
Rocky Steps, Philadelphia
It is due to the iconic scene from the 1976 film Rocky that the 72 stone stairs leading up to the entrance of the Museum of Art in Philadelphia have been popularly dubbed as the "Rocky Steps". Ardent fans of the movie often mimic Rocky's famous climb, a metaphor for an underdog defying all odds or an everyman rising to a challenge.
In essence, this scene is also metaphorical in illustrating the “from rags to riches” life of Sylvester Stallone himself – creator of Rocky – once a child in foster care, homeless young man, sleeping in a bus shelter, who then wrote a story of Rocky, held onto it, despite all temptation, until finally landed a lead role and eventually became the highest paid actor in Hollywood.
According to Sly, the idea of the scene emerged when the film crew, bound by a tight budget, identified the steps one night while searching for filming locations around the city. Boxer Joe Frazier, however, who made a cameo appearance in the film, claimed that the steps scene was taken from his own training regimen and felt he was never duly credited for the way he inspired this and other parts of the movie.
Initially, Stallone imagined that Rocky should carry his dog Butkus up the steps, but the big bull mastiff proved too heavy for the task. Still, the commanding view opening from the top of the stairs (of Eakins Oval, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and Philadelphia City Hall) prompted him to re-shoot the scene without the dog.
Thirty years later, though, in the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, he did lift the dog, a smaller one, named Punchy, when he reached the top of the stairs. The closing credits of Rocky Balboa show a montage of dozens of people running up the steps. That same year, at the unveiling ceremony of the Rocky Statue at the foot of the stairs, Philadelphia Mayor John Street called the Rocky Steps one of Philly's biggest tourist attractions and said that Stallone, a native New Yorker, had become "the city's favorite adopted son".
In essence, this scene is also metaphorical in illustrating the “from rags to riches” life of Sylvester Stallone himself – creator of Rocky – once a child in foster care, homeless young man, sleeping in a bus shelter, who then wrote a story of Rocky, held onto it, despite all temptation, until finally landed a lead role and eventually became the highest paid actor in Hollywood.
According to Sly, the idea of the scene emerged when the film crew, bound by a tight budget, identified the steps one night while searching for filming locations around the city. Boxer Joe Frazier, however, who made a cameo appearance in the film, claimed that the steps scene was taken from his own training regimen and felt he was never duly credited for the way he inspired this and other parts of the movie.
Initially, Stallone imagined that Rocky should carry his dog Butkus up the steps, but the big bull mastiff proved too heavy for the task. Still, the commanding view opening from the top of the stairs (of Eakins Oval, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and Philadelphia City Hall) prompted him to re-shoot the scene without the dog.
Thirty years later, though, in the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, he did lift the dog, a smaller one, named Punchy, when he reached the top of the stairs. The closing credits of Rocky Balboa show a montage of dozens of people running up the steps. That same year, at the unveiling ceremony of the Rocky Statue at the foot of the stairs, Philadelphia Mayor John Street called the Rocky Steps one of Philly's biggest tourist attractions and said that Stallone, a native New Yorker, had become "the city's favorite adopted son".
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Rocky Steps on Map
Sight Name: Rocky Steps
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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.
Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
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Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Fairmount Park Historical Houses Walking Tour
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia's oldest park, established since 1867, is also the city's largest municipal park, sprawling over 2,000 acres adjacent to the banks of the Schuylkill River. The park grew out of the Lemon Hill estate of Henry Pratt, whose land was originally owned by Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
In 1972, the park was placed on the National... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
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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: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
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
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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.3 Km or 3.9 Miles
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 1740, 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, being one of the nine colonial colleges chartered prior to the U.S. Declaration of Independence,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Franklin Parkway Walking Tour
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is a scenic boulevard that runs through the cultural heart of Philadelphia. Named for Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, the mile-long tree-lined Parkway features many beautiful sculptures and fountains, and several world class museums. Follow this self guided walk to appreciate its beauty and explore the fine cultural institutions along the way.
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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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...