Each time I visit the city of Philadelphia, I plan themed Backyard Road Trips. Whether it’s a historic adventure or a foodie tour, there’s so much to do in the City of Brotherly Love. During this trip, the piece de resistance was visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
With my oldest son and my parents in tow, we headed to the museum on a chilly February morning. Entering through the back entrance proved easy due to the underground parking garage. Although the front of the museum is known for its iconic “Rocky” steps facing the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the back is awe-inspiring in its own right.
Upon entry, my son received a scavenger hunt. It was not a museum-issued one; instead, my mother created her own scavenger hunt based on some of the museum’s most important pieces. After saying hello to my cousin, Emmi, who worked at the museum as an events planner, we were on our way to explore the museum.
Let’s Tour the 3rd Floor
We began our visit on the third floor, immersing ourselves in the extensive Arms and Armor galleries. Here, Danny enjoyed viewing the knights’ armor and weaponry. The knight mounted upon his armored steed was a highlight.
Traveling through the third floor, the next gallery was European Art: Medieval to Early Renaissance. Think of Christ on the cross and other Biblical scenes. The actual architecture that was transferred here from overseas included the archways of the Abbey Church of Saint-Laurent, which are physically located within the gallery. I remember pictures of this from our photo album from when I was a kid, but I could never place where it was. Now I know!
After the Medieval galleries, we strolled through the galleries of Asian art. I explained to Danny who the Buddha was and the importance of yoga to both Hindu and Buddhist religions. The Hindu Temple was stunning. We sat in the midst of this circa 1560 Indian temple. It was found in ruins and recreated here in Philadelphia. Another highlight was the Japanese tea house, which had been rebuilt inside its walls. This was built in 1917 outside Tokyo and has been part of the museum’s collection since 1928. The tea house is named Sunkaraku, which translates to Evanescent Joys. The ability to fit parts of an abbey, a temple, and a house within this museum’s halls shows the building’s true immensity. The other wing of the 3rd floor, which focuses on European and American art, was closed for repairs.
Onto the 2nd Floor
The second floor features galleries of American art and modern and contemporary art. In these galleries, Danny found many of the items on his scavenger hunt. We spent a while in the Impressionist galleries, introducing Danny to Impressionism. With paintings by Monet, Renoir, and Manet, the museum has a well-curated collection. Other important European painters, including Cezanne, Picasso, and Van Gogh, are also on view. The highlight for Danny in the modern art galleries was Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain, which is actually a urinal. Also on view is a portrait by Barkley Hendricks, who was a professor at Connecticut College and had a long-running jazz show on WCNI along with my dad.
A highlight for Danny was being able to walk up the Rocky steps. The majesty of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is unmatched, and the collection inside truly is befitting for a building of such architecture. Reminiscent of a Greek Temple, it’s a fine example of Greek Revival architecture.
Make sure to check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art when visiting the city. Its remarkable collection could take you a full day to get through, so prioritize what you want to see. Even viewing it from the outside is highly impressive.
