‘The Thinker Hangs Out in Philadelphia’
The Rodin Museum is located in the Art Museum District of Philadelphia. The museum contains the largest collection of sculptor Auguste Rodin‘s works outside of Paris.
History of Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum was a gift to the City of Philadelphia from movie theater magnate Jules Mastbaum (American, 1872 – 1926) who began collecting works by Rodin in 1923. His intention was to have a museum that enriched the lives of his fellow citizens.
Mastbaum brought in two French architects in 1926 to design the museum’s building and gardens. Unfortunately Auguste Rodin (1840 – 1917) never did live long enough to see this wonderful exhibit that honored his work.
The Rodin Museum, which opened to the public in 1929, was inaugurated on November 29, 1929 with Rodin’s wife present.
Rodin Museum Experience & Atmosphere
If you did not know much about Rodin’s work outside of The Thinker (1880-1882), perhaps the most famous sculpture in the world, after visiting this museum, you might walk away a complete fan.
The Rodin Museum has nearly 130 sculptures, including bronze casts of the artist’s greatest works such as The Burghers of Calais, his most heroic and moving historical tribute. There is so much to look at and process with this one. The haunting facial expressions and large hands truly capture your attention. Another is The Gates of Hell, which Rodin worked on from 1880 until his death in 1917.
Right now, the museum is under renovations and should be completed by the end of the Spring. The garden is still opened. The ultimate goal is to restore the building and grounds in the spirit of their original 1929 design. Special focus will be placed on the relationship of the Museum’s entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
If visiting Philadelphia, the Rodin Museum should be on your list of things to do in Philadelphia. The best thing about the Rodem Museum is that it is not obnoxiously large. You get just enough museum to feel cultured, but not too much to where you pass into the land of boredom and aching feet. The tour is free, even though they ask for a donation of five dollars, and it would usually take about 30 minutes to go through the museum. The Rodin Museum is a World Class collection of Rodin sculptures and should not be missed for tourists and Philadelphians alike.
Location
Benjamin Franklin Pkwy and 22nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Hours
Rodin Museum | Closed until late spring 2012
Rodin Gardens | Tuesday – Sunday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed Mondays & Holidays
Phone
(215) 763-8100
Web Site
Related Articles About Museums in Philadelphia
- Fireman’s Hall Museum
- Franklin Institute
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- National Museum of American Jewish History
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- Philadelphia Museum of Art – Fairmount Park, PA
- Philadelphia History Museum aka Atwater Kent Museum
- Please Touch Museum – interactive museum for kids
- Rodin Museum
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