Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon

Celebrate Archives Month Philly at the Wagner Free Institute of Science as we showcase glass lantern slides from the special collections of six participating Philadelphia organizations.

In the spirit of lantern exhibition culture, this salon will bring together unique and rarely-seen images presented in the context for which they were originally created. Sit back and enjoy as we explore the intersection of art and scientific discovery through scientific illustrations and photographs from Academy of Natural Sciences collecting expeditions; travel to Tahiti in the 1920s with John Hill Bourne; witness the arrival of the elevated train in Frankford; journey back in time for some breathtaking views of Switzerland; celebrate the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s arrival in Philadelphia with a whirlwind tour of his life; and so much more!