First University in America: 1740

The University of Pennsylvania is taking its turn in the spotlight on Saturday, November 14, at Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street. The exhibition focuses on Penn's claim as the nation's first university, and it's part of a citywide celebration that's been running all year.

That celebration is called 52 Weeks of Firsts, put together by the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee. It's one of the ways the city is marking the Semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence—America 250—with a full year of programming. The whole idea is to devote each week to a different "Philly-born" first, with storytelling, giveaways, scavenger hunts, and an oversized #1 foam sculpture at the spot. It stretches across at least 16 sections of the city and brings together 22 Philadelphia museums and cultural institutions, so this is just one stop in a much larger circuit.

At Penn, the Penn Libraries are the ones leading the charge. They've brought together colleagues from across campus for exhibitions, art commissions, performances, courses, and conferences that re-examine the university's founding document from both historical and contemporary perspectives. The focus here is on the school's role as the first university in the country, a title it traces back to its founding by Benjamin Franklin.

If you want to catch this particular piece of the puzzle, head to Houston Hall on Saturday, November 14, from 11 AM to 1 PM. Admission is free.