Franklin College Benjamin Franklin Statue in Franklin, Indiana

Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father of the United States who helped draft and sign the Declaration of Independence and served as the first United States Postmaster General, is honored with two tributes on the campus of Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana.

The first is a large statue of Franklin located at the corner of Branigin Boulevard and Monroe Street at the northwest entrance to the campus. The statue, sculpted from marble in 1874 by James Mahoney, stands 12 feet tall. It was originally placed in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, on the Franklin Insurance Company building. When the building was razed in 1929, the statue was given to the International Typographical Union. In 1963, the union donated the statue to Franklin College. For many years, students were allowed to paint and decorate the statue to support sports teams and other causes, but this practice ended in 2014.

Founded in 1834, Franklin College has a beautiful, quiet campus. If you wish to stroll around, stop and relax at the second Franklin tribute: a bench depicting Franklin reading the U.S. Constitution. The bench is located outside the Napolitan Student Center and the B.F. Hamilton Library in Dame Mall. The mall was named after John Dame, the first graduate of Franklin College. Visitor parking is available along Park Avenue behind the library.

So stop at Franklin College for two Franklins for the price of one. An excellent twofer!