The Franklin Institute is set to bid farewell to its beloved air show exhibit, which has been entertaining visitors since 2003. The second-floor staple, known as the "Franklin Air Show," featured vintage aircraft and interactive games that allowed kids to experience the thrill of flight firsthand. From climbing into a T-33 jet trainer to flapping foam wings against a powerful fan, the exhibit was a kid's dream come true.
However, after nearly two decades in operation, the Franklin Institute has announced that it will be closing its doors to the air show on January 5th. The museum has confirmed that the iconic Wright brothers' 1911 Model B flyer will be relocated to a new spot within the building, but the fate of the remaining artifacts remains uncertain.
As part of a larger reorganization effort aimed at consolidating its collection into six core exhibits, the Franklin Institute plans to replace the air show with something entirely new. The theme of this upcoming exhibit has yet to be revealed, but in a hint on social media, museum officials suggested it would be a "sunnier experience" for visitors.
While details are scarce, one thing is clear: the loss of the air show will mark a significant change for the Logan Square destination, which has been undergoing a years-long transformation. The exhibit's departure is just the latest chapter in this ongoing story, as the museum continues to reimagine its space and offerings.
However, after nearly two decades in operation, the Franklin Institute has announced that it will be closing its doors to the air show on January 5th. The museum has confirmed that the iconic Wright brothers' 1911 Model B flyer will be relocated to a new spot within the building, but the fate of the remaining artifacts remains uncertain.
As part of a larger reorganization effort aimed at consolidating its collection into six core exhibits, the Franklin Institute plans to replace the air show with something entirely new. The theme of this upcoming exhibit has yet to be revealed, but in a hint on social media, museum officials suggested it would be a "sunnier experience" for visitors.
While details are scarce, one thing is clear: the loss of the air show will mark a significant change for the Logan Square destination, which has been undergoing a years-long transformation. The exhibit's departure is just the latest chapter in this ongoing story, as the museum continues to reimagine its space and offerings.
the Franklin Institute is closing down their air show exhibit after like 20 yrs??! 
i used to love going there w/ my little bro when we were kids we would play on that jet trainer all day lol what's gonna replace it tho? they said its gonna be "sunnier" but idk about that 
they should keep the old exhibit cuz it was so cool! 
any1 got links to that new exhibit tho? 
Okay okay, I know they said it's part of a bigger plan to reorganize and make new exhibits but honestly, I loved that air show so much! 
Who knows what's gonna replace it tho? Maybe somethin' super cool & fun? Fingers crossed! 
But for real though, I'm gonna miss seein' all those old planes & climbin' into the jet trainer when I was a kid 
it was like the highlight of my childhood every time i visited the franklin institute with my family they had these awesome old planes on display and you could even go inside one lol i heard it's being replaced with something new but idk what to expect from a "sunnier experience" sounds kinda vague 
anyway i hope whatever comes next is just as amazing
it was so cool, I spent like an hour tryin' to fly a plane simulator thingy and got totally lost in that T-33 jet trainer... anyway, i'm not sure what's comin' next but hopefully it'll be just as rad 
anyway, gonna miss flyin' planes like a boss 
. like, who doesn't love sunshine, right? 
. Now I heard they're gonna replace it with some new exhibit, but honestly, I'm skeptical 
. What's gonna be cooler than learnin' about the Wright brothers and gettin' to play airplane? 
... still, can't help feelin' a little sad that it's goin' away 
.
) when we were younger. It's sad to think about those vintage planes just collecting dust now 
. Who would've thought it'd be closing after 22 years?! 
That T-33 jet trainer was so cool! 
. I'm kinda curious about this new exhibit tho... "sunnier experience"? Hope they don't mess it up 
. It's like, what are they gonna replace it with?! 
. It was more than just an exhibit, it was an experience for kids (and let's be real, adults too 
). The Franklin Institute has been doing a great job of revamping their space, but this is a big loss. I hope whatever new exhibit they come up with lives up to the nostalgia of the air show 
But, I get it – change is necessary, and they need to make room for something new 
. Hopefully, whatever comes next will be just as exciting 
. Maybe it'll be a whole new exhibit that's even better than the air show?