed.
Signs at the Fragments of Franklin’s Court exhibit point out features of Franklin’s rental house at 318 Market Street, Independence National Historical Park
As for the artifacts, most are plates, drinking glasses, and other household items.
Dishes found during the Franklin Court excavation, Independence National Historical Park
If you have an interest in archaeology or architecture, you won’t want to miss Fragments of Franklin Court.
SCHEDULING YOUR VISIT
You should be able to read through all of the information and view the artifacts in 30-45 minutes.
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Last updated on March 22, 2025
