Rodin Museum
| Type | Art museum, sculpture garden |
|---|---|
| Address | 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Fairmount |
| Phone | (215) 763-8100 |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 1929 |
| Founder | Jules Mastbaum |
| Director | Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| Hours | Wed-Mon 10 AM - 5 PM |
The Rodin Museum sits on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Fairmount, dedicated entirely to French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917). You'll find the largest collection of his work anywhere outside Paris here, featuring bronze casts of his most famous pieces: The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, The Burghers of Calais, and The Kiss. The intimate setting and gorgeous gardens create something rare. A space built for reflection, for standing with one of history's greatest sculptors.[1]
Movie theater magnate Jules Mastbaum gave this museum to Philadelphia. He'd assembled the collection during the 1920s, became obsessed with Rodin's vision, and wanted to share it. Mastbaum hired French architect Paul Philippe Cret to design the building, which opened in 1929. Today the Philadelphia Museum of Art runs it, and your ticket gets you into both places.[2]
History
Jules Mastbaum
Jules Mastbaum (1872-1926) was a Philadelphia businessman who'd built a chain of movie theaters. He discovered Rodin's work in the 1920s and couldn't shake it. He started buying everything he could find.
Bronze casts, marble pieces, drawings, prints. He purchased directly from Rodin's estate and the Musée Rodin in Paris. His goal was straightforward: bring Rodin to America, give Philadelphia something extraordinary.
But Mastbaum died in 1926. He never saw his museum open. His widow, Etta Mastbaum, finished what he'd started. The doors opened in November 1929.
The Building
Paul Philippe Cret designed the museum in the Beaux-Arts style. It's a classical structure approached through a formal garden that deliberately echoes the atmosphere of the Musée Rodin in Paris.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Rodin Museum came under the care of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1939. That arrangement has kept the collection professionally maintained while letting it remain its own thing.
Collection
Signature Works
| Work | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Thinker | 1880 | Iconic figure contemplating existence; positioned in the garden |
| The Gates of Hell | 1880-1917 | Monumental bronze doors featuring over 180 figures |
| The Burghers of Calais | 1884-1895 | Group depicting six medieval citizens sacrificing themselves |
| The Kiss | 1882 | Marble sculpture of embracing lovers |
| Eternal Springtime | 1884 | Romantic couple in tender embrace |
The Gates of Hell
Rodin spent almost four decades on The Gates of Hell. Nearly 40 years. He drew inspiration from Dante's Inferno and created a monumental bronze doorway that seems to contain all human suffering and struggle. He never finished it in his lifetime, yet bronze casts were cast after his death.
Over 180 figures inhabit these doors. Many became independent sculptures later. The Thinker emerged from this work, originally conceived as Dante standing at the top, looking down at the chaos.
The Thinker
You see The Thinker right away. It dominates the garden, posed at the reflecting pool's head where visitors encounter it first. This man sits in the grip of interior conflict, wrestling with something vast and unknowable.
Rodin originally titled it The Poet. He meant it to be Dante contemplating Hell below. It's become one of the world's most recognizable artworks. Everyone knows this figure.
The Grounds
Formal Garden
The approach matters here. A long tree-lined reflecting pool stretches from the Parkway to the entrance, a processional path that builds anticipation:
- Clipped hedges and formal plantings
- Reflecting pool with The Thinker at its head
- Benches for contemplation
- Views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Sculpture Garden
Bronze sculptures populate the garden grounds. You walk around them. Natural light shifts throughout the day, constantly changing how they look. Trees and landscaping frame each piece.
Visiting the Rodin Museum
Hours
- Wednesday-Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Closed: Tuesday
- Closed major holidays
Admission
- Pay-what-you-wish: Suggested donation of $5
- Admission includes access to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Free for Philadelphia Museum of Art members
What to See
- The Gates of Hell: At the museum entrance
- The Thinker: In the formal garden
- The Kiss: Inside the museum
- The Burghers of Calais: In the garden
- Gallery rooms with smaller sculptures and drawings
Tips
Budget 45 minutes to an hour. The garden's worth visiting even if you skip the interior. Combine your trip with the nearby Philadelphia Museum of Art just down the street. Morning light or late afternoon sunlight hits the sculptures best.
Getting There
- SEPTA Bus: Routes 32, 38
- Walking: On the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 21st and 22nd Streets
- Parking: Street parking or Philadelphia Museum of Art garage
Nearby Attractions
- Philadelphia Museum of Art (5-minute walk)
- Barnes Foundation (3-minute walk)
- Franklin Institute (5-minute walk)
See Also
- Auguste Rodin
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Sculpture in Philadelphia
- Art in Philadelphia
References
- ↑ "About the Rodin Museum". Rodin Museum. Retrieved December 30, 2025
- ↑ "Rodin Museum". Visit Philadelphia. Retrieved December 30, 2025