Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia is an art school and museum founded in 1805 and recognized as the oldest art academy and museum in the United States. The institution combines an educational program with public galleries that present American art from the 18th century to the present.

The campus includes a notable Victorian building designed by Frank Furness in the late 19th century and later gallery spaces added in the 20th century to display the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. PAFA’s collection emphasizes 19th- and early 20th-century American painting and sculpture and supports the academy’s teaching mission.

PAFA is located in central Philadelphia near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the city’s museum and cultural district.

• Founding year: Founded in 1805, it is the oldest art school and museum in the United States with a continuous institutional history.
• Collection focus: The academy holds an extensive collection of American art, with strong holdings in 19th- and early 20th-century painting and sculpture.

What to See #

• Furness building: The Victorian-era building on Broad Street designed by Frank Furness and completed in the late 19th century; it houses historic classrooms and galleries.
• Museum galleries and modern wing: A later museum wing and gallery spaces created to display the academy's collection of American art and rotating exhibitions, designed in the later 20th century.