A House for Democracy: Tackling Disinformation and Rebuilding Trust

The Benjamin Franklin House (BFH, or ‘the House’) is the only remaining residence of Benjamin Franklin and serves as a historic site dedicated to preserving his life and legacy. The House seeks to evolve beyond its role as a historic site by growing its audience, diversifying funding opportunities, and strengthening digital engagement.

To achieve this goal, the Capstone team recommended BFH pivot from a primarily preservation-focused institution into an active platform for civic engagement, public participation, and international exchange. To that end, this report provided 1) an updated mission statement for the House, and 2) a social impact campaign that aligns with the mission statement.

To inform these deliverables, the team conducted research on Benjamin Franklin’s life and the embodiment of Enlightenment values through primary and secondary sources. The team also conducted a peer institution analysis and interviews with BFH Board and staff members, virtually and in-person in London. From this research, the team gained important insights on how best to steward Benjamin Franklin’s legacy while leveraging it to address modern issues such as civic engagement, democracy, and scientific innovation.

The new mission statement maintained the House’s preservationist roots while transitioning it into an impact-focused, public facing institution. The campaign helped the House fulfill this mission by leveraging the American semiquincentennial to expand digital engagement and provide audiences with meaningful resources to understand issues facing the modern world. With this plan, the House will succeed in revitalizing Benjamin Franklin’s legacy as a resource for preserving and strengthening democracy.