Woodmere Art Museum

Woodmere Art Museum tells the story of Philadelphia's art and artists through vibrant, changing exhibitions that explore the achievements and social ideas of local creatives in the broader context of American art history. The museum was founded by Charles Knox Smith, who purchased the Woodmere estate in 1890 and first opened it to the public in 1910. After Smith's death in 1916, the property was bequeathed as a public museum, which officially opened in 1940. Today, the museum operates across two historic stone mansions: the original Charles Knox Smith Hall and the newly opened Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art and Education, which added fourteen galleries, a children's art studio, and expanded exhibition spaces. The collection consists of over 11,000 objects spanning post-Civil War American paintings, works by 19th-century Philadelphia artists, Hudson River School landscapes, Pennsylvania Impressionists, Modernist works, and contemporary art. Notable strengths include one of the nation's premier collections of Pennsylvania Impressionists and an extensive collection of works by Violet Oakley, the celebrated muralist who achieved international fame through her Pennsylvania State Capitol commissions. The museum features multiple mediums including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photography, and video. Visitors can experience art in intimate settings enhanced by the mansion's grand rooms and historic architecture, creating a more personal viewing experience than larger museums. The ten-acre grounds feature Woodmere's Outdoor Wonder, significant public sculptures set in harmony with gardens reflecting founder Charles Knox Smith's spiritual connection to nature. The museum offers diverse programming including exhibitions, evening jazz concerts on the sculpture grounds, family programs, guided tours, and comprehensive classes in painting, drawing, and other media for both adults and children. Free admission is offered every Sunday, and the museum maintains a commitment to diversity, equity, and accessibility through discounted admission programs for seniors, students, and PHL City ID holders.