Into The Wardrobe

There's something about little kids walking into a closet and entering a magical world called Narnia ruled by a huge lion named Aslan that is just so incredibly intriguing and entertaining. Whether you've read the books, seen the movies at least a few times each (like me) or haven't a clue as to who this Aslan character is, the Chronicles of Narnia exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is sure to be enjoyable.

The premise behind the C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia is simple—four siblings enter a mysterious wardrobe leading them to a magical world filled with shimmering snow, an evil witch, and talking beavers. After several intense mythical battles, the siblings become kings and queens of this world and reign in Narnia for years. The exhibit at the Franklin Institute allows visitors to experience a real-life version of Narnia complete with movie sets, original props, and activities to partake in.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the exhibit is the scenery. Visitors take the position of the four siblings as they enter through the wardrobe into Narnia (complete with falling snow and an icy wind) and even sit on the evil White Witch's icy throne.

I've never gone to the Franklin Institute and not learned something useful, and this exhibition only reiterates that fact. With all the talk of global warming and the harm done to our environment, the Chronicles of Narnia exhibit features a display describing the impact of climate change on our planet. Visitors can build an archway inside of a castle, even with no architectural skills at all! There's also a medieval catapulting weapon, chain-mail armor, and battle reenactments.

The exhibit runs everyday until April 19. Really, what is more exciting than being able to say, "Yep, I sat on the White Witch's throne. Oh and yes, I did construct a mythical archway with my bare hands."

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations firm staff member, Marissa Sudol. Follow her on Twitter: @marissasudol