Museums in philadelphia

Unique offerings in the modern cultural metropolis

The museum and art scene is not neglected in Philadelphia – the metropolis is famous for its museums and convinces with unique cultural offers. There are also numerous religious artifacts among the exhibits.

The second-largest city on the U.S. East Coast is an art lover's paradise, as evidenced not only by the multitude of murals, statues and sculptures on every corner and one of the largest art collections in the U.S. Exhibitions of all kinds, from the historical to the technical to the scientific, never fail to delight visitors.

Art in the open air

But you don't necessarily have to visit a museum if you want to experience art: For decades, a law has required all municipal builders and businesses to spend a percentage of construction costs on public art. Over the years, this has resulted in an impressive series of works that can be freely viewed on streets, squares and buildings. The variety of works transforms the Philadelphia cityscape into a sculpture and mural gallery worth seeing.

Armed with an appropriate plan from the Association for Public Art, roadside explorations are extra fun. The majority of the artworks can be found along a corridor that runs from the Delaware River across Market Street to City Hall, from there turns onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and then slowly gets lost in the gardens of Fairmount Park, behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Museum of The American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo: PHLCVB

Museum of The American Revolution

History at your fingertips
The Museum of the American Revolution takes visitors on a journey to America's founding era. The museum explains the history of the country in a vivid way, so you can e.g. visit the tent of General George Washington. more +

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the largest art museums in the United States. His collection includes more than 240.000 works of art spanning more than two millennia and, along with changing special exhibitions, attracts visitors from around the world. The museum is one of the most important cultural institutions in the country and a Philadelphia landmark. Masterpieces of painting, sculpture, decorative arts and architecture from Europe, Asia and the Americas can be viewed here.

The works on display here provide a glimpse into more than 2.000 years of outstanding creativity in human history. paintings, sculptures, architectural works and other masterpieces from Europe, Asia and the Americas are on view here. Religiously inspired works such as Desiderio da Settignano's Virgin and Child, the Seated Bodhisattva from the T'ang Dynasty, Frances Portal from the Abbey Church of Saint-Laurent and Edward Hick's Noah's Ark can also be admired here.

The Museum of Art became world famous for its grand staircase (the steps leading up to the museum), which Sylvester Stallone once stormed up as "Rocky" in the 1976 film of the same name.

The imposing neoclassical building regularly hosts events such as readings, concerts, film screenings and family events.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts was founded as one of the first art academies in the United States. The museum's permanent collection specializes in the work of American artists, including works with a religious background such as Benjamin West's Christ Rejected and Death on the Pale Horse, Washington Allston's The Dead Man Restored to Life by Touching the Bones of Prophet Elisha, Daniel Huntington's Mercy's Dream and Christiana and Her Family Passing Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Charles Willson Peale's Noah and His Ark, and Henry O. Tanner's Nicodemus.

The Paint Torch, a sculpture by Claes Oldenburg, at Lenfest Plaza next to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo by Kait Privitera for PHLCVB

The Barnes Foundation

The largest private collection of early French Modernist and Post-Impressionist paintings from around the world opened in 2012 in a new museum on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Over 600 works of art, including 180 Renoirs, antique furniture, ceramics, African sculptures and wrought-iron objects can be viewed here.

Located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, The Barnes Foundation houses one of the world's most important collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and modern paintings, including paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani and Vincent van Gogh. and also includes one of the finest private collections of paintings from the early French Modern and Post-Impressionist periods. Originally called Albert C. Barnes established the Barnes Foundation in 1922 as a school to help art gain not only greater recognition, but also an important role in education and learning. Highlights include masterpieces by such famous artists as Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Renoir and Modigliani. In 2012, the collection moved from a Philadelphia suburb to its current address on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, known as Museum Mile, in the heart of the city.

There is also an impressive collection of unique works of art from thousands of years of human history, including Greek, Egyptian and Roman antiquities. Also on display are pottery, textiles, and Native American jewelry; African sculpture; and European paintings and sculptures from the 13th century. to 20. Century and American paintings from the 19th century. and 20. Century to see.

Religiously inspired works are also found in the extensive collection, including Christian motifs by masters such as El Greco, Rubens, Delacroix, Veronese and other Spanish, Flemish, French and Italian artists. An interesting insight into the post-colonial period of America is offered by a collection of "santos", representations of saints from New Mexico. In addition, there are ritual objects from Africa, Buddhist sculptures from the T'ang Dynasty and sculptures of Egyptian deities. This impressive mix and abundance of religious motifs in such a masterful artistic rendering makes the Barnes Foundation a "must see" for visitors.

The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo by Paul Loftland for PHLCVB

National Museum of American Jewish History

The only museum in the U.S. fully dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the Jewish people in America. Museum tells of the history, challenges and successes of American Jews. The striking glass building offers visitors state-of-the-art interactive exhibits.

National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo: M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

Penn Museum

The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology's work focuses on promoting understanding of the world's cultural heritage. The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology collection includes many objects with religious and spiritual significance, including works from ancient cultures and peoples from around the world.

Warden Garden at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo: M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia

The African American Museum in Philadelphia

The African American Museum focuses on the history, lifestyle and culture of African-Americans in Philadelphia and the U.S.

The museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of African-American culture. Among the exhibits are numerous religious artifacts, including lithographs by artist Allan Rohan Crite, who drew inspiration for his work from Old Testament motifs, among others. Changing exhibits also frequently feature pieces on spiritual and religious themes.

In addition to the regular exhibits, young visitors can learn about how children of the same age lived in 18th-century Philadelphia in a specially designed "Children's Corner.". The people who lived here in the early twentieth century.

Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute is Pennsylvania's most visited museum and one of the five most popular attractions in Philadelphia. Founded in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, the Academy's goal is to inspire visitors with science and technology through ever new and exciting approaches.

The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and best research centers in the U.S. and still serves to convey enthusiasm and fun in (natural) science – in the spirit of the famous scholar and scientist Benjamin Franklin.

Here, science and technology come to life: In addition to a planetarium and live science shows, amateur scientists also have the chance to touch a real (plastinated) human brain – a super experience for young and old alike.

Twelve permanent exhibits, including "Your Brain", interesting facts about electricity and the earth, and much more, invite you to discover and explore. You can playfully explore a two-story heart, discover Benjamin Franklin's experiments with electricity, immerse yourself in the world of sports science in the SportZone, or wander through a pulsing neuron network.

The latest technologies such as 3D printers or virtual reality are used to convey the topics in a vivid and lively way and there is even an Escape Room, from which you can free yourself in a given time with logical thinking, the joy of puzzles and above all teamwork. Especially exciting and popular are the live science shows that are offered regularly.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

In search of fossils: complicated scientific relationships are explained in a playful and vivid way at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. If you'd like to dig for dinosaur bones or take a walk among butterflies, you'll find all of this and more here.

Tyrannosaurus Rex at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo: Will Klein/ANS

In the large dinosaur hall you can see a T-Rex. Butterflies, on the other hand, is colorful, fluttery and delicate – amid lush tropical gardens, visitors can get up close to some 20 to 40 different species of butterflies here.

Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Photo: Mike Servedio/ANS

Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery

The Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery is the only one of its kind in Philadelphia. The museum's mission is to highlight the injustice of slavery and the impact this significant issue still has on the country, society, and its ideals today. On display at the museum include rare artifacts and depressing exhibits such as authentic chains or branding irons that illustrate the suffering of slaves.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *