July 08, 2015
Philadelphia offers art lovers an experience like no other. Instead of elbowing tourists in overcrowded galleries for a glimpse at a painting, museum-goers in Philadelphia can enjoy masterpieces from all epochs in a more relaxed environment. Since many of the city’s museums are located along the gorgeous Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the scenery outside of their walls rivals the beauty of the works within.
Bike riders easily can cruise along the “most artistic mile in the country,” and take in the creations along the way. For the art lovers, Indego offers easy access to works from antiquity to the post-modern. Here are just a few of the destinations that are accessible through Indego:
Indego bikes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
The crown jewel of the Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of
the largest art museums in the world. Its collection contains art from
around the globe, spanning centuries of human history and culture.
Showcasing everything from modern classics by Warhol and Cy Twombly to Van
Gogh’s famous Sunflowers to Renaissance masterpieces to ancient treasures
from Asia, the PMA’s scope is nearly unparalleled.
A must-see for any art lover or visitor, the museum is open every day, except Mondays, and regularly hosts special events and classes. Admission also allows ticket holders access to the nearby Rodin Museum and the neighboring Perelman building. As an added bonus: The PMA’s Indego station is nestled at the base of the famous “Rocky Steps,” so riders can get some extra exercise.
The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
The Barnes Foundation’s relocation to the Parkway in 2012 was nothing short
of historic. Dr. Barnes’ assemblage of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist
masterpieces from artists like Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh,
and Rousseau is the most comprehensive in the world. Housed in a modern
structure whose interior attempts to replicate the original Barnes museum
in suburban, Merion, Pennsylvania, the collection is unlike anything else
on Earth. Tickets are a must for this highly in-demand art experience.
The Rodin Museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
You might not have guessed it, but Philadelphia’s Rodin Museum is home to
the largest collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin anywhere outside of
Paris. After a three- year, $9 million restoration, the Museum’s doors
reopened in 2012. The gallery features more than 140 bronze, plaster and
marble sculptures spanning the artist’s entire career. The Museum’s gardens
are a work of art in their own right; the meticulously landscaped grounds
are a picturesque setting for The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, two of
Rodin’s most famous works. The Rodin Museum is open every day, except
Tuesdays, and entrance is included with admission to the PMA.
The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts sits just north of City Hall on North Broad Street.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
Both a school and a museum, PAFA is internationally renowned for its
collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculptures from American
artists. Founded in 1805 by painter Charles Wilson Peale, PAFA is now
comprised of two buildings – the magnificent Victorian Furness-Hewitt
Building and the modern Samuel M.V. Hamilton building. The Academy’s
permanent and rotating exhibitions from renowned alumni and others are
split between the two and promise visitors an unmatched view of artistic
education and its mesmerizing results.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
When you think of art, University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology
and Anthropology might not spring immediately to mind. However, Penn Museum
is home to a stunning collection of artistic and cultural artifacts from
around the world. Many of the Museum’s nearly 1,000,000 objects date back
thousands of years and include ancient tombs, mummies, ornate masks,
jewelry, and textiles from indigenous peoples and tribes spanning the
entire globe. Penn Museum is open every day, except Mondays.
There are so many masterpieces from celebrated artists on display in Philadelphia, it’s easy to see why we’ve long enjoyed a reputation as a top destination for the visual and creative arts. Now, the Indego system brings these treasures closer than ever.
Best of all, Indego affords riders an unparalleled peace of mind: Those enamored with a particular work or museum can take it in at their leisure, instead of fretting over a parking spot. So hop on a bike and exercise your mind and body with a tour of Philadelphia’s art world.
