I didn't bring my son to a museum to look at screens Published September 8, 2025 --- Personal museum nostalgia vs. modern experience The author fondly recalls childhood visits in the 1980s to The Franklin Institute (TFI) in Philadelphia, a place of wonder with real, hands-on scientific exhibits — such as physically interacting with objects like a funnel pendulum, running through a model heart, and exploring fascinating scientific phenomena by direct experience. --- Recent visit and disappointment During a recent family trip, the author visited TFI with his six-year-old son expecting a similar tactile and engaging experience but was met mostly with screens: Exhibits centered on interactive screens and digital touch panels rather than physical artifacts. Examples included “design your own rocket” games that were more like basic video games than creative learning tools. Screens were located centrally and dominated the main exhibition spaces. Although there were some real, hands-on exhibits (like block-and-tackle chairs, vibrational rods producing Lissajous curves, an evacuation cylinder experiment, and a “shimmer wall” for sound waves), these were tucked away, poorly maintained, or sometimes non-functional. --- Critique of screen-based exhibits The author argues that touchscreen and digital experiences are not truly hands-on. Digital simulations cannot replicate the sensory and intellectual engagement of manipulating real physical phenomena. The abundance of screens risks turning museums into places of passive screen consumption rather than active exploration. Screens feel like a race to compete with consumer electronics, but museums should instead provide a “break” for children from digital devices. --- Call to action for museums Museums should emphasize real, tangible, and interactive exhibits that activate curiosity and delight. Budgets and floor space devoted to screen-based exhibits should shift toward maintaining and expanding physical hands-on experiences. The author stresses that museums exist to present the actual objects and phenomena for visitors to experience over a lifetime, not just digital facsimiles. By eliminating touchscreen exhibits in favor of real-world interaction, museums can better serve children in an age saturated by "digital garbage." --- Positive notes TFI remains impressive if you avoid the screens, especially the Franklin Memorial rotunda (free to visit). The tucked-away hands-on displays, although neglected, still provide enriching experiences and should inspire replication elsewhere. --- Summary This reflection highlights a central tension in modern museums between digital, screen-based exhibits and traditional hands-on scientific exploration. While technology can enhance learning, reliance on screens risks undermining the unique, real-world sensory engagement museums should provide, especially for children. The article advocates for a return to real, interactive physical exhibits that inspire wonder rather than passive screen interaction. --- Links & Additional Info The Franklin Institute Website Images of screen-based exhibits (from article) Author contact and further posts/talks available on site --- Written by Seth Purcell