Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum

Address: 118-128 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States

Website: https://www.pafa.org/

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mondays

Admission: Adults $18, students/seniors discounted; pay-what-you-wish options sometimes available for special exhibitions

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.

PAFA is on North Broad Street, a short walk from the City Hall/Market East transit corridor. From Suburban Station or Jefferson Station it’s about 10-15 minutes on foot; the SEPTA Market-Frankford Line (exit at 15th or 13th) and several bus routes stop nearby. Paid on‑street and garage parking are options for drivers.

• Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school group surges-lunch hour can be busy.
• See the original cast-iron stair by Frank Furness and compare it to the building's façade-most people miss the interior details.
• Check the temporary exhibition schedule; PAFA often shows works by contemporary Philadelphia artists that surprise visitors.