Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
| Type | Art museum and school |
|---|---|
| Address | 118-128 N Broad Street |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Center City |
| Phone | (215) 972-7600 |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 1805 |
| Founder | Charles Willson Peale, William Rush, and 69 others |
| Collection | 18,000+ works |
| Admission | $18 adults, $15 students |
| Hours | Thu-Sun 11am-5pm |
| 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.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Founding
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]PAFA's collection focuses on American art from the 18th century to the present:
Highlights
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]- American portraiture (18th-19th century)
- Philadelphia artists
- American Impressionism
- Contemporary American art
- Works on paper
Visiting
[edit | edit source]| 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
[edit | edit source]- 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
[edit | edit source]See Also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "About PAFA". Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Retrieved December 23, 2025