Philadelphia Museum of Art — Attraction in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Museum is a beautiful museum, inside and out. It greets you with stunning architecture in every hall and passage way. It was built for the ages. Of course, most people run up the famous stairs and take a picture of Rocky. Be prepared to stand in line for the latter (we decided to pass on Rocky), but did spend some time taking in the vistas of the city. A general admission ticket is $25 for adults and it gets you two days of entry, including admission to the Rodin museum that is down the road. They also have "pay what you can" admission on the first Sunday of the month. Once you master the map, an array of treasures await you. The museum has a guide to most of its highlights. Some of my favorites were the middle ages where the doors and frescos are built in to the rooms making each room a new experience. Following that is extremely beautiful East Asian art including the striking blue paints of the east and middle east in Persia (now Iran) and as part of the Ming dynasty. Because their art is generally a set of collections from wealthy contributors, they tend to have one or two pieces of renowned artists, though boast one of the biggest collections of Cezanne, where featuring quite a collection of Thomas Eakin. There are also uniquities, like having one of the only Van Gogh sunflowers in the U.S.. You can ask the staff whether something is on display or look it up before you go. The building of museum by collectors also means that there has been little investment in African and Black art, or even Black people as subjects of art, which is quite honestly, why I deducted a star. Given the presence of artistry that is likely to be embedded in local Philly artistry, there's no reason why this isn't more of a part of the museums history and American art collection. There were a couple of exhibits on view regarding protest and another on art and the process of grieving. They were strong. We also decided to take a docent tour of the impressionists. We learned a lot and I'd highly recommend those public tours. They also offer private tours for sale and the front-facing staff tends to cater to those patrons, more than help you find a...

Philadelphia is one of the leading cities in the US for museums, without question, as well as historical sites that are unparalleled. When it comes to art museums, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and The Barnes Museum hold their own against any museums in NYC, especially when it comes to the impressionist, post-impressionist, and cubism works of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Picasso, VanGogh, Matisse, Cezanne, Manet, and more.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art easily gets the award for the most popular museum BEFORE YOU EVER ENTER THE MUSEUM. At any time of day or night, there are people running up and down its stairs, as Sylvester Stallone iconically did in ROCKY. The statue of “Rocky”, dedicated during the third installment of the franchise, sits to the right of the stairs. Throughout every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of people line up to take a photo with the iconic Rocky statue. There’s even a book, which was published nearly two decades ago, about the millions of people who’ve run up and down those stairs, imitating “Rocky”, and celebrating jubilantly with their hands in the air, as the character did in most installments of the movie, as part of his training routine.

The Museum has works from every period of art, from Rembrandt to Rothko, Pollock, Miro, and Twombly. There’s days of the month where you can elect what to pay for admission, and heavily discounts for seniors, students, military members, and those receiving government assistance. You’ll need at least 2-3 hours minimum to make your way through the extraordinary museum. Wear comfortable shoes (especially for your highlight reel imitating “Rocky Balboa“. The artwork in its permanent collection is truly one of the greatest in the world. Throughout the year, there are exhibitions from across the world celebrating artists, subject matter, and time periods. The Museum is located at the end of the beautiful Benjamin Franklin Parkway, aligned with flags from every nation, sculptures, and beautiful landscaping. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is truly exceptional, and not...

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the best art museums in the US. From its iconic location in the city skyline to the world-class exhibitions inside, this museum offers something for everyone and every visit brings something new. However, you can't really appreciate the colors and design of the museum building from a distance. Many people recognize the museum from the famous “Rocky Steps” and the Rocky Statue, which now lives at the base of the stairs. Sometimes you will catch someone running up them. The museum regularly rotates its exhibits seasonally, which keeps each visit fresh and exciting.

I've visited multiple times over the past three years, and each experience has been consistently positive. My most recent trip was to see Boom: Art and Design in the 1940s (an exhibition of over 250 pieces spanning sculpture, fashion, photography, furniture& more). The textile and clothing displays were especially memorable. The permanent collection is vast and incredibly diverse. You'll find classical and contemporary art, sculpture, film, and even beautifully preserved objects like snuff bottles, swords and armor, and a replica of a Japanese tea house. The Pillared Temple Hall, featuring architectural elements from a historic Indian temple, is awe-inspiring. Last visit I saw a Rothko that wasn't color work that he is known best for.

The building is spacious and thoughtfully designed, with huge elevators, clean bathrooms throughout, and spots to take a break. The cafe and restaurant on the lower level are both excellent, and the two gift shops on the entry level have some of the best museum store selections.

With affordable ticket prices (and free access if you’re a member, like me), this is one of the best values for cultural enrichment in Philadelphia. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates art, design, and history. You could easily spend all day exploring and still not see everything; one visit...