This innovative technical institute owes its existence to the vision of Benjamin Franklin. In his will, Mr. Franklin bequeathed a gift to the "inhabitants of the Town of Boston" to help educate technical apprentices. In 1906, the managers of the Franklin Fund decided that a technical institute would best accomplish Franklin's original purpose. Aided by an additional gift from industrialist Andrew Carnegie and land donated by the City of Boston, BFIT opened its doors to students in 1908.