Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

This is a release from The Franklin.

The Franklin, the most-visited museum in Pennsylvania and a Top Twenty most visited museum in the United States*, has announced that it will be hosting an exclusive world appearance of Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy. The exhibit, timed to take place during the 400^th anniversary of Galileo’s astronomical discoveries as well as the International Year of Astronomy, will explore the extraordinary effect that Galileo’s work, as well as that of other luminaries during the age of the Medicis, had on science and on the world.

The one-time only special

This is a release from The Franklin.

The Franklin aims to harness the stars when it becomes the home of the exclusive world exhibit Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy. This unique exhibition, which features the original telescope that Galileo used, has been timed to take place during the 400^th anniversary of Galileo’s astronomical discoveries and the 75^th anniversary of The Franklin’s Planetarium.

This quadricentennial celebration of the modern era of astronomy has also inspired an extraordinary worldwide effort entitled the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), which will be launched in early 2009 by The International

This release is from The Franklin.

The Creation of The Franklin’s newest exhibit, Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy
When The Franklin learned that the museum in Florence, Italy, which houses the Galileo telescopes, would be closed for renovations in 2009, it began a dedicated campaign to bring the original telescope exclusively to the United States. Competing with many major museums worldwide, The Franklin eventually won the right to create the unique exhibition that explores the launch of Galileo’s discoveries against the backdrop of the Medici family’s support of science and math during the Renaissance.

Galileo’s Influence
Called

Visitors in Philadelphia for Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy, appearing only at The Franklin Institute Science Museum only in 2009 (April 4 through September 7), will find the region loaded with places that provide a greater knowledge of the stars. Not only can visitors enjoy Galileo-inspired lectures and family-friendly workshops at The Franklin, they can also check out the region’s many space marvels, including planetariums, star-gazing parties and other after-dark activities during the International Year of Astronomy. Here’s a look:

About Space At The Franklin:

• The extensively renovated Joel N. Bloom Observatory on the rooftop of

2009 is going to be a blockbuster year in Philly thanks to nine big-name events and exhibitions focusing on leaders in art, history, literature, science and beer. Two only-in-Philadelphia exhibitions—Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy at The Franklin Institute Science Museum and Cézanne and Beyond at the Philadelphia Museum of Art—and the world debut of Tavis Smiley’s America I AM: The African American Imprint at the National Constitution Center lead the pack of nine notable names visiting the region in the coming year. Here’s a look at the exhibitions and events making 2009 a year of

Winter may be chillier, but Philadelphia is just getting warmed up with a dozen new reasons to explore the five-county region. This season, visitors can walk through an interactive Chronicles of Narnia exhibition at The Franklin, view Cézanne’s masterful paintings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and pay homage to iconic historic attractions without the wait. Add the just-reopened Please Touch Museum® in Fairmount Park, swanky new steakhouses, some enticing hotel packages and the season’s long holiday weekends and visitors have the makings of a fun-filled family trip or romantic getaway. Here’s what’s in store for winter 2008-2009:

Museums &

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, sporting events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2009:

January 2009:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2009. phillymummers.com
• Making its world debut in Philadelphia, America I AM: The African American Imprint celebrates African-American contributions across 400 years of American history at the National

Population:
There are 3.9 million people residing in the five-county region (7.75 million in the Philadelphia Designated Market Area), making Philadelphia the second largest city on the East Coast and the sixth largest in the U.S.

Location:
Philadelphia is a two-hour drive from New York City, two-and-a-half hours from Washington, DC and 45 minutes from Atlantic City, with convenient access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike. 25% of the United States population lives within 350 miles of Center City Philadelphia.

The city is a 90-minute flight or a one-day drive from Toronto (880