You & Rocky Balboa at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) trained for his big fight against Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers) by running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  While it didn’t look like a big time training regimen in the movie, after walking up those steps, I can see how running them several times can help build up your stamina.  In fact, you’ll see lots of visitors re-creating Rocky’s run up the steps. and the steps have become known as the Rocky Steps.

You enter this building of beautiful art by walking up the very same stairs that Rocky ran up, and with each step you feel the anticipation of what’s at the top.  The museum houses impressive collections of Renaissance master paintings, American artists, furniture from the Revolutionary period, French impressionists, and both contemporary and modern art.

The museum was founded in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of that same year.  It opened to the public the following year.  The current building, quasi-Greek revival in design, was opened in 1928.  Other local art museums, including the nearby Rodin Museum (look for an upcoming post), are also part of the Museum of Art.

Two of my favorite exhibits are:

• Pop Art and Its Affinities (runs through September 20, 2007).  Works from the  1960’s and early 1970’s by Pop artists Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and others.  These are continual favorites of mine.
• Ellsworth Kelly: Paris/New York, 1949″“1959 (runs through February 24, 2008).  Kelly’s work makes use of black, white and primary colors in grid like patterns.  It’s deceptively simple, and very captivating.

And if you really can’t leave your electronic gadgets at home or turned off, the museum has free HotSpot service in the east and west museum lobbies (ground and first floor), in the Balcony Cafe (first floor) and in the Great Stair Hall Balcony (second floor).

Outside of the museum, in keeping with the notoriety that he brought to the museum, is a bronze statue of Rocky.  Although you’ll see it at the top of the steps in the movies (Rocky III and V), its permanent location is at the bottom of the steps.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located at Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 26th Street in Philadelphia.  It is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Friday evenings until 8:45 pm.  Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors (62+), $8 youth (ages 13-18), and free for children 12 and under.  Sundays are pay what you wish day.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

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