Arts and Culture
Academy of Music
The Academy of Music is home of the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and many touring Broadway shows throughout the year. Location: Broad Street.
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy was America’s first natural history museum. It has an extensive display of natural artifacts dating from prehistoric to modern times. Location: 19th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
African-American Historical and Cultural Museum
Features rotating exhibitions which address African-American history and heritage. The museum also hosts live performances focusing on the contributions and perspectives of African-Americans. Location: 7th and Arch Streets.
Atwater Kent Museum
A museum dedicated to exhibiting the 300 years of Philadelphia’s history. Admission is free. Location: 15 South 7th Street.
Balch Institute
A museum, gallery, and library dedicated to the concerns of American immigrants and ethnic groups of all kinds. Admission is free. Location: 18 South 7th St.
The Franklin Institute and Fels Planetarium
Science has never been so much fun! Large collections of interactive exhibits make this museum seem more like an amusement park. The planetarium features shows about the stars, space, and the cosmos.
Institute of Contemporary Art
Exhibitions of contemporary art. Programs range from lecture series, screenings of art films, children’s programs, and one-person shows. Location: 36th and Walnut Streets.
Kimmel Center
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts presents nearly 400 performances a year that reflect the diverse population and interests of Philadelphia. Location: Broad Street.
Mütter Museum
The Mütter Museum’s collections are centered around the human specimens and medical models used to teach medical students in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Location: 19 South 22nd Street.
National Museum of American Jewish History
American Jewish history is explored and illustrated through historical, cultural, and architectural exhibitions. Location: 55 North 5th Street.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The oldest art school and museum in the U.S. A fine collection of American paintings and sculptures is complemented by the display of works by local painters. Location: 118 North Broad Street.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Founded in 1876, America’s third largest art museum contains a vast collection of European and 20th-century paintings as well as Oriental, Medieval, and American collections. Location: 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Rodin Museum
The best collection of Rodin’s sculpture outside of Paris, including “The Thinker,” and “The Gates of Hell.” Location: 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology & Anthropology
Displays architectural and anthropological artifacts dating from prehistoric times to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Location: 33rd & Spruce Streets.