Benjamin Franklin with Kite Statue

Did Benjamin Franklin really risk his life for science? Here at the Benjamin Franklin with Kite statue, we grapple with that question. This massive sculpture by Isamu Noguchi, titled “Bolt of Lightning…A Memorial to Ben Franklin,” captures the iconic moment of Franklin’s experiment. It’s a dramatic representation, over 100 feet tall, right at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The Benjamin Franklin with Kite statue itself was a long time coming. Noguchi initially proposed a similar piece in the 1930s. It was revived decades later and finally installed in 1984. Now, the Benjamin Franklin with Kite statue stands as a testament to both Franklin’s ingenuity and Noguchi’s artistic vision. The story goes that in June 1752, Franklin, assisted by his son William, flew a kite during a thunderstorm. The kite, made of silk with a pointed wire at the top, was connected to a hemp string. A silk ribbon insulated Franklin from the hemp. At the junction of the hemp and silk, a key was attached. The goal was to prove lightning’s electrical nature. Contrary to popular belief, Franklin wasn’t trying to get struck by lightning at the Benjamin Franklin with Kite experiment location. That would have been fatal. Instead, he aimed to collect the ambient electrical charge from the storm. As the storm raged, Franklin observed the loose threads of the hemp string stand on end. He then brought his knuckle close to the key and felt a spark. This spark proved the connection between lightning and electricity. Franklin’s Benjamin Franklin with Kite experiment, while dramatized over time, was a pivotal moment in scientific history. He didn’t discover electricity, but he demonstrated its link to lightning. This led to the invention of the lightning rod, a groundbreaking innovation that continues to protect buildings worldwide. The Benjamin Franklin with Kite statue serves as a reminder of this pivotal moment, immortalizing Franklin’s contribution to our understanding of electricity.