Ben's 300th Birthday

Benjamin Franklin, founding father of the United States and beloved Philadelphian, would be 300 on January 17, 2006 if the fountain of youth had been among his inventions. The city of Philadelphia is in the midst of a year-long celebration of the statesman, inventor, publisher and more. Ben's legacy lives on in the institutions he founded or those that bear his name. Here, some images of Ben or the places and things that bring him to life today.