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Philadelphia’s diagonal Benjamin Franklin Parkway stretches one mile from just beyond City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the edge of Fairmount Park, acting as the home of museums, cultural institutions and other attractions. Planner Paul Philippe Cret and designer Jacques Gréber, both French, modeled the Parkway after the Champs-Élysées of their native country, creating a beautiful thoroughfare here in Philadelphia.
After a long planning and construction process, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway officially opened in October 1918. The arduous yet bold vision ushered in a new era of urban design in America: the City Beautiful Movement.
For the last century, the attractions, green spaces and public art of the Parkway Museums District have captivated residents and visitors alike. The buildings on the Parkway’s borders are a who’s-who of culture, and the stretch is street-party central, with massive events such as the annual Fourth of July concert, the Made In America Festival and the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Pope Francis knew the Parkway was the best place to deliver Sunday mass during his 2015 visit, and the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their 2018 Super Bowl win with an unforgettable gathering on the thoroughfare.
Read on to learn more about the attractions on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
One of the oldest public art museums in the U.S., the Philadelphia Museum of Art rises majestically at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It houses vast collections, including Renaissance, American and impressionist art — and special areas like the Japanese Ceremonial Teahouse and the arms and armor exhibit. A one-acre Sculpture Garden extends the galleries to the outdoors. Across the street, find the 1927 art deco-designed Perelman Building which showcases selections from the museum’s costume and textile collection as well as modern and contemporary design and photographs.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
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Perelman Building, 2525 Pennsylvania Avenue
Seventy-two steps lead art aficionados, exercise enthusiasts and millions of film buffs up to the East Entrance of the esteemed Philadelphia Museum of Art by way of what’s been coined the Rocky Steps. Meanwhile, just down below, the Rocky Statue, originally commissioned for Rocky III, draws lines of visitors seeking photographs alongside the larger-than-life interpretation of the triumphant fictional boxer for which it’s named.
Opened in 1815 to provide safe, clean drinking water to a growing city, Fairmount Water Works is an environmental center at the river’s edge behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Interactive, user-friendly exhibits, an interpretive center and programs share information about the water in our world. Guided tours of the National Historical Landmark and its surroundings explore its past, present and future impact.
Where: Fairmount Water Works, 640 Waterworks Drive
Some of Philadelphia’s most iconic statues and sculptures line the Benjamin Franklin Parkway alongside unsung and gorgeous works of public art, including the bronze Aero Memorial just outside of The Franklin Institute, the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Memorial on Logan Square, and the AMOR sculpture at Sister Cities Park. For a self-guided tour, check out the Association of Public Art’s guide to the Parkway.
Where: Various locations including Sister Cities Park, 210 N. 18th Street
The Rodin Museum houses one of the largest public collections of works by master sculptor Auguste Rodin outside of Paris and greets visitors with bronze casts of The Thinker and The Gates of Hell. The gallery collection includes a stunning marble copy of The Kiss, while the garden features the cast of The Burghers of Calais.
Where: Rodin Museum, 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The Barnes Foundation is home to one of the world’s most impressive and important collections of African sculpture, impressionist, post-impressionist and early modern paintings. The collection includes works by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh, all displayed as the late collector intended. The gallery space is part of a 93,000-square-foot building, which also includes a changing exhibition gallery, conservation lab, auditorium, library, cafe and gift shop.
Where: Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The Franklin Institute is dedicated to creating a passion for science by offering access to hands-on learning through blockbuster exhibitions, engaging theatrical experiences, compelling permanent exhibits and widely respected community outreach. In the entrance lobby, a massive memorial dedicated to Philly’s favorite Founding Father (Benjamin Franklin) welcomes curious visitors.
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street
A gorgeous beaux-arts building serves as the heart of the Free Library of Philadelphia system, which includes more than 50 libraries throughout the area. The Parkway Central Library invites book lovers to check out its massive collection, explore its notable rare book department, sit in on author readings and lectures, enjoy special exhibitions and events, and celebrate the glory that is free literature.
Where: Free Library of Philadelphia - Parkway Central, 1901 Vine Street
As the oldest natural history museum in the Americas, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University invites people of all ages to experience natural science in a fun and engaging way. Visitors can stroll through a tropical butterfly garden, touch live animals, get face-to-face with a towering T. rex, dig for fossils, explore dioramas and even meet scientists.
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Founded in 1848, Moore College of Art & Design is the first and only women’s visual arts college for undergraduates in the country, and it offers programs for both men and women through its graduate studies, continuing education and workshops. Art appreciators can browse The Galleries at Moore, where admission is free, to see works by established and emerging artists and designers, and then visit The Art Shop to take home original artwork by Moore students and alumni.
Where: Moore College of Art & Design, 1916 Race Street
This park gives the neighborhood its name, and for good reason. One of city founder William Penn’s original five squares, the park contains one of the most striking features of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — the Swann Memorial Fountain, where large Native American figures symbolize the area’s major local waterways: the Delaware River (a man), the Schuylkill River (a woman) and Wissahickon Creek (a girl). On sunny afternoons, find groups of visitors admiring the sculptures and the fountain’s 50-foot geyser from the benches scattered around it.
Where: Logan Square, 200 N. 19th Street
Sister Cities Park complements the grandeur of its neighboring Benjamin Franklin Parkway attractions. The contemporary, eco-forward pavilion, which houses a cafe and a visitor center, is surrounded by the Children’s Discovery Garden, a boat pond and a fountain that pays tribute to Philadelphia’s 10 sister cities. The AMOR sculpture is a must-Instagram highlight.
Where: Sister Cities Park, 210 N. 18th Street
The largest brownstone Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, the Cathedral Basilica was modeled after the Lombard Church of Saint Charles (San Carlo al Corso) in Rome and built in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Inside, visitors stand in awe of various shrines, including one to Saint Katherine Drexel, altars, statues and the paintings by Constantino Brumidi, famed painter of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
Where: Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 1723 Race Street
LOVE Park reopened in 2018 with green space and dramatic structural changes, including a new water feature and concession areas. Although its official name is John F. Kennedy Plaza, locals and visitors know it as LOVE Park thanks to its centerpiece sculpture by Robert Indiana. The park is a popular spot for food trucks, photo ops, entertainment or just relaxing.
Where: LOVE Park, 1500 Arch Street
At the foot of Philadelphia’s City Hall, the Dilworth Park plaza welcomes pedestrians, commuters and visitors with tree groves, benches, a cafe and areas for outdoor events and performances. A large programmable fountain offers children a place to romp and splash in warm weather. During the winter, an ice rink and a holiday light show delight visitors.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street
Covering more than 14.5 acres of floor space, City Hall is the largest municipal building in the U.S. and one of the most elaborate. The exterior features sculptures representing the continents and people of the world, as well as allegorical figures, heads and masks — all of which were designed by Alexander Milne Calder. The most notable sculpture is the one at the very top: a 37-foot, 27-ton statue of city founder William Penn. Tours of the building and the tower are offered, and both include a view from the observation deck, weather permitting.
Where: Philadelphia City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
A guide to the most visited sites in the area...