How Much Did It Cost to Build the Philadelphia Art Museum?

Art|Art Museum

The Philadelphia Art Museum is one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in the city. The building was designed by Architect Frank Furness in 1876 and was completed in 1877.

The museum is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and has been home to some of the world’s most famous works of art, from Van Gogh’s Starry Night to Picasso’s Guernica. While many people know about the beauty of the building, few are aware of how much it cost to build it.

The price tag for constructing the Philadelphia Art Museum was an estimated $2,800,000. This figure does not include any renovations or updates that have been made over the years since its initial construction.

In today’s money, this amount would equate to approximately $81 million. A majority of this total amount was paid by philanthropist John F. Lewis Jr., who donated a large portion of his fortune to finance its construction.

In addition to the cost of materials and labor needed to build the museum, there were also other expenses that had to be taken into consideration. These included purchasing artworks for its collections as well as hiring staff members and curators. The museum also had to pay for its own utilities such as electricity and water.

The Philadelphia Art Museum stands tall as a symbol of art appreciation, culture, and heritage in Philadelphia. It is one of the city’s most beloved landmarks, drawing thousands of visitors each year from all around the world. While much work has gone into maintaining this beautiful building over the years, it’s hard not to appreciate just how much it cost when it was first built.

In conclusion, it cost an estimated $2,800,000 in 1877 or approximately $81 million today to build the Philadelphia Art Museum. This figure does not include any renovations or updates made over time but does take into account additional expenses such as purchasing artwork for its collections as well as hiring staff members and curators.