The Giant Heart facts for kids
The Giant Heart exhibit is one of the most famous and popular attractions at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. It was first called the "Engine of Life" exhibit. Built in 1953, this exhibit is super big! It's about two stories tall and 35 feet wide. When you visit, you can actually walk through the different parts of this huge heart. It's like stepping inside a real heart to see how it works. For many kids in the Philadelphia area, especially on school trips, visiting the Giant Heart is a special tradition.
The Giant Heart Exhibit
How It Started
The idea for this amazing walk-through heart came from a doctor named Mildred Pfeiffer. She was a physician who taught people about the heart and staying healthy. Dr. Pfeiffer thought it would be great to have one big place where everyone could go to learn about the heart.
The Giant Heart was first made from simple materials. These included papier-mâché, chicken wire, and lumber. It was only supposed to be on display for six months. Dr. Pfeiffer designed it with help from a medical artist and an engineer. But the exhibit became very popular! So, the Franklin Institute decided to keep it. More than 70 years later, it is still one of the most visited exhibits there.
What You'll See Inside
The Giant Heart is 100 times bigger than an average human heart. As you walk through it, there are signs. These signs point out which part of the "heart" you are passing by.
The deeper you walk into the heart, the louder the sound of a heartbeat gets. This sound was first made by a computer. But during updates in 2019, it was changed. Now, you hear the sound of a real human heartbeat!
Next to the Giant Heart, you'll find the Bio-science exhibit. This area helps visitors learn more about the human body. It aims to make science interesting for everyone.
Keeping It New
The Giant Heart has been updated several times. In 1979, it was rebuilt using a stronger material called fiberglass. It was also remodeled and updated in 2004 and again in 2019. These updates help keep the exhibit modern and exciting for new visitors.
