Marker: Where Ben Franklin Flew His Kite

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At least a half-dozen sites in the historic district of Philadelphia claim to be the one where, in 1752, Benjamin Franklin flew a kite in a lightning storm to prove his theory of electricity. But for some reason only this one -- which is not among the top candidates according to historians -- had the wisdom to put up a plaque proclaiming it to be the spot.

The plaque is bolted to the outside wall of St. Stephen's Church, which was built on the spot some 50 years later. Whoever put up the plaque has positioned it cleverly beneath a Philadelphia Historical Commission marker, which was put here for the church, not the contested kite-flying claim.