The Rodin Museum is one of those places that makes Philadelphia feel unusually rich culturally: intimate enough to drop into, yet substantial enough to feel transporting every time. We love it for many of the same reasons we love the Barnes next door. However, the mood is completely different: older, more classical, and distinctly European, with the formal garden and beautiful building framing Rodin's work perfectly. I have visited the Musée Rodin in Paris, housed in the extraordinary Hôtel Biron near Saint-Germain, and seeing his work in that historic house is unforgettable; Philadelphia's museum captures some of that same intimacy in its own way. Its location along the Parkway, beside the Barnes and between the Art Museum and Center City, makes this entire stretch one of my favorite parts of Philadelphia. Summer may be when we love the Rodin most, especially during the happy hours in the garden. We come with our kids when the weather cooperates, enjoy delicious food and wine, people-watch, and watch the grounds turn into a relaxed, genuinely social gathering where everyone seems to be having fun. It is spacious enough to feel festive and welcoming enough that bringing young children never feels awkward. We are always proud to bring visitors here because it shows off our city so beautifully. Great art, a magnificent setting, and a summer evening full of people simply enjoying Philadelphia make the Rodin feel like one of the city's great gifts. read more

There was no way I was going to miss this gem of a museum. I was somehow able to convince my husband that it's not your typical art museum with hours and hours of gallery walk throughs. It's a large but centralized collection of Auguste Rodin's sculpture at its finest. It's all displayed in one beautiful building that was built to enhance his art in an indoor and garden setting. It's a "Pay What You Wish" museum. It doesn't matter what day you visit. Just keep in mind that it's closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The suggested fee is $15 for adults. You can also take that amount off your admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) by showing the Rodin admission receipt. Basically, the Rodin Museum is included when you purchase a ticket to the PMA. I must admit that the highlight for me was actually outside in the sculpture garden, which is free to the public. The bronze "Gates of Hell" doors are not to be missed. I'd only seen the plaster cast of it when visiting the Musee D'Orsay with my mother. I remember how impressive it was back then. The bronze doors from the cast are even more impressive. There is so much detail. There are also many larger than life sculptures as you walk through the arch and garden. "The Burghers of Calais" bronze sculpture was another big highlight. Just look at the detail and size of these sculpted hands. It's totally worth a visit no matter how you gain access. It's such a beautiful place. Don't miss it! read more

See all

A hidden gem that a lot of people miss even though it is right on the Parkway! The Thinker is out front and can be viewed without entering. The museum is small but has lots of Rodin's work. It is a beautiful building. The gardens are also lovely to walk through with a nice fountain and reflecting pool in the front. read more

Rodin Museum - The gardens - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This was one of the greatest surprises I've had in the city. We came on a day where it was paid as you wish. A very tall kindhearted gentleman greeted us at the front door so splendidly. He was so welcoming. I was so glad because I had so many questions !! I really walked into this place knowing of only The Thinker. I was so happy to find out that there was a guided tour today! Her name was Patricia and she really had such a passion and extensive knowledge for Rodin! We looked at all the pieces on the inside, first which was pretty wise because we were introduced two characters, we were going to see in one of the largest pieces outside! One of the largest pieces inside is called the kiss. You can't miss it. It's white a couple is embracing.. The guy took us outside and showed us where that couple is also featured in the big door. But this time they're not kissing -they're having a different experience together. It really goes through all the struggles one may have in life, the ups and downs. Twisting bodies. It was delightful to learn!! And Rodin also had ups and downs. We also had a chance to hang out and sketch a little afterwards! I bought some postcards ! What a wonderful collection I now own. There was a pride and groom, getting their picture taken in the garden, outside. It really is a beautiful space. It's nice to explore all the grounds. It's easy to do. I'm very thankful for all the wonderful staff that took care of us so well. Thank you for making such a delightful trip to see Rodin's wonderful art. I would definitely come back !!! read more

See all

The Rodin Museum is an absolute gem in Philly -- small, but packed with beauty and charm. STUNNING. Admission is free with your Philadelphia Museum of Art ticket (valid the day after your visit), and honestly, it's the perfect follow-up stop. The museum itself houses an incredible collection of Auguste Rodin's works, including The Thinker right outside the entrance. Every piece feels intimate and powerful, and the space is designed so you can take your time and truly absorb the art. Outside, the gardens are just as breathtaking. Lush greenery, stone fountains, and even a giant chessboard add to the tranquil vibe. We saw people taking wedding photos while we were there -- and it's no surprise why. The whole space feels elegant and peaceful, like stepping into another world for a little while. Whether you're a fan of sculpture or just looking for a quiet, beautiful spot to wander, this museum is pure magic. A must-see in Philadelphia, especially if you're already visiting the Art Museum next door. read more

See all

Rodin is my favorite sculptor so I was so exited to see this museum. All of his most famous were present, as well as a few others. I loved how the museum was curated to show themes of his work and the spaces and materials to draw if inspiration strikes. We paid via admission from the museum of art. The grounds themselves are free and the gardens were beautiful now, I'm sure they're even more gorgeous when everything is in bloom. The museum itself is small and shouldn't take more than an hour to roam read more

See all

So worth it! Enjoyed seeing the broader scope of Rodin's work all in one place. Small but mighty. Much appreciated. read more

See all

An underrated gem, not far from the much more popular Philadelphia Art Museum - I spent an enjoyable hour here on my last visit to the City of Brotherly Love. The museum has some lovely grounds and the outdoor sculptures are free to the public. Admission to the small but thoughtfully designed indoor museum is included with the Philadelphia Art Museum ticket, so it's best to combine the two. My favorite sculptures inside were a replica of "The Kiss," "Eternal Springtime," and "The Thinker," which was strangely positioned next to the restroom! The outdoor sculptures - The Gates of Hell, The Burghers of Calais, and The Three Shades - were even more impressive. Will be back! read more

See all

This review is for the outdoor area of the Rodin Museum. We walked around their beautiful grounds and admired the various sculptures, including the monumental bronze Gates of Hell located right by the museum's front door. We then had a bite to eat under a shaded table while taking in the peaceful surroundings. We chose a spot that overlooked the pond. Many others also sat nearby enjoying the beautiful day. There is a Whole Foods conveniently located across the street which made it easy to grab food for a lovely al fresco lunch. Tip: No entrance fee needed to access the outdoor area. read more

Rodin Museum - Beautiful museum grounds (free). - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Wonderful museum. I've been to the Rodin Museum in Paris, France years ago and this is just as good! If you're a fan of Rodin's work, it's a must do!!! read more

This is a nice way to spend a weekend morning. It is around other museums, so you can make multiple stops. This museum is not big so it will not take you long to look around. It is pay as you wish, though they do have suggested donation amounts. This made me a bit uncomfortable because I felt pressured to pay the suggested amount. read more

See all

The small museum filled with Rodin's sculptures. Rodin's hands exhibit was very unique and interesting! The garden outside the museum was also nice to walk around! read more

See all

Came here with some friends on a Saturday afternoon. Loved the entrance and garden with reflecting pool. Apparently this is the biggest/best Rodin collection outside of Paris! Inside the museum are a small but varied collection of Rodin sculptures, most famous of which is "the Kiss" which is displayed in the main viewing gallery. Pay what you wish (suggested donation is $14 for adults and $7 for students). Would budget about 1 hour to see everything. read more

See all

Got into this museum with the ticket I purchased for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's a really small museum that only has one floor. Takes about 30-40 minutes to get through everything. The grounds of the museum are absolutely amazing. The surroundings are so peaceful you would never realize there was a busy street outside the entrance gates. The pieces inside were pretty unique. I think most people have seen The Thinker and The Bust of Victor Hugo and this museum certainly had those pieces but they also had a lot of other works by Rodin that might not be too mainstream or known and it was nice getting to see those pieces. I will say it's probably not worth paying to go to this museum alone as it is small, but if you already paid for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum is only a short walk from there and it's included in your ticket already. read more

See all

I have been a fan of Auguste Rodin's work since art school. This museum was a great experience. Much less overwhelming than the Philadelphia Museum. The sculptures were all original and the famous Thinker and Hell's Gate was outside the museum (which can be viewed from outside without admission). Some tips are the admission is a "suggested donation" so pay as much as you want essentially. There are reasonably priced reproductions for sale in the lobby which can even be shipped to your house if you are visiting. In all this was a great museum which even had some Picasso and other artists work inside. This is a great museum for affordability and for a leisurely trip to Philly. I highly recommend it! read more

See all

Small collection of sculptures by Rodin. We visited the Rodin Museum on a Sunday afternoon, and there was plenty of space to examine the artwork without feeling crowded. The Rodin Museum implements a pay as you wish structure. We spent about 30 minutes here and I read every description that was available. Overall, the Rodin Museum has a fine collection of sculptures that will not require much of your time or money to peruse. read more

Came here on a Sunday afternoon in mid June 2022. My admission was free with my ticket to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. If admission wasn't free and it didn't come recommended by the guide at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I probably wouldn't have came. I do not consider myself an art enthusiasts at all so that's probably why I did not find this museum that interesting. It was very small and was basically one large room. They do have a nice garden outside, which you can enjoy without having to pay. I did hear that this museum is donation based so if you are in the area it would not hurt to take a peek. I walked here from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and before that, I took the bus, so I am not sure about the parking situation there. The entire museum is completely dedicated to Rodin and his works so if you're a fan, you do not want to miss it. read more

Rodin Museum - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Beautiful, peaceful, a true hidden gem in Center City. Go when the flowers are blooming - take a book and a coffee and just take it all in.

I visited the Rodin Museum for the first time today, and I really enjoyed my visit. Philadelphia resident Jules Mastbaum began collecting works by Auguste Rodin in 1924 with the intention of creating a museum of his work in Philadelphia. By the time he passed away in 1926, he had amassed the largest collection of Rodin works outside France. His widow helped to realize his mission after his death, and the museum opened in 1929. The museum is small but beautiful and special. It is now part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art system, so you can visit the Rodin Museum for free when you purchase a ticket to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Definitely worth a visit if you love Rodin, art, museums, or are just in the area! read more

See all

If you like Rodin, this is probably the place for you! Otherwise, I don't think the Rodin Museum is necessarily worth a visit. Admission is included when you have tickets to the Museum of Art. While the Museum of Art takes a few hours to get through, the Rodin Museum is a fraction of the size, so we only spent about 30 minutes there. read more

We got free entry to this museum with our ticket to Philadelphia Museum of Art. We had a few hours to kill so came here. Sculptures were beautiful and I liked that there were sketch books in all the different rooms for those who were inspired to draw after seeing all the sculptures. The outside courtyard seemed to be a popular hang out spot and lots of people taking photos. Definitely worth the time to stop by to check out and relax in the courtyard afterwards. read more

The museum only takes about 20-30 min to talk through. It's "pay what you want" which is nice. The greenery and park surround the museum is beautiful and nice to walk through. read more

Rodin Museum - Rodin Museum - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Rodin Museum isn't big, so if you're not an artist, an art scholar, or a wild Rodin enthusiast, I'm not sure how far out of your way you should go just for it. But, it's a beautiful building with a delightful collection. The lighting is great, the sculptures are well placed to each stand out and to allow a nice flow in the rooms, and they have well placed seats to sit and study the sculptures, along with sketch books around for those inclined to sketching. Admission is pay what you wish, included with a ticket to the Museum of Art, or free with Museum of Art membership, and the Rodin Museum is conveniently located near the Museum of Art, on the parkway between it and the Barnes. You can see other casts of some of the sculptures here at a few other museums, but this is the largest collection of Rodin's works outside of Paris and also offers a particularly nice setting to see them which I think adds something that you don't get at the Met, the Hirschhorn, etc. About an hour will give you enough time to take in every piece (though longer if you want to sit and sketch, etc., and shorter if you just want to see the handful of most famous sculptures). Make sure to check out the sculptures outside the museum, too! The Burghers of Calais is incredible. read more

Thank you Jules E. Mastbaum for your gift to Philadelphia and all it's visitors. This museum was great. Easy to see the exhibits in an hour or so. We stayed a bit longer to take the guided tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and it was well worth hearing her commentary. My wife generally is not big on museums but even she was impressed with the Rodin. They rotate exhibits so I'll return in the future to see other pieces. read more

See all

The Rodin Museum is small but packs a powerful punch. Admission is included with your ticket to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. There is also a Pay What You Wish option. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting. The sculptures are incredible and I liked reading the history behind each piece. The most famous pieces are the 'Gates of Hell' which you don't need a ticket to see. The museum provides comfortable seating with sketch pads and pencils for any budding artists. Highly recommend taking an hour or two to visit! read more

After exploring the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we walked over for a short visit to the Rodin Museum. It's a small space and admission is free with your purchase of the PMA ticket. The space is beautiful. I'd never been here and I was glad to have an opportunity to see many of Rodin's sculptures and plasters up close. I took photos of some of my favorites. They have a small gift shop at the front entrance, clean bathrooms, and a water fountain. The museum is air conditioned which was perfect for a hot day. They offer plenty of sketchbooks, pencils, and places for art students to draw . I enjoyed my visit and would happily return here in the future. read more

See all

Beautiful grounds. Great area with lots of green and trees. Doesnt feel like you are in a city when you are here. read more

See all

This museum is famous of the "gates of hell". It is definitely a beautiful architecture. Love the fountain and the garden. The admission fee is paid what you wish and the garden is free all year round. This museum is very close to Barnes Foundation (walking distance). If you don't mind walking a little bit future, you can also visit the Museum of Art. read more

Rodin Museum - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Small museum dedicated to the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Beautiful landscaped grounds, with an outdoor bar on Friday night's, which we unfortunately missed as we went there Saturday morning. read more

See all

I visited this museum bc it was free with a ticket to the Museum of Art. I think if you really like classic sculpture and or Rodin it's very impressive. If you're not than it's still worth walking around the grounds if you're nearby but I wouldn't go out of my way. I don't know a lot about sculpture but I was ecstatic to find a little Giacometti in a glass case. Made my day! read more

See all

The Rodin Museum is "Pay-as-you-wish" admission and located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, just past the Barnes Foundation on the same side, and a couple blocks before the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Very small but interesting museum. I'm personally not really into sculptures, but after visiting the Rodin Museum I can at least appreciate the art that Rodin created. Each sculpture had a little plaque next to it or below, giving some details about the specific piece. Very interesting. I never knew sculpture could be considered so "erotic," but apparently Rodin was known for creating works that were mistaken as such (he actually didn't mean for them to be that way). Overall not my thing, but very cool. Plan to spend about 30 minutes to an hour, the museum is only one building with a large room and serval small rooms that are attached. Honestly the most impressive work "The Thinker" is outside and free to look at, along with the garden space, which in sure is very pretty in the spring. read more

See all

Awesome and surprisingly comprehensive collection of Rodin's sculptures, tucked in a pretty garden near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Outside of traveling to Paris to see the *other* Rodin museum this is your best opportunity to see the masterworks of this great sculptor. Maybe a bit pricey but you can get a combined ticket with the Museum of Art. Without paying you can still see several sculptures in the garden and appreciate the beauty of the museum building from the outside. Highly recommended. read more

It was cool to see this many pieces of Rodin's work. I have always admired the expressive nature of his pieces. There was a great array of his studies of French figures of the time. Many of which the individual turned down due to Rodin's harshly realistic expressionism. I also loved his Gates of Hell and of course the Thinker. I was impressed by the Burghers of Calais which I had never seen before. It was well worth a visit. read more

Rodin Museum - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I went to Philadelphia a couple of days ago, and my friends and I visited the Rodin Museum. It is currently in renovation, so we did not get to see the Thinker up close, so I was a little bummed out. However, I did get a snapshot of the Kiss, which is one of my favorite Rodin sculptures. It is quite a small museum in Logan Square, but it is worth a peek. read more

See all

While I did like the museum in France a bit more, I do appreciate that fact that I can see the sculptor's work here too. for the life of me I can't tell which museum houses more originals, but last I checked it was a pretty close call. This museum is very beautiful to walk through. it has enchanting indoor and outdoor displays that are very fun to walk through. Also if you happen to be a member of the Art Museum you can get into here for free. read more

I'm not particularly into art, but the Rodin Museum was a nice stop during my trip to Philadelphia. I definitely recommend it for art lovers. The gardens, which are beautiful, are free, and admission to the museum is "Pay What You Wish", with the suggested donation of a reasonable $10 (less for seniors, children, and students). The museum is wheelchair accessible, has gender neutral single stall washrooms*, free wifi, and a water fountain. *I really hate it when single stall washrooms have gendered signs. So unnecessary and stupid! [Yelp collections: East Coast 2016; Museums and Art Galleries; Cheap Thrills] read more

Well, I've thought it over... Excellent! Must-see in Philly, even if you just stand in awe of "The Thinker" for a moment. But venture up the stairs and beyond the gates. Do it. "Pay as you wish" admission - ($10 suggested) stop at visitor center straight ahead as you enter. Participates in reciprocal membership (if you have that level) with Philly Art Museum, NY Met etc (that network) and no fee entry in that case. It's a one-level gallery; allow 30 minutes to an hour at least. Photos allowed. Gorgeous. read more

Rodin Museum - Give me a minute... - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

You probably have heard of "The Thinker", but did you know that there were three sizes cast: small, medium, and large? I didn't until I went to the Rodin Museum, but now I do! This small museum is the largest collection of Rodin outside of France. It is a suggested donation museum ($10) and has a small gift shop. They recommend parking at the PMA (Philadelphia Museum of Art) garage and they validate. Its a nice place to have some quiet reflection in Philly! read more

How to describe one if my favorite memories from Philadelphia. The Rodin Museum was a transcendent museum and garden. There are tables and chairs along the expansive fountain in the center of the garden with smaller sculptures on the sides of the museum. Inside it was a treat to be so close to such mastery of the human soul and body. Rodin encaptures the essences of love, tragedy, angst, and so much more. There are smaller rooms which feature smaller works, with an interactive sketching table with sketchbooks and pencils. Discovering different parts of the museum felt like the revealing of his mind and emotions. My favorite piece is The Cathedral. read more

See all

Very quiet and nice. Great sculptures ranging from cast iron, bronze, gold, and marble. Nice place to come get some sketching inspiration and has chairs and a room with table to sit (possibly where you can sketch and talk). They have suggested admission but also is pay as you wish. Only downside is that it's a bit small. read more

Rodin Museum - Museum date - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania