Florida Gov. DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Collins unveil Benjamin Franklin statue in Apalachicola

DeSantis, Collins unveil Benjamin Franklin statue

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins unveiled a new Benjamin Franklin statue on Wednesday in Apalachicola. The statue was unveiled on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on Sept. 17, 1787.

APALACHICOLA, Fla. - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins unveiled a new Benjamin Franklin statue on Wednesday in Apalachicola.

Benjamin Franklin statue unveiled in Florida

What we know:

DeSantis and Collins unveiled the new Benjamin Franklin statue at a press conference on Wednesday in Apalachicola.

The statue was unveiled on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on Sept. 17, 1787. 

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Franklin, a Founding Father, helped draft the Declaration of Independence and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, playing a vital role in the writing of the U.S. Constitution. 

He also served as the American ambassador to France during the American Revolution and helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the war with Britain. Additionally, Franklin was the first postmaster general of the U.S. and helped establish the postal system. As a scientist and inventor, he also demonstrated that lightning was a form of electrical energy and invented the lightning rod, bifocal eyeglasses and the Franklin stove.

What they're saying:

At the event, DeSantis spoke on the importance of Franklin's impact on U.S. history, as well as reflected upon the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

"I don't know how he did all the stuff he did," DeSantis said of Franklin. "I don't know if we've ever had a leader in American history that had such a diversity of accomplishments and achievements."

The backstory:

The governor has made civics education a priority throughout his years in office, advocating for a "patriotic" curriculum that emphasizes foundational American principles. His administration has overseen a significant revamp of civics instruction and has invested heavily in related programs and initiatives.

DeSantis noted that while other areas are tearing down statues of Founding Fathers, Florida is putting them up. 

The statues are part of DeSantis' $117.9 billion budget proposal that includes $1 million in cultural and museum grants for projects related to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence coming in 2026. 

DeSantis has already unveiled two other statues of Founding Fathers: one of Thomas Jefferson and one of George Washington.

The bronze statue of Jefferson was unveiled in July at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Monticello. A statue of Washington, on loan from Mount Vernon, was unveiled in February at the Florida State Capitol.

What's next:

DeSantis said statues of other leaders in U.S. history, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and James Monroe, will be unveiled in the near future. The governor said the statues will be placed in the counties named after the presidents: Hamilton County, Madison County and Monroe County.

When is America's 250th birthday?

Big picture view:

On July 4, 2026, the U.S. will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

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The one-year countdown to America’s 250th birthday kicked off on July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, with a Salute to America celebration featuring remarks by President Donald Trump.