Gouache painting of a fireworks displayGouache painting of a fireworks display
NEWS

Institute Presents Historical Fireworks, Pop-Up Museum, Giveaways at Philly Fair 250

Join us June 20 and 21 for a family-friendly celebration that will bring history to life.

Learn More
Two people in silhouette in front of a museum exhibit, a large detail of the Declaration of Independence blown up on the wall behindTwo people in silhouette in front of a museum exhibit, a large detail of the Declaration of Independence blown up on the wall behind
DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

The Freedom Plane

At a fragile moment in U.S. history, a flying roadshow looks to the past.

Read
An illustration of a firework or explosive device emitting sparks and flames in different directions.An illustration of a firework or explosive device emitting sparks and flames in different directions.
EXHIBITIONS

Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks

Part of America’s 250th birthday celebration, this sparkling exhibition explores the origins of and the science behind fireworks.

On view through July 31, 2027

Learn More
man in glasses sitting in front of a computer screen holding a mouseman in glasses sitting in front of a computer screen holding a mouse
COLLECTIONS BLOG

Live from Philadelphia, It’s the History of Science!

Celebrating 15,000 historical works in our digital collections.

Read
gif of chemist in a lab

We tell the stories behind the science.

The Science History Institute explores lesser-known and overlooked stories from the history of science and technology. We dive deep into the history of scientific successes and failures, with a focus on expanding knowledge and broadening our understanding of how science and society intersect.

Collect. Preserve. Interpret. Share.

Through research, storytelling, public programming, and educational outreach, we reveal how science is embedded in our daily lives.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.