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!

The perfect place to take visitors, such an awesome spot with an incredible history. There's no…read moreguided tour so you can get through it within a half hour or so, or take your time and prob spend over an hour wandering through. The staff is friendly and knowledgable about the space. There's a cute gift shop through the exit with lots of goodies like t-shirts, pins and post cards. The location is great that you can check out the gardens and stop somewhere to eat after.

Somehow, although I've been to Philly several times, I never noticed this place. This is properly…read morelabeled a workshop, not a museum. My oversight but let's make sure it isn't yours. The first floor has a rotation exhibits, this time was a set of quilts. The artist had been in prison and created rooms showing how he looked at his environments often using scraps of fabric. The second and eighth floor had more varied textile arts. I have included pictures of some of the art. Truly interesting and worth your time. Note it's right near Reading Terminal, hours are noon to five but check before you go. Musuem is free but asks for a donation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The largest toy, car & animatronic collection in the country. All inside an old tire factory. Looks…read morelike an abandon building when you pull up to the front doors. All the employees are very friendly and acknowledgeable about the collection. The tram ride through the collection was extremely fun. There is something from every age group to catch your attention and send you back to your childhood. Well worth the reasonable price tag.

I wanna say that the staff is very helpful and very welcoming…read more I really enjoyed my short time here. This is one of the many wonderful Treasures of Philadelphia

When trying to find something to do with my niece who was visiting me last weekend, this came to…read moremy. Because she just finished up a STEM camp for kids back home and her just liking to see/do new things, decided to take her here. Glad I did because she had a blast! We didn't get a chance to see the new Universal Theme park/studios exhibit, but she loved everything else - walking through the heart, the space exhibit where she looked up at the stars and tried to figure out how she would jump in another planet's atmosphere, etc. Great time and look forward to coming back in the future!

One of the first things I noticed on my first trip to Philadelphia was how amazing their public art…read moreis. That always stuck with me. Some research led me to discover that Mural Arts Philadelphia can be thanked for most (if not?) all this meaningful community artwork. At a later time, I found out that Mural Arts offers walking tours. I probably wouldn't do it during COVID for personal reasons, but the next time I'm in Philadelphia, I totally will. Thank you, Mural Arts Philadelphia for the work you do arranging such beautiful, meaningful, bright and interesting public art throughout the city. From their website: "With a robust portfolio of 50-100 public art projects each year and ongoing core programs in education, restorative justice, mental health, and public art and civic engagement, Mural Arts' work and the incredible resulting outdoor gallery are an inseparable, iconic part of the city's civic landscape." Thank you, Mural Arts for all the work you do recognizing how important public art is to a city. You're doing a stellar job beautifying Philadelphia and I look forward to taking one of your tours in the future!

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.]

My company hosted an after-hours event at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, giving us the…read moreopportunity to wander through the galleries at our own pace and admire both the art and the building itself. The architecture is every bit as impressive as the collection. The intricate details, grand spaces, and historic character make the building a work of art in its own right. Exploring the galleries after hours, without the usual crowds, made the experience even more enjoyable. Philadelphia has so much to offer, and this is one of its real treasures. I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience it in such a unique way.

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.

Board Game Art Park is paved space along Broad Street between Arch St and JFK Blvd, ornamented with…read morea permanent public art installation called "Your Move," by artists Daniel Martinez, Renee Petropoulis and Roger White. Fun public art space, not too far from Love Park around the corner, as well as of course, City Hall, PA Convention Center, Jefferson Station, PAFA, and a million other c-city attractions. Art is a smattering of way-oversized scattered board games pieces, from various popular kid games. The space is used as a pass-through or open air hangout area. Some kids there with skateboards. Not sure if it's allowed but saw no signs nor police. Fun and quirky art that may or may not be a comment on local government?

Fun place to skate! Great for pictures and videos. If you're ever in the area definitely stop by…read morefor a visit!

Can't truly do Philadelphia without running up the stairs to the Rocky statue…read more Lots of people running up the stairs taking videos. It's a nice fun free thing to do in when in town. Side note, I'm old because my daughter has never seen any of the Rocky movies. She said that they never play in streaming services.

The original Rocky Statue is back where it started at the top of the steps as of September 2026. I…read moresay this because it's been relocated and swapped out numerous times over the years since the original movie was made. I guess it's always good to have a backup sculpture when you need it. Yes, there are 3 of them. The 2nd statue was purchased by Sylvester Stallone. He loaned it to the city when the original one was on display in the museum. The 3rd statue is being displayed in Terminal A-West at the airport. If you missed seeing it in it's original location, then you can always see it on your way out of town. Although, it's not as fun as running up the steps to see it. There was some random guy managing the line and trying to charge people to take pictures with the original statue. Ignore him. The visit to to the steps and the statue are free. Despite all of this, it was very entertaining just watching everyone recreating that famous movie scene. It truly is something that shouldn't be missed. You're going to be in that area anyway. So, why not just take it all in and enjoy it?

Support your local libraries! I have come to this library for so many different things! I've done…read morecooking class, tea demonstrations, sewing classes, death planning workshops, interviews in the private rooms. Hell I went to one of the best musicals I've seen in Philly here! It's really a catch 22. I really appreciate the diversity of events they hold and it's a bummer it's an underfunded field. GO TO THE LIBRARY!

Gorgeous library with plenty of books and plenty of history. Staff is kind and helpful. Bathrooms…read moreare clean.