Renovated Ben Franklin Museum Reopening In Philly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia museum dedicated to the city's most famous Founding Father is reopening after nearly two years of renovations.

The new Benjamin Franklin Museum will welcome its first visitors on Aug. 24.

The 7,000-square-foot underground facility had opened in 1976 at the downtown site where Franklin's house once stood.

By 2011, many displays and exhibits were broken or dated. The facility closed that fall to undergo a $15 million refurbishment funded by a public-private partnership.

The new museum features artifacts, computer animation and interactive displays. The location also includes a ghost structure outlining the size of Franklin's three-story brick house.

The National Park Service says the museum's official grand opening celebration is scheduled for Sept. 19.