Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art was originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Memorial Hall, which housed the art gallery, was always intended to outlast the Exposition as a permanent museum. From the beginning, it’s focus was on applied art and science, as well as the development of a school for drawing, painting, modeling, and design. As part of that plan, the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art (the precursor to today’s museum) opened in May of 1877 with collections donated by the public. However, it’s “Center City” Location was not the favorite of many of its fans (they felt it was too distant). American writer and philanthropist, Sara Jessup Moore, donated a sizable collection of antique furniture, jewelry, enamels, etc. in 1882. A city funded competition for the design of a new building for the museum was held in 1895. However, not much was done with the submissions until 1907. Construction finally got underway in 1919, but due to delays caused by World War I, was not completed until 1928. Early in the 1900’s, the museum began an educational program for the general public (fulfilling one of its original goals).

Because of the popularity of its role in the “Rocky” films (beginning in 1976), the museum took on a new image; Pop Culture icon. Running up the East entrance steps, like the film’s main character, Rocky Balboa, has become a regular tourist pastime. An 8.5 foot tall bronze statue of the film’s fighter(created in 1980) was donated to the museum by Sylvester Stallone and is now on display at the bottom of the “Rocky Steps.” This is one of the most photographed statues in the city.

Philadelphia’s Museum of Art’s East entrance and plaza...

...faces the city skyline. Off in the distance is City Hall with William Penn’s statue on top.

Here is a closer view of City Hall looking across the Oval, past the Washington Monument Fountain.

Americsn Philanthropist and writer, Sara Jessup Moore, donated a large collection of Antique furniture and other items to the museum in 1882.

Charles Ephraim Burchfield’s “Stormy November Day.”

One of our all-time favorite paintings, “The Japanese Footbridge and the Water Lilly Pool, Giverny” done by Claude Monet in 1899.

There is so much more than paintings to see here, such as this room from the Ezekiel Hersey Derby House (ca. 1800) in Salem. Massachusetts...

...and this home altar from Tibet (late 1800’s)...

...as well as this fountain from the Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa in France (ca. 1125).

There is much more to experience here than we could possibly blog about. This is a fun place to visit.

Don’t forget to stop by the “Rocky Balboa” statue and have your picture taken with it.