A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see…read morehow one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry!

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home…read morestate of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop!

Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Popped in to thaw my dawgs and was greeted by a lovely giftshop. Lots of gorgeous prints and…read morejewlerly made by local artists and my favorite-- free postcards!! I was hoping to see the workshop, but the day I went only the 1st floor exhibits and the 8th floors were open to the public. I recently got back into sewing, so this was a great opportunity to explore new ways fabric has been used for expression.

Amazing artwork you can visit for free. It's in the Curtis Building and is a stunning mosaic of…read moreTiffany glass. The shading and lighting are stunning.

It's a Maxfield Parrish mural made of Tiffany glass, commissioned by the Curtis Publishing Co for…read moreits then-new building. It's an impressive piece of public art and is over 100 years old. It's worth stopping to admire it if you are in the area. The staff understands why you're here; as we peeked through the windows one evening, security waved us in to get a closer look. Years ago, when I worked nearby, I'd stop in for a moment of calm on my lunch hour. It's a soothing, romantic image and truly an historic art treasure in the city.

WHAT A BLAST. We came here for my birthday kind of ironically because online we saw reels saying it…read morewas the "weirdest museum ever," and thought it would be kind of funny/maybe even creepy. Little did we know it was actually FASCINATING; it was so fun to admire every last piece in the museum. The tram guide was great, the pre-recorded audio is helpful and interesting, and the collection is so varied and extensive that you can't help but love it. The pipe organs - fabulous. The walkable "toy box" collection was great after the tram. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone - it was soooo fun.

What a fun thing to do! We didn't know what to expect and want to say we all really enjoyed the…read moreexperience! Admission was reasonable and enjoyed the self-guided part while waiting for the next tram departure time. There was everything you could imagine - except one thing! A TELEX MACHINE (which I used to operate). When I asked the staff if they had one none of them even knew what I was talking about (early 20's)! We took the tram tour and really enjoyed it. The tram moved at a nice pace so you could really take in everything. So much to see - everywhere. It was a really fun way to spend a few hours on a rainy day! But I urge you to visit rain or shine!

The Franklin Institute has finally been checked off our list! We'd wanted to get here for a while,…read morebut I wasn't sure how we'd do with my littles (five and under) , turns out we had a great time. We spent three hours there and the time flew by so fast. Honestly, you could easily make this an entire day; there's so much to see and engage with, and I love that it's educational too. If you're on the fence about going, let this be your sign. Plus, right now they have Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition going on, and that's definitely worth checking out as well , it runs through September 7, 2026, and it's included with general admission. What Else We Explored * SportsZone * Body Odyssey (home of the Giant Heart) * Your Brain * The Train Factory * Sir Isaac's Loft * Amazing Machine * Changing Earth * Space Command * The Franklin Air Show By the three-hour mark we'd made it through nearly everything ,the only thing we didn't get to was the Fels Planetarium, so that's on the list for next time.

The science center named for a founding father famous for several notable scientific experiments…read morelives up to his legacy. There is so much to see in one day that one could spend the whole day there. We managed to arrive just in time for a show in the planetarium, which was beautiful with plenty of relaxing seats. This is just outside of the LEGO exhibit where visitors can explore building various things. Down the middle of the institute is a giant pendulum swinging and knocking over some pegs over the course of 24 hours. Other exhibits include space, engineering, body mechanics, etc. Plenty of things to observe and read about, but also many interactive exhibits making it fun for kids (of all ages). All of us enjoyed the giant human heart that you can walk through to explore the various ventricles and atria. Most memorable for me was watching Child #2, who sits still for nothing, be absolutely entranced by the live demonstration of a dissection of a cow's eyeball. He thought it was the coolest, and the guy giving the demo was very patient with all the kids who came up to ask questions afterwards. For anyone who likes Science, this is an absolutely fantastic place to come explore!

The center city tour was great! Sandi was great!! We've been center city locals for five years and…read morewe wanted to learn about the murals around us. We hit a bunch of murals in 1.5 hours, and some of them I'd never seen! 10/10 tour service. 10/10 selection of tours. Reasonable cost for the tour. We'll be doing more!

Among other things, Philadelphia is a city of public art. I could not help but spot sculptures and…read morestatues here and there, but it was this particular mural - six stories tall - that really drove it home. There have been plans for an office/mixed use tower in the parking lot that faces this mural but for now, we have the opportunity to take it in entirely. Wow, there's some detail here and a story. If you're passing near, I suggest you stop and check this one out near 150 North Broad Street. [Review 18311 overall - 603 in Pennsylvania - 1833 of 2022.]

I visit museums without pre-conceived notions, reading reviews generally after the fact. PAFA --…read moreas it's known -- is a good one. Founded in 1805 the academy is the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States. The historic landmark building is closed for renovations with three stories of exhibits now housed in their Hamilton Building (which is NOT named for Alexander!) Several things impacted me: the galleries are wide open, light and airy. A pleasure to walk through. A number of items from the Atwater Kent collection -- formerly the Philadelphia History Museum -- are on display. The diverse collection ranges from baseball, department stores (Wanamakers, anyone?), civil rights ... the list goes on. There is student and alumni art for sale and casts of Greek and Roman antiquity located in an active student workspace. As with most museums, exhibits change. The gift store with its friendly proprietor, is as good as any I've been to. A beautifully curated collection, and after Thanksgiving, I believe everything is discounted 30% for the holidays.

Great local arts (and oldest fine art)…read more Enjoy their occasional events. V inclusive and alternative. Friendly and clean

The Rocky statue is iconic in Philly! It is from the Rocky movie series. The first ever movie was…read moreset in Philadelphia. Rocky runs up the Art Museum steps while training. The top of the steps is the perfect place for the statue! If you come to Philly, run up the steps and pump your fists in the air at the top just like Rocky did for a uniquely Philly experience!

This wasn't high on my priority list but I ended up here during an unplanned morning walk from the…read moreElement Hotel. I couldn't walk up the steps in its entirety as the bottom half was blocked by a big stage that was leftover from July 4 celebrations. However, I was able to walk up the top half, snap a pic of the 8'6", 46-year old statue, digitally erase all the people around it and called it a day. OVERALL: Free attraction and an added bonus if you're going to the art museum.

Cute library with several different spaces. I enjoyed the civic center and relaxed there for an…read morehour just reading.

Y'all, this place has Charles Dickens' actual writing desk…read more We entered this beautiful building, mouths agape in wonder. One of the security guards told us to head straight up to the 3rd floor -- he compared it to a small museum full of rare things. Intrigued, we took his advice. So glad we did! We happened upon the free guided tour of the Rare Book Department, and spent the next hour happily being shown treasures such as books with special bindings, books with gold leaf, the taxidermied raven named Grip which inspired Edgar Allan Poe's famous work, and yes, Charles Dickens' desk, complete with his scratched-on initials. Later, we came across a giant shoe in one of the reading rooms. This place is fantastically magical. Love the Free Library of Philadelphia.