Parkway / Museum District

At one end of the Parisian-style Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the iconic LOVE sculpture on the west side of City Hall is a photo shoot favorite. The other end of the Parkway leads to Fairmount Park - the world's largest landscaped city park - home to riverside trails, playgrounds, some of the country's earliest mansions, and more than 200 pieces of outdoor art. In between, acclaimed institutions dot the majestic row, and flags of the world, representing the many heritages that call Philadelphia home, adorn the street.

Surrounding the beautiful Swann Fountain at the center of Logan Square is a unique collection of museums. On one side, the famous Thinker greets art enthusiasts outside the Rodin Museum, which features the largest collection of the sculptor’s works outside of Paris. At The Franklin, visitors can walk through the Giant Heart, gaze at the stars in the Fels Planetarium, enjoy movies on an IMAX screen, and discover an array of fascinating and educational visiting exhibits. In the Academy of Natural Sciences, curious minds can explore America’s oldest natural sciences research institution and museum.

The Ben Franklin Parkway ends at Eakins Oval, a large roundabout in front of one of our City’s most identifiable landmarks: the Philadelphia Museum of Art, whose cascading steps were made famous in the film Rocky. With more than 200 galleries with 200,000 objects spanning a history of 2,000 years, it is one of America’s largest museums.

Behind the museum, 9,200 acres of trees, grassy fields, running trails, and reservoirs make up Fairmount Park. Fulfilling William Penn’s vision of creating a "green country town," Fairmount Park is where Philadelphians and visitors go to hike, bike, and jog through an idyllic landscape bordering the shores of the Schuylkill River. Visitors can also tour a few of Fairmount’s historic mansions, like the Lemon Hill Mansion, located throughout the park.

Search for more . . .
Travel Deals
Hotels
Tourist Attractions
Tours