A Love Letter to Ben Franklin (and Why You’ll Fall for Him Too)
I Have a Confession
I am in love with Ben Franklin. It didn’t start that way. For years, I thought he was a bit of a poser… a wannabe. I mean, he was never President or Vice President. He never held a Cabinet position. He never led the military or held a formal military rank. He never had the big, flashy titles we usually associate with greatness.
But then I moved to Philadelphia, and everything changed. Without even trying, I fell completely in love with Ben Franklin. I didn’t plan it. But here I am, years later, in total awe of his intelligence, his perseverance, and I have to admit his swag.
And here’s the truth:
It’s almost impossible to spend time in Philadelphia without bumping into a place Ben shaped or feeling his influence on this city. His presence is everywhere, woven into the streets, institutions, and identity of Philadelphia. And for me, spotting his likeness or his name has become a joyful little scavenger hunt that never ends.
Why It’s So Easy to Fall in Love With Ben Franklin in Philadelphia
Ben isn’t just a historical figure here. He’s a presence. A personality.
A spark of curiosity that still lives in the Philadelphia. He is the city’s unofficial mascot (Sorry Gritty, Swoop and Fanatic).
You’ll find him or his name on bridges (that is the Ben Franklin bridge to the left), statues and monuments, museums, street names, restaurant branding, murals and public art and many unexpected corners of Old City
Philadelphia’s Firsts — Thanks to Ben Franklin
One of the reasons Ben shows up everywhere is because he helped create the foundation of the city itself. Philadelphia is a city of FIRSTS, and many of those firsts exist because of him.
Here are some of the institutions and innovations he helped establish:
the first public library in America
the first volunteer fire department
the first hospital in the colonies
the first medical school
the first fire insurance company
the first postal system
the first political cartoon in America
Ben didn’t just live in Philadelphia — he shaped it.
Everyday Things We Use Today That Ben Invented
Beyond the big civic contributions, Ben also created practical inventions that still touch our lives today. Some of his greatest hits:
bifocals
the lightning rod
the Franklin stove
swim fins
the odometer (to measure postal routes)
political cartoons
daylight saving time (okay, we can debate whether this was a good idea, but he did suggest it)
He wasn’t just brilliant, he was relentlessly curious. He saw problems and solved them.
Ben Franklin Sayings We Still Use Today
Ben was also the king of the one‑liner. Many of the sayings we toss around today came from his writing in Poor Richard’s Almanack, where he blended wit, wisdom, and a little mischief. Here are ten of my favorites:
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
“Well done is better than well said.”
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
“Lost time is never found again.”
“Energy and persistence conquer all things.”
“Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
He was basically the original Instagram caption writer.
My Ben Franklin Photo Collection
If you want to see just how deep my Ben obsession goes, you can scroll through my growing collection of selfie with Ben Franklin’s likeness or name, about 225 of them, on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finding_Ben_In_Philly
It’s become a quirky little passion project and a reminder of how much history lives in the everyday corners of this city.
Let Me Help You Fall in Love With Ben Too
If you’re visiting Philadelphia, I can curate a day that weaves Ben’s world into the modern city including the places he lived, worked, experimented, debated, and shaped the future.
You don’t have to be a history buff. You just have to be curious.
Because once you start noticing Ben, you’ll see him everywhere — and you might just fall for him too.
This picture is my husband, Phil, on a day that Ben showed up during tailgating before an Eagles game. He is everywhere….
