What’s the difference between a firecracker and a rocket—and how do they work? Why have fireworks come to represent events as diverse as the Chinese New Year, Italian saint days, and the 4th of July?

Find out by taking a tour of our new Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks exhibition, which explores the fascinating international history of fireworks: from the chemistry of how they go “boom,” the factory laborers who churn them out, and the pyrotechnicians who light the match, to the migrants and business leaders who made them famous, and the innovators lighting up a new future.

Join us for America 250 and beyond!


Drop-in tours are free and no reservations are necessary.

Featured image from Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making, 1922.

More events

oil painting showing an alchemist/scholar at a desk
October 24, 2026
Free

Art of Alchemy Self-Guided Visit

Step into the age of alchemy and explore works in our new permanent exhibition, Fire and Gold: The Art of Alchemy (1450–1850).

page of book with color illustration of a man giving a vaccine to a baby boy
October 24, 2026
Tours

Unwell Waters Highlights Tour

Join our museum educators as we visit the history of medicine exhibit to learn about waterborne epidemics from Pennsylvania’s past.

book illustration of a spider in a web
October 24, 2026
For Families

Stories of Science: Craft-tober

Join us in our museum EVERY SATURDAY for a family-friendly program that highlights strange and surprising stories from the history of science!

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.