Editing Philadelphia Museum of Art (section)

== History and Architecture ==

The Philadelphia Museum of Art traces its origins to the 1876 Centennial Exposition, where Memorial Hall served as the art gallery. The current building was designed by architects Horace Trumbauer and the firm of Zantzinger, Borie and Medary in a Greek Revival style echoing classical temples.

Construction began in 1919 and the museum opened in 1928. The building is faced with Minnesota dolomite, chosen for its warm golden color that glows in the setting sun. The main building contains approximately 200 galleries with over 400,000 square feet of exhibition space.

A major renovation and expansion project, designed by Frank Gehry, was completed in 2021. The project created new underground galleries and public spaces while preserving the historic building's character.