I love this little museum specializing in Philadelphia area artists. It’s small, but has some great spaces:
Three rooms have been restored to their Victorian glory, including one with a display of reproduction electric lights. It’s always cool to see art hanging as it was originally intended – in this case, big, beautiful canvasses in ornate frames against Victorian decoration.
The large, main gallery has a balcony accessed by a wrought iron spiral staircase (no one under 10 allowed on balcony):
Because space is limited, most of the art on display rotates. However in 2025 they opened up new gallery space in another 19th century building a block away. The renovations included adding light fixtures and other architectural elements from the art deco Boyd Theater, demolished in 2015:
Among the 14 new galleries is a room devoted to the Pennsylvania Impressionists, including my favorite Walter Schofield who often painted views of Wissahickon Creek, just down the road from the museum.
There is also a room dedicated to Violet Oakley, the first women to receive the Gold Medal of honor from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts: American Art & Victorian Splendor). The c. 1911 murals are on permanent display in a room that recreates their original setting in a demolished center city mansion.
The original building still displays rotating exhibits. How adorable are these watercolors from a 2018 exhibit??
They always have a holiday display, including a dollhouse. This 2021 holiday show focused on vintage holiday displays from local department store, Wanamaker’s, done by John Winters, chief artist from 1948 to 1973:
The museum is very accessible and fun for kids. They often have kid-friendly exhibits and classes, plus an outdoor hay bale maze in the fall and fun outdoor sculpture.
Kids and students are always free. Adults are $10 (free for everyone on Sundays). They also offer movie nights, jazz concerts, etc.. One of the most unique venues in the city!
Another plus for visiting with kids: the museum is only 1/2 mile (drive – the road is not walker-friendly) to Wissahickon Creek. There are 2 parking areas on Bell’s Mill Road, where you can access trails along the creek – either on the wide gravel Forbidden drive trail or the rougher dirt path (https://secretsofphiladelphia.com/2018/10/29/garnet-collecting-along-the-wissahickon-creek/).
Tobey says: If I have to get dragged to a museum, this is a fun one.
Location: Chestnut Hill. Near Morris Arboretum and Germantown.
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