Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks
Part of America’s 250th celebrations, this sparkling exhibition explores the origins of and the science behind fireworks.
On view through July 31, 2027
Hach Gallery
Discover the explosive history of fireworks!
Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks explores the origins of fireworks and the science behind them—from the way they are made, designed, and tested, to how they are sold and ultimately launched into the sky. This sparkling new exhibition is our contribution to America’s nationwide celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Hand-colored engraving from The Complete Art of Making Fireworks, 1835 (left); illustration of a fireworks set piece by Berthier & Cie, Monteux, France, 1920s (center); hand-colored etching from The Art of Making Fireworks, Detonating Balls, &c., ca. 1820s (right).
With objects ranging from historic rare books and fine art, to consumer catalogs and the latest pyrotechnic technologies, Flash! Bang! Boom! will allow visitors to gain a deeper understanding of centuries of knowledge among pyrotechnical makers. On display in our museum, located just blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Old City Philadelphia, this exhibition will have high visibility and be a unique contribution to our nation’s birthday celebrations.
Philly Fair 250
Join us on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21 for Wawa Welcome America’s Philly Fair 250, a multiday extravaganza celebrating America’s 250th birthday! Visit the Institute’s pop-up museum, where we’ll be showcasing Flash! Bang! Boom! with family-friendly activities and fun giveaways until 8pm on Saturday and 6pm on Sunday. Stick around after dark on the first night for a rare, historically inspired fireworks show presented in partnership with Welcome America. You’ll be transported back in time by this dramatic pyrotechnic burning of a temporary architectural structure, a form of entertainment that captivated crowds for centuries. The second night will feature a large-scale, modern fireworks display known by audiences today. Philly Fair 250 is free and open to all ages.
Exhibition Opening
“Launch Party! A History of Fireworks Opening Celebration” took place on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 5pm to 8pm at the Institute. This free event featured a curator’s talk, a look at the inside of a firework, pyrotechnic-themed objects from our collections, hands-on activities, refreshments, and much more.
About Flash! Bang! Boom!
Visitors will navigate through the cross-cultural history of fireworks and discover details they don’t usually get to see, from rare books that share early designs and origin stories, to the inside of a firework and the colorful chemistry of a festive display. Flash! Bang! Boom! explores all the steps involved in getting to the final explosion in the sky through five themes: making, designing, testing, selling, and launching.
Support
Major support for Flash! Bang! Boom! has been provided by the Bolte Family Foundation, Maria Maccecchini/Annovis Bio, and Kenan & Andrea Sahin/CAMX Power, with additional support from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the Laurie Landeau Foundation LLC & Lew Gasorek, Dan Adams & Manon Cox, Chris Alafi/Bering Capital, Barry Arkles & Janine Black, Peter Bernstein & Ala Hamilton-Day, Cynthia Cai, Michael DeSimone & Susan Hughes, Kathleen Egan & Rod Ferguson, the Fireworks Foundation, Freedom Integrated Energy and Chemical Company, David Martin, Fred & Kimberley Middleton, Mike Oeth, Louise Palmer & Stephen Salzer, Christopher D. Pappas, Margaret H. Rakowsky, Eric Rugart, John Spears, Cheryl Teich, and Fredric & Elizabeth Weber.
Featured image: Figure 53: Display of Fireworks on the Seine, Paris, from Chemistry, Developed by Facts and Principles Drawn Chiefly from the Non-Metals, 1884.
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PRESS RELEASE
Institute’s New Exhibition Explores the Sparkling and Explosive History of Fireworks
‘Flash! Bang! Boom!’ opens April 10 as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.
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DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
Fireworks
This collection features materials related to the history and science of fireworks, gunpowder, and other explosives.
The Institute’s Hach Gallery is named in memory of Clifford C. Hach (1919–1990) through the generosity of his wife, Kathryn C. “Kitty” Hach-Darrow (1922–2020). In the 1940s, the married chemists cofounded the Hach Chemical Company, which became a leading producer of water-testing reagents and instruments.