Free exhibition at the Science History Institute breaks down the flash, bang and boom of fireworks

Updated 2 hours ago
OLD CITY (WPVI) -- "Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks" at the Science History Institute is a blast.

The free exhibition, in celebration of America's 250th, explores the history and science behind the spectacular Fourth of July tradition.

Visitors get a literal look inside the aerial shells that burst into those sparkly explosions, and learn everything that goes into a fireworks show, from testing, designing, launching and selling.

It is believed the Chinese were the first to make fireworks. But the ones popular in America today derive from a firework brought to the United States at the turn of the 20th century by Italian immigrants.

The exhibit runs through July 31, 2027 at the Science History Institute.

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315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
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