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September 2003

Ben Franklin, the Liberty Bell ... and a tower of money?

Coinciding with a celebration of the country's birthday in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia opened an interactive lobby exhibit that explores money, banking and the Federal Reserve.
The exhibit, “Money in Motion,” tells the story of the Federal Reserve and underscores Philadelphia's role as the birthplace of our nation's first bank through 16 exhibit elements.

An animated image of Ben Franklin greets visitors and invites them to learn more about the Fed's role in the nation's payments system, regulation and supervision of banks, and the economy.

Among the exhibit's highlights are:

• a display of new currency,

• video footage of the inside of the bank's vault,

• tips on how to prevent identity theft,

• currency from colonial days to the present and

• electronic ticker tallies of the trillions of dollars transferred electronically every day.

In addition, one of the largest plasma screens available today displays “Crisis Management,” a documentary that describes the Fed's role in the security of our financial system, through the example of how the Fed acted swiftly following the Sept. 11 attacks.

But visitors can't leave the display without matching wits with Ben Franklin through a timed interactive game featuring questions about money, banking and the Fed.

See the Philadelphia Fed exhibit.

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