Pennsylvania
A World of Art: The Barnes Foundation, Murals & More
Program No. 23179RJ
Revel in the artistry of Philadelphia as you visit some of the nation’s most celebrated museums, and find out why Philadelphia is known as the unofficial mural capital of the world.
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
11 meals (
5B, 3L, 3D
)
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Meals:
D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a restaurant close to the hotel. If arriving late, please email Lauren Kain, lkain@philalandmarks.org
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Grounds for Sculpture, The Barnes Foundation
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City
Activity Note
Getting on/off a private motorcoach; driving about 35 miles, approximately 1 hour each way. Walking up to 3 miles and standing, generally flat terrain. Expect moderate walking & standing at time while at the museum. Wheelchairs available at Barnes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
Aboard our bus, we’ll ride to Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey, on the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds. This 42-acre public park was founded in 1992 by sculptor and philanthropist J. Seward Johnson. We will be joined by an educator who will lead our exploration featuring recreated “en plein air” tableaux from famous Impressionist paintings.
Lunch:
Lunch will be provided at Grounds For Sculpture
Afternoon:
We will ride to The Barnes Foundation on the Parkway where we will explore the collection and galleries with a local expert. This extraordinary collection, one of the greatest private art collections anywhere, got its start in 1912 when Dr. Barnes sent an artist friend to Paris to acquire modern paintings. Dr. Barnes himself began collecting what became a sophisticated trove of artistic treasures including old masterworks, Impressionist, post-Impressionist, and early modern paintings with numerous works by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso — the greatest collection of Post-Impressionist art outside Paris. Dr. Barnes also collected Native American fine crafts; early American furniture and decorative art; and African sculpture. Uniquely, he displayed his collection in self-designed “ensembles” where he arranged masterpieces amid other objects. The exceptional, state-of-the-art Barnes on the Parkway facility opened in 2012.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant, we’ll order from a select menu.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
Philadelphia Outdoor Wall Art, PAFA
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Meals:
B
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City
Activity Note
Getting on/off a private motorcoach; driving about 5 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking up to 3 miles. Expect standing at times while at the museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We’ll be joined by a mural expert who will begin our exploration on foot, and then by bus to explore outdoor wall art in the Mid-City neighborhood. Philadelphia lays claim to the title “mural arts capital of the world” thanks to a program that began in 1984 to eradicate graffiti. A leading local artist was hired to reach graffiti “artists” and redirect their energies to more constructive public art projects. It has been a huge success, with expanded community-based programs that reach every neighborhood in the city, annually enrolling some 2,000 practitioners and another 18,000 in related projects. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens showcase the legacy of Isaiah Zagar, an award-winning mosaic mural artist whose work can be found on more than 200 public walls throughout of Philadelphia and around the world. Zagar’s mission since the mid-1960s has been to beautify the urban environment with visionary mosaic art and public murals. His largest public artwork is a massive outdoor mosaic sculpture garden filled with folk art statues, bicycle wheels, glass bottles, hand-made tiles, and thousands of mirror pieces.
Lunch:
Lunch on your own at the Reading Terminal Market
Afternoon:
This afternoon we will visit the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Charles Wilson Peale, one of America's most famous 18th Century artists, founded the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1805. The first art school in the United States, it is also a museum that houses art by American painters from the 17th Century to the present. An art historian will show you works by Peale, Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Eakins and Andrew Wyeth as well as pieces on display by Philadelphia native Mary Cassatt.
Dinner:
Dinner will be on your own this evening.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Brandywine River Museum
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City
Activity Note
Getting on/off a private motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1 hour each way. Walking up to 3 miles and standing, generally flat terrain. Expect standing at times while at the museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We’ll board a private bus and travel to Chadd’s Ford for a field trip to the Andrew Wyeth Studio, NC Wyeth Studio and the Museum all on the campus of the Brandywine River Museum of Art. The Brandywine Valley became the home of artist N.C. Wyeth and his wife in 1907. His talent and imagination shaped the careers of his children including their youngest, Andrew. Recognized as one of the most important and best-known artists of the 20th century, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) drew his inspiration from the landscapes and people of Chadd’s Ford as well as mid-coast Maine where he summered. With a museum educator, we will explore the studio that was his primary workplace — now a National Historic Landmark — where he created thousands of paintings and drawings. We will be able to learn about Wyeth’s creative career and see examples of the materials he used amid the furnishings and library he collected. An educator will lead our exploration of some of the sites featured in Wyeth works of art.
Lunch:
Lunch at the Museum cafe is included. You will be able to order off the menu.
Afternoon:
Continue to explore at the Brandywine River Museum.
Dinner:
Dinner is on your own this evening.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Philadelphia Museum of Art & Free Afternoon
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City
Activity Note
Getting on/off a private motorcoach; driving about 2 miles, approximately 20 minutes each way. Walking up to 2 miles and standing, generally flat terrain. Expect standing at times while at the museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will travel by bus to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. our educator will introduce some of the highlights of its incomparable galleries. Among the greatest in the U.S., the Museum has a collection of more than 227,000 works of art spanning the creative achievements of the Western world since the first century CE and those of Asia since the third millennium BCE. Its European holdings date from the Medieval era to the present, and the American collections are among the finest in the country. Following the expert-led exploration, we will have some independent time to see what interests each of us most. The remainder of the afternoon is free to continue independent exploration at the Museum, see more of the city, or return to the hotel independently.
Lunch:
Lunch vouchers at the PMA will be provided.
Afternoon:
This afternoon is free for you to relax, continue at the PMA or to explore Philadelphia. Please talk to your group leader for suggestions. An optional transfer from PMA to the hotel will be offered at 2:30pm.
Dinner:
We'll order from a select menu. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
The remainder of the evening is free. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Rodin & Program Concludes
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Prior to departing for the hotel please check out of your room, as check-out is at 11:00 AM. The Bellman will hold your luggage while we are at the Rodin. We will be back to the hotel by 11:30 AM. Option to bring your luggage to the Rodin on our bus and get an uber/Lyft to the airport or train from the Rodin.
Breakfast:
At the hotel .
Morning:
This morning we will head to the Rodin Museum, which houses the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris. Enjoy a short self-guided visit in the galleries. You should check out prior to our departure; the bellman will check your luggage while we are on our fieldtrip. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.