Editing Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

{{Infobox Museum
| name = Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
| type = Art museum and school
| address = 118-128 N Broad Street
| neighborhood = Center City
| phone = (215) 972-7600
| website = https://pafa.org
| established = 1805
| founder = Charles Willson Peale, William Rush, and 69 others
| collection_size = 18,000+ works
| admission = $18 adults, $15 students
| hours = Thu-Sun 11am-5pm
| public_transit = City Hall Station (BSL/MFL)
| architect = Frank Furness, George Hewitt (1876 building)
| building = National Historic Landmark (1876 building)
}}

The '''Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts''' (PAFA) is America's oldest art museum and art school, founded in 1805. Located on North Broad Street in [[Center City]], PAFA houses an important collection of American art and operates in a landmark 1876 Frank Furness building that is itself a masterpiece of Victorian architecture.<ref name="pafa">{{cite web |url=https://pafa.org/about |title=About PAFA |publisher=Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Founding ===

PAFA was founded in 1805 by a group of 71 artists and civic leaders including painter Charles Willson Peale and sculptor William Rush. Their mission was to promote the fine arts in America through both a museum and a school—functions PAFA continues to this day.

PAFA predates both the National Academy of Design (1825) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1870), making it the oldest art institution in the United States.

=== The Furness Building ===

In 1876, PAFA moved into its current home, a stunning Victorian Gothic building designed by Frank Furness and George Hewitt. The building, completed for America's Centennial, is considered one of Furness's masterpieces and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975.

The architecture features:
* Ornate polychrome facade
* Dramatic central staircase
* Elaborate interior decoration
* Natural light from skylights

=== Modern Campus ===

In 2005, PAFA opened the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building across the street, designed by Dagit Saylor Architects, for contemporary exhibitions and additional gallery space.

== The School ==

PAFA operates one of America's premier art schools:

* Undergraduate BFA program
* Graduate MFA program
* Certificate programs
* Continuing education
* Notable alumni include Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and David Lynch

== The Collection ==

PAFA's collection focuses on American art from the 18th century to the present:

=== Highlights ===

* '''Charles Willson Peale''' — Portraits including ''The Artist in His Museum''
* '''Thomas Eakins''' — Major works by the Philadelphia painter
* '''Mary Cassatt*** — Impressionist works
* '''Winslow Homer''' — American landscapes
* '''Henry Ossawa Tanner*** — African American master
* '''Andrew Wyeth''' — 20th-century realism
* '''Contemporary artists''' — Ongoing acquisitions

=== Strengths ===

* American portraiture (18th-19th century)
* Philadelphia artists
* American Impressionism
* Contemporary American art
* Works on paper

== Visiting ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Detail !! Information
|-
| '''Hours''' || Thu-Sun 11am-5pm
|-
| '''Admission''' || $18 adults, $15 seniors/students, free under 13
|-
| '''Address''' || 118-128 N Broad Street
|-
| '''Buildings''' || Historic Building (1876) and Hamilton Building
|-
| '''Time needed''' || 1-2 hours
|}

== Getting There ==

* '''SEPTA Subway''' — City Hall station (Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line)
* '''SEPTA Regional Rail''' — Suburban Station or Jefferson Station
* '''Walking''' — On Broad Street at Cherry Street
* '''Parking''' — Nearby garages, street parking

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

{{FAQ
|q1=What is PAFA?
|a1=PAFA stands for the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, America's oldest art museum and art school. Founded in 1805, it houses an important collection of American art and operates a prestigious fine arts degree program.

|q2=Who designed the PAFA building?
|a2=The 1876 building was designed by Frank Furness and George Hewitt in an ornate Victorian Gothic style. It's a National Historic Landmark and considered one of Furness's masterpieces. The building alone is worth visiting for architecture enthusiasts.

|q3=What famous artists went to PAFA?
|a3=Notable PAFA alumni include Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins (who also taught there), Henry Ossawa Tanner, Maxfield Parrish, Charles Demuth, and filmmaker David Lynch. The school continues to train contemporary artists.

|q4=Is PAFA just a school or also a museum?
|a4=PAFA is both. It was founded in 1805 with a dual mission as a museum and art school. You can visit the museum galleries without being a student, and the school operates undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
}}

== See Also ==

* [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]]
* [[Frank Furness]]
* [[Center City]]
* [[Avenue of the Arts]]

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==

* [https://pafa.org Official Website]
* [https://pafa.org/museum Museum Information]

{{#seo:
|title=Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) - America's Oldest Art Museum
|description=The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is America's oldest art museum and art school, housed in a stunning 1876 Frank Furness building. American art collection spanning 200+ years.
|keywords=PAFA, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, American art museum, Frank Furness building, art school Philadelphia, oldest art museum America, Broad Street museum
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:Museums]]
[[Category:Art Museums]]
[[Category:Center City]]
[[Category:Historic Sites]]
[[Category:Universities and Colleges]]