Location: 26th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Hours: Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. until 8:45 p.m.
Tip: Pay what you wish on the first Sunday of the month.
Overview
Whether you’ve come to see the world-renowned art collection, take photographs outside at one of the most picturesque spots in the city, or run up the steps in the footsteps of Philadelphia’s own Rocky Balboa (and you should do all of the above), just be sure to come. Philadelphia’s most impressive museum and the third-largest museum of art in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a sight to behold inside and out. Rising high at the end of the Parkway, it is the gateway to Fairmount Park. It is known to locals simply as “the Art Museum.”
History
Founded during the nation’s first centennial in 1876, it was originally as a museum of decorative arts housed in Fairmount Park’s Memorial Hall. It was relocated to its current location in 1928. Its chief designer, Julian Abele, was the first African American graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s architecture school.
Architecture
Inspired by temples he saw while traveling in Greece, Julian Abele designed the museum to look like three linked Greek temples. Made of Minnesota dolomite, the massive Greek revival building is adorned with rich color in the detailed friezes. Be sure to walk around outside and take in all the elaborate details, and don’t miss the intricate brightly painted sculptures along the top.
Inside the Museum
Take in what you can of the more than 200 galleries showcasing more than 225,000 works of art. Don’t miss some of the 80-plus carefully decorated period rooms that will transport you through time and all over the world. The museum hosts some of the most famous traveling exhibits in the art world, often serving as one of, if not the only, U.S. stop, so be sure to check the website to find out what is there.
If you’re looking for the 8-foot, 6-inch, 1,500-pound statue of Rocky, it is located on a street-level pedestal next to the East Entrance steps.
Every Friday evening, you can come for Art After 5, (5-8:45 p.m.) for live music (usually international or jazz), food, and wine in the Great Stair Hall, as well as access to select galleries, all for the price of admission.
There is still more to see just across the street with the 2007 addition of the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building (Fairmount and Pennsylvania Aves.) cost included in price of ticket to Main Building). The preserved art deco building is the first major expansion in 80 years. Modern gallery spaces, state-of-the-art visitor amenities, study centers, and educational resources are just some of the features offered in the impressive new space, which can be reached on foot or by free shuttle from the Main Building every 15 minutes.
