At the Discovery Center
Explore the Galleries
Welcome Gallery
setting the stage for your journey of self-discovery.
Begin your journey of discovery in this gallery where you will meet contemporary Americans who share what each of six common values mean to them. These six values - faith, liberty, justice, hope, unity, and love - are the core values you will encounter throughout the exhibits. Which one resonates with you the most?
The Freedom of Faith
faith trusts in the light of God, even when it's dark.
In this gallery you will encounter themes of change, conflict, and crisis in the development of a new nation as you explore the relationship between freedom and faith in early America: how faith informed early colonial governments and the revolution, and what is possible with freedom of conscience, thought, and religion. Discover the thread of religious liberty connecting William Penn’s “Holy Experiment” in Pennsylvania, the colonial Great Awakening, the American founding era, and the First Amendment.
The Spirit of Liberty
Liberty freely chooses what is right and good.
The promise of liberty is at the heart of the American experience. In this gallery, meet famous and forgotten biblically inspired individuals who worked throughout our nation's history to expand America’s religious, political, civil, and economic liberties for all people.
Struggling Towards Justice
Justice pursues fairness for everyone.
What happens when peoples' individual rights conflict? Whose rights are prioritized? In this gallery, you will explore the country’s complex path toward justice and how Americans have looked to the Bible for guidance amid such conflicts as slavery, voting rights, war, and immigration. Through the lenses of the individual, the community, and the nation, you can discover how faith guides liberty toward justice.
The Reality of Hope
Hope expects the promise of a good future.
In times of difficulty, confusion, danger, or great suffering Americans have turned to the Bible for spiritual strength. In this gallery you discover the personal stories of people who have found comfort in the Bible, realizing the power of faith to restore hope. A central reflection theater and interactive Hope wall invite your participation.
The Beauty of Unity
Unity crosses boundaries and finds harmony with others.
This gallery is a fun, insightful, and uniting experience as you see what you and others have collected spill into a beautiful data visualization on the wall around you. You may see similarities in the selections as dynamic animation illustrates the shared values that can bind people together—even when we have deep differences.
Liberty's Light
Love is expressed as faith, liberty, justice, hope, and unity
Journey with William Penn to his new model colony in this one-of-a-kind immersive theater experience. Then use your FLDC Lamp to step into inspiring stories from history and help build the city of Philadelphia. “Liberty’s Light” brings to life Penn’s Bible-based vision—a community defined by religious liberty and brotherly love. How can we carry on Penn’s legacy of love today?
At Home
Continue your journey or begin a new one
Discover your own values about faith and liberty as you journey through the interactive exhibits. Use your FLDC Lamp to collect checkpoints of memories and discoveries along the way, and take your unique experience home with MY FLDC.
Around Philadelphia
The Faith & Liberty Trail
Discover Philadelphia’s hidden history with the Faith and Liberty Trail app. You’ll venture through Philadelphia’s Old City, rich with historic sites and opportunities to revisit moments like Benjamin Franklin’s fugitive days, the city’s handling of the Yellow Fever epidemic, and more. Look for the notable family-friendly sites along the way (some which may ring a bell)! Download for free on iOS and Android.
Experience the History
Experience Philadelphia’s Most Immersive Museum
Hours
Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm