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With so many historic Victorian buildings, representing a wide array of architectural styles, visitors often come just to walk around the town to view the buildings. There are a few ways in which you can do this. If you just want to see the architecture, you can do the self-guided walking tour. These Walking Tour Guides are available at Franklin City Hall or Franklin Chamber of Commerce. The Franklin Rotary Club offers guided walking tours during Applefest. Those interested should call in advance (+1 814 437-2072) to find out more information about specific tour dates. Other groups, such as the local Garden Club, offer House and Garden Tours during 4th of July Festivities Week.
The Episcopal Church also shows off the city's former wealth, with its complete collection of Tiffany Windows and mahogany pews. From the outside the church is a stunning example of Victorian architecture. However, from the inside the church is even more breathtaking. St. John's Church includes one of three complete collections of Tiffany windows in the world. All of the windows in the church were commissioned by St. John's and created by the Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios. The "rose" window above the North entrance is the second largest Tiffany window in the world, also said to be one of Tiffany's personal favorites. The pews of the church are also quite beautiful, as the wood used to make them is all from the Amazon Rainforest in South America. Guided tours are available and may be scheduled by calling the church and making a reservation with a church docent;
A museum dedicated to antiques related to music, such as phonographs, organs, and player pianos. Not only do visitors get to learn about the music-makers, you also get to hear all of them played. It may seem like an odd museum at first, but the tour is quite entertaining. Downstairs is an antique shop open year-round. You can visit the shop without taking the tour if you wish.
The construction of the courthouse was completed in 1868. It was designed by Philadelphian architects and built by a local builder. It was made in the Italianate architectural style, most visible in its uneven towers. Inside the courthouse there are displays of Native American artifacts, such as arrowheads and pottery, from Venango County and nearby areas.
These parks flank the courthouse on both sides, with Fountain Park to the right and Bandstand Park to the left. The parks are over 200 years old, as they were incorporated into the original city layout in 1795. The Civil War Monument was built just a year after the war ended in 1866. It contains the names of over 400 men from Venango County killed in the war. It is one of the oldest Civil War monuments in the state. The Egbert Memorial Fountain in Fountain Park was built in 1886 in memory of Dr. A.G. Egbert who gave a lot of his oil wealth back to the town. Bandstand Park contains a Vietnam Memorial, Revolutionary War Memorial and, of course, a bandstand where the Franklin Silver Cornet Band, one of America's oldest traditional town bands, plays regular concerts every summer. Applefest takes place in these parks every October.
Although most of the items are for sale, this antique mall is also set up as a museum. There are a wide variety of antiques and knick-knacks to look at, from armor to posters to toys. As antiques are sold and new antiques are brought in, you are likely to notice something new every time you visit.
The Hoge-Osmer House is headquarters for Venango County Historical Society, and is also a house museum. The house was built by Thomas Hoge in 1866 at the close of the Civil War. The Newton Osmer family moved into the house in the early 1890s and made many renovations and additions.