Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, with its roots dating back to 1876 as part of the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, stands as a significant cultural landmark. The main building, completed in 1928 on Fairmount, crowns the northwest end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at Eakins Oval. This prestigious institution is renowned for its expansive collection, which encompasses over 240,000 objects. The collection's diversity is impressive, featuring major works of European, American, and Asian origin across various mediums such as sculpture, paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, armor, and decorative arts.

Beyond its main building, the museum extends its reach through several annexes. Notably, the Rodin Museum, also situated on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building, located just north across the street from the main building, expand the museum's offerings. The Perelman Building, opened in 2007, is particularly notable for housing an extensive collection of over 150,000 prints, drawings, and photographs, along with 30,000 costume and textile items, and more than 1,000 modern and contemporary design objects, including furniture, ceramics, and glasswork.

The museum's scope extends to the historic colonial-era houses of Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove, both nestled within Fairmount Park. These houses add a historical dimension to the museum's diverse portfolio. Owned by the City of Philadelphia, the main museum building and its annexes are managed by a registered nonprofit corporation. The museum is not just a repository of art but also a vibrant center for cultural exchange, hosting several special exhibitions each year. These include touring exhibitions in collaboration with other museums both in the United States and internationally.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Philadelphia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Philadelphia Museum of Art on Map

Sight Name: Philadelphia Museum of Art
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Create Your Own Walk in Philadelphia

Create Your Own Walk in Philadelphia

Creating your own self-guided walk in Philadelphia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia

Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia

Benjamin Franklin's journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in Revolutionary America began when he, as a teenager, ventured from a Puritan family in Boston to Philadelphia. This city would not only become his home but also a stage for his remarkable life as a writer, printer, philosopher, postmaster, scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat. His life epitomizes the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Franklin Parkway Walking Tour

Franklin Parkway Walking Tour

Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic boulevard running through the cultural heart of Philadelphia. Named for America's Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, this mile-long tree-lined parkway is lined with several notable sights and world-class museums.

At its heart lies Logan Circle, a charming green space centered around a picturesque fountain. This spot can provide a refreshing break on...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Rocky Movie Sites Walking Tour

Rocky Movie Sites Walking Tour

There's hardly any other character, fictional or real, as iconically Philadelphian as Rocky. Indeed, this American sports drama franchise, centered on the boxing career of Rocky Balboa, released in 1976, has become synonymous with and arguably done more for the city of Philadelphia than anyone else since Ben Franklin.

The cultural phenomenon was created by Sylvester Stallone, who wrote,...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.3 Km or 3.9 Miles
University of Pennsylvania Walking Tour

University of Pennsylvania Walking Tour

As America's first university, The University of Pennsylvania (aka Penn or Upenn, for short) has a history stretching back to the mid-18th century, closely bound with the city's colonial past and the birth of the United States. Initially, this Ivy League institution emerged as the College of Philadelphia, one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the US Declaration of...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Philadelphia Introduction Walking Tour

Philadelphia Introduction Walking Tour

The sixth largest city in the United States and the largest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is a dynamic city heaped with old-world charm and contemporary infrastructure. Notable for its rich history, primarily as the birthplace of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Often called Philly, Philadelphia is also known as the City of Brotherly Love – a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour

Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour

King Charles II of England, while seriously indebted to Admiral Sir William Penn, settled his debt in 1681 by granting lands in America to William Penn, the Admiral's Quaker son. A thorn in the King's side, young Penn sailed to America, where he envisioned a utopian society based on tolerance and founded Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love."

The Old City Center, the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

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Philadelphia Souvenirs: 13 Unique Gift Ideas from the City of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia Souvenirs: 13 Unique Gift Ideas from the City of Brotherly Love

Looking for a great gift while visiting Philadelphia? Famous for its history, arts and culture, championship sports teams, and award-winning food and drink, Philadelphia is a top-rated shopping destination. Here, you'll find an amazing selection of items to choose from - something uniquely...