Franklin Court Printing Office, at 318 Market St in Philadelphia, is a small museum in Independence National Historical Park, near the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Park rangers demonstrate printing on a replica of an 18th-century press, showing how colonial printers set type and put words on paper. The demonstrations explain why printed material mattered during the American Revolution, and you can buy hand-printed reproductions. It is a brief, practical stop if you are already exploring Franklin Court or Independence Hall.
Franklin’s work as a printer
Benjamin Franklin worked as a printer and newspaper editor, among many other roles. His original printing office no longer exists. The present-day site in Franklin Court helps visitors understand this part of his life and the place printed material held in the era of the American Revolution.
How the demonstration works
The press is a replica of an 18th-century model. Rangers show how a printer set type before using the press to transfer words onto paper. Broadsheets and other printed items help explain the process, while the demonstration gives visitors a close look at the equipment and its operation.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is Franklin Court Printing Office free to visit?
Yes. The printing office is free to enter.
How long does a visit take?
Allow about 15 to 30 minutes.
What can you see at the printing office?
Rangers demonstrate printing with a replica 18th-century press, including how printers set type and print documents.
Can you buy prints there?
Yes. Reproductions are available, including hand-printed copies of the Declaration of Independence.
