You see them every single day. People of all ages, dressed in everything from high-end athletic gear to business suits and wedding dresses, sprinting toward the sky. They aren’t entering the museum. Most of them won't even see a single painting today. They’re here for the 72 stone steps leading up to the Eakins Oval. The Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs aren't just a way to get into a building; they are a physical manifestation of a cinematic myth that somehow became more real than the movie itself.
It's actually kind of wild when you think about it.
Sylvester Stallone first ran up these steps in 1976 for a low-budget movie called Rocky. He was an underdog. The city was gritty. Today, the "Rocky Steps" are probably the most famous flight of stairs in the world, arguably rivaled only by the Spanish Steps in Rome or the Potemkin Stairs in Odessa. But those other stairs are about history or architecture. These? These are about grit. They’re about that universal, slightly desperate human need to prove we can make it to the top.
The Architectural Reality vs. The Hollywood Myth
Let's get the logistics out of the way because people usually get the numbers wrong. There are exactly 72 steps. They are made of Radcliffe gray granite. Architect Horace Trumbauer and the firm Zantzinger, Borie, and Medary designed the whole Neo-Classical complex, which was completed in 1928. It’s a massive, sprawling achievement of the City Beautiful movement, meant to evoke a Greek temple.
The stairs were designed for grandeur. They were meant to be paced slowly, allowing the visitor to transition from the chaos of the city to the contemplative silence of art. Then Rocky Balboa showed up in a grey sweatsuit and ruined the silence forever. Honestly, the museum staff has had a complicated relationship with this fame over the years. For a long time, the "fine art" world felt the movie overshadowed the world-class collections inside—we're talking Duchamp, Cézanne, and one of the best armor collections on the planet. But you can't fight gravity, and you definitely can't fight pop culture.
Eventually, the city leaned in.
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If you visit today, you’ll find the bronze Rocky statue at the bottom of the stairs, tucked to the right. It wasn't always there. It was originally a prop for Rocky III, and there was a massive, years-long debate about whether it was "art" or a "movie prop." It moved to the Spectrum sports arena, then back to the museum, then back to the arena. In 2006, it finally found its permanent home at the foot of the steps. It turns out, people don't really care about the distinction between high art and pop culture when they're looking for a photo op.
Why the Philadelphia Museum of Art Stairs Feel Different
The view from the top is what sells it. When you turn around at the summit—right where those famous bronze footprints are embedded in the concrete—you see the Benjamin Franklin Parkway stretching out toward City Hall. It’s a perfectly framed urban vista. It’s a moment of clarity.
You’ll see kids doing it. You’ll see grandpas doing it. You’ll see people who are clearly in the middle of a weight-loss journey, panting at step 40, being cheered on by total strangers. That’s the "Philly" part of the experience. It’s communal. There is an unwritten rule that if you see someone struggling to take a selfie at the top while doing the two-fisted victory salute, you offer to take the photo for them.
What most people miss
While everyone is focused on the front steps, the museum itself is a masterpiece of landscape integration. If you walk around the back toward the Schuylkill River, you’ll find the Sculpture Garden. It’s quiet. It’s lush. It’s the exact opposite of the chaotic energy of the main stairs.
Most tourists miss the fact that the stairs are actually part of a massive "pedestal" for the museum. The building sits on a hill called Fairmount. Before the museum was there, it was the site of the city’s primary water reservoir. So, when you’re climbing, you’re literally climbing the history of the city’s infrastructure.
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Navigating the "Rocky" Experience Without Looking Like a Total Amateur
Look, if you're going to do it, do it right. Don't show up at 2:00 PM on a Saturday in July and expect a clear shot. You'll be dodging a thousand people.
- Go Early: 7:00 AM is the sweet spot. The light hitting the Parkway is incredible, and the only other people there will be actual local runners who use the steps for their morning cardio.
- The Statue Line: There is almost always a line for the Rocky statue. It moves fast, but if you don't want to wait, just take a picture from the side. The statue is 8.5 feet tall and weighs about 1,800 pounds—it’s big enough to see from a distance.
- The "Rocky" Music: Someone is usually nearby playing "Gonna Fly Now" on a portable speaker. Sometimes they want tips. Sometimes they're just part of the atmosphere.
- Actually Go Inside: This is the most important tip. You’ve done the workout; now go see the art. The museum houses over 240,000 objects. You can see a 14th-century Buddhist temple hall or a room designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
One thing people rarely mention is the physical toll. Seventy-two steps doesn't sound like much until you try to sprint them. The rise of each step is relatively shallow, which baits you into going faster than you should. By step 50, your quads will start to scream. By step 72, your lungs are searching for oxygen. That’s why that victory pose at the top feels so genuine—even if you’re just a tourist, you’ve actually accomplished something.
The Cultural Weight of a Staircase
The Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs have hosted more than just movie fans. They’ve been the site of massive concerts like Live 8 in 2005. They were the backdrop for the 2017 NFL Draft. They’ve seen protests, marathons, and countless marriage proposals.
In a way, the stairs have become the city’s "front porch."
There’s a certain irony in the fact that a building designed to house the elite treasures of human civilization is best known for a fictional boxer. But maybe it’s not irony. Maybe it’s just how cities work. We take these grand, formal spaces and we make them our own. We turn them into playgrounds, gyms, and stages.
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Beyond the Grey Sweatsuit
If you want to dive deeper into the local vibe, check out the "Italian Market" in South Philly after your run. That’s where the other half of the Rocky montage happens. You can get a cannoli at Isgro Pastries or a cheesesteak at whichever place has the shortest line (honestly, the "best" one is a matter of intense local debate that you don't want to get stuck in).
The stairs are just the beginning.
People think Philly is just about history and sandwiches, but it’s a city of layers. The stairs are the top layer. Beneath them is a complex, artistic, and deeply human place that doesn't care if you're a movie star or a visitor from halfway across the world. They just want to see if you can make it to the top.
Practical Steps for Your Visit
Don't just wing it. If you're heading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs, keep these specifics in mind to make the most of the trip:
- Parking is tricky. There is a parking lot behind the museum, but it’s pricey. Try to find street parking on Pennsylvania Avenue if you’re lucky, or just take an Uber/Lyft to the Rocky Statue.
- Check the Museum Hours. If you actually want to go inside (and you should), they are typically closed on certain holidays and have late hours on Fridays.
- Hydrate. There aren't many water fountains outside. Bring a bottle, especially in the humid Philly summers.
- Wear real shoes. Granite is slippery when wet. If it’s raining, take the stairs slow. Falling on your face is a very un-Rocky way to end the day.
- Look for the footprints. When you get to the very top step, look down. There are two bronze sneaker prints embedded in the stone. Put your feet in them. Look out at the city. Take the breath. You earned it.
Once you’ve conquered the climb, walk around the entire perimeter of the building. The architecture on the side facing the river is arguably more beautiful than the front, featuring intricate colorful terra cotta details and pediments that most people never bother to look at because they’re too busy catching their breath.
After your visit, head down the Parkway toward the Barnes Foundation. It’s a short walk and houses one of the most significant collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world. It’s a different kind of "heavy lifting" for your brain, but it rounds out the experience perfectly.
Stop by the Swann Memorial Fountain in Logan Circle on your way back toward Center City. It’s another architectural gem that looks incredible in photos and gives you a chance to sit down and rest those legs before you find some lunch.