By Molly Given

Locals can step behind the curtain and into the magic with the Franklin Institute’s latest showcase, ‘Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition.’

The world premiere of what’s been called an immersive, first-of-its-kind experience, debuted at the FI last weekend. It’s a full walkthrough of the brand’s most notable artifacts, costumes, and props, and a venue to peer behind the scenes at the creative process that brings Universal’s most popular experiences to life.

“Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition is a trailblazing concept that pulls back the curtain on an industry that entertains and thrills millions, revealing the science, innovation, and creativity in some of the most epic experiences in themed entertainment,” says Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “The exhibition brings beloved moments to life in new and exciting ways, delivering a truly unique and fun experience that we are proud to present as a world premiere in 2026.”

While walking around the 18,000-square-foot showcase, locals will find 20 interactive stops, and 100 artifacts from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, ‘Jaws’, Illumination’s ‘Minions’, ‘The Secret Life of Pets’, ‘Sing’, ‘Jurassic World’, DreamWorks Animation’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, ‘Universal Monsters’ and Super Nintendo World.

To kick everything off, guests will step into the introductory “tram” experience where they’ll see archival footage, photography, and behind-the-scenes moments. The galleries, on the other hand, will have stations where visitors can program an animated figure, experiment with projection mapping, and even “call” a live show.

Along the way, they’ll encounter authentic objects, props, design models, mood boards, and production materials that trace the evolution of a theme park experience from its earliest spark of an idea to its final, polished detail.

Immersive photo opportunities will also be on site and take guests on a ride vehicle, beside a walk-around character, within a classic ‘Jaws’ storyboard, and next to a Super Mario Block. ‘Universal Theme Parks’ will also feature video shorts on storyboard artists, lighting designers, prop masters, and other creative visionaries.

The experience is broken up into eight different gallery themes. For example, ‘Storytelling & Wonder’ showcases the journey from early concepts and sketches to fully realized environments, ‘Scares & Horror’ delves into Universal’s legacy of horror, while ‘Big, Bold & Entertaining’ highlights Universal’s live entertainment.

And there’s plenty more to see in between.

“The themed entertainment industry is innovative and future-ready, and has never been explored this way before,” adds Abby Bysshe, Chief Experience and Strategy Officer at The Franklin Institute.

“We curated this exhibition so that every object tells a story, and every interactive introduces a creative concept, all within a fun, hands-on environment. Guests aren’t just observing how theme parks are made—they are stepping into the process.”

‘Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition’ at the Franklin Institute (222 N 20th Street) is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening hours available Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets should be purchased in advance at fi.edu or by calling 215-448-1200.