Visitor's Guide To The Woodmere Art Museum

History Of The Museum

The Woodmere Art Museum was founded by Charles Knox Smith, who was born in 1845 and raised in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. After leaving school after the 8th grade, Smith stepped up from job to job, starting as a grocer's boy, then working at an oil company, and eventually becoming a successful business owner. Determined to give back to the neighborhood, he served in city politics from 1881 to 1901. After leaving politics, Smith moved into the Victorian mansion this is now the Woodmere Art Museum. He dedicated the next 15 years of his life to collecting and celebrating art, with a particular focus on art from the Philadelphia area.

At the time of his death in 1916, Charles Knox Smith had collected over 2,000 pieces of decorative and fine arts. It was his final wish that his art collection, his home and the surrounding grounds be converted into a public museum for the community to enjoy. So the Woodmere Art Museum opened to the public in 1940, displaying the core of Smith's collection, as well as rotating special exhibitions and other programs for people of all ages to come and grow their appreciation for art.

The Woodmere Art Museum is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays, except for select holidays. The museum is also closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and July 4th.

Admission to special exhibitions costs $10 for adults and $7 for seniors (over 55 years of age). Children and students (with ID) are free. Admission is free on Sundays (excluding events), and the Millard Children's Gallery exhibitions and selections from the Charles Knox Smith Galleries are free every day.

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The Woodmere Art Museum is located in Chestnut Hill at the corner of Germantown Ave. and Bells Mill Road after Chestnut Hill College. It's easy accessible by train (take the R8 Chestnut Hill West from 30th St. Station), by bus or by car. A parking lot is available for visitors free of charge.

The Woodmere Art Museum will feature two main special exhibits in the upcoming months. From Sept. 26 to Jan. 24, visit "We Speak: Black Artists in Philadelphia, 1920s-1970s" with more than 70 paintings, sculptures, prints and photographs produced by African American artists who lived and worked in Philadelphia during the 50-year span. Laura Wheeler Waring, Dox Thrash, Selma Burke, Charles Searles, Moe Brooker and Allan Edmunds are just a few of the artists featured.

From Nov. 7 through March 14, visitors will enjoy "The Weight of Watercolor: The Art of Eileen Goodman." Eileen Goodman is considered an innovator within the genre of still life painting and is one of Philadelphia's best realist painters. Ranging from her early drawings to her recent watercolors, the exhibition will include work from the 50 years of her career.

In addition to free admission on Sundays for all visitors, the Woodmere Museum is also a Blue Star Museum. As a part of this program, the Woodmere Museum is proud to offer free admission to active military (and their family of up to five members) from Memorial Day through Labor Day. A special discount of $2 off admission to special exhibits is also offered to WHYY Members.

If you'd like to visit the Woodmere Art Museum regularly, you might consider becoming a member. The tax-deductible membership is available in several levels starting with a $40 individual membership that includes free admission to special exhibitions, a 10 percent discount to the gift shop, invitations to exhibition open houses, an invitation to a reception for new members, discounted art classes and more. Youth, family, family & friends, and patron memberships are also available with additional benefits.

Looking for something to do on a Friday night? Visit Woodmere Art Museum for jazz music from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are sold up until 11:59 p.m. the night before and cost $22 for non-members and $12 for members. Refreshments and wine complete the experience.

If your inner artist is feeling inspired after visiting the museum, register for an art class. The Woodmere Art Museum offers classes and workshops taught by Philadelphia professional artists. A variety of lessons are offered for children, teens and adults. Prices vary (with discounts for members) by class. Visit the website for class details and registration.

On weekends from September through early November, the Woodmere Art Museum offers a maze made from giant straw bales for children to explore. Visit the museum website for more information and details about special events, such as Chestnut Hill's Harry Potter Festival in October.

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