Founded in 1805, the PAFA is the nation’s first and oldest art museum. Located in one of the best examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in the United States, each of the museum’s galleries are devoted to a specific aspect of American art.
A second building, the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building, at 128 Broad Street, was occupied by the PAFA in 2006. Most of it is used by the School of Fine Arts of the Academy, but it also includes a special exhibition space, the Fisher Brooks Gallery, for public viewing.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) Information
- Public Transportation: Good (Race-Vine and 15th Street SEPTA subway stops are just around the corner from the museum)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good (accessible entrance located at Cherry and Burns Streets; the Burns Street elevator provides access to the gallery floor)
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m–5 p.m., closed Mondays and holidays
- Admission: $10, students and seniors with ID $8, youth (5–18) $6. Special exhibitions $15, students and seniors with ID $12, youth (5–18) $6. Admission for all exhibitions is free for members and children under 5. Admission to the Morris Gallery and the ground floor of the Historic Landmark Building is always free
- Basic Tour: Free with admission; tours are given between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on weekends. Guided tours are also available for people with physical or mental disabilities upon request and sign-language interpreters are available for all programs with prior arrangements
- Membership: All members at the Individual level ($50) and above enjoy unlimited free admission to the Academy, a 10% discount at the Academy Café, a 10% discount at the museum store, two free admission tickets to USArtists: American Fine Art Show, invitations to members-only tours, events, and exhibition preview receptions, Preview, the museum’s quarterly in-house periodical, plus free admission to the museum’s Art-at-Lunch series. Discount memberships for students ($20) are also offered. A Young Friends membership ($60) is available for people 21–40, which includes regular individual benefits plus invitations to Young Friends events and Academy programs. Reciprocal membership is available to more than 250 museums throughout the country at the Friend Level ($150) and above.
