Main Building
Opening on April 11, the Bicentennial exhibition Philadelphia: Three Centuries of American Art presented over 550 magnificent objects created in the Philadelphia area, ranging from paintings, prints, and photographs to sculpture, decorative arts, costumes, and architecture. Works in the Museum's collections were significantly augmented by loans from other cultural institutions and private collections, many never before on public display. This dazzling exhibition, organized by Darrel Sewell, Curator of American Art, inspired the restoration of many prized objects and brought to light through three years of curatorial research extensive new information about Philadelphia artists and craftsmen. Designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Venturi and Rauch, the installation was arranged chronologically in 50-year periods. The exhibition was the first to be housed in the newly completed Special Exhibition Galleries on the first floor, a vast 14,000-square-foot space funded by the City of Philadelphia.