Philadelphia's Most Iconic Landmark Gets a New Permanently Placed Home: The Rocky Statue is Moving Up Top
The Philadelphia Art Museum steps, where Rocky Balboa's spirit has been gazing out at fans for over two decades, are set to get an iconic new resident. A statue of the fictional boxer, originally gifted to the city in 1982, will be permanently placed at the top of the museum's steps, mirroring the climactic scene from the 1976 film that launched Sylvester Stallone's career.
The decision was made by the Philadelphia Art Commission, which approved the move after a heated discussion. The six-member board voted in favor of the statue's placement, with one member abstaining, citing its status as a cultural symbol for the city and its enduring popularity among visitors – a whopping 4 million per year.
"This is a powerful example of democratic public art," said commission member Rebecca Segal. "It functions like great public art does today: through recognition, repetition, and collective ownership and interaction." The original statue will be on display inside the museum as part of a special exhibit from April to August, while a replica will remain at the top of the steps until then.
The transfer of the statue is expected to cost $150,000, but officials say it's worth it. "Permanently placing the Rocky statue at the top of the steps restores it to its original and most widely recognized setting," said Chief Cultural Officer Valerie Gay in a proposal letter. "Formalizing its placement acknowledges the significance the statue has acquired through decades of public engagement and affirms its place within the city's civic and cultural landscape."
The move is also expected to bring in new visitors, with plans for a wheelchair-accessible "Rocky" shuttle to transport fans up to the top of the steps. And when it comes time to return the replica statue, officials hope to install another city-owned statue at the base of the museum's iconic steps – cementing Rocky's status as an integral part of Philadelphia's cultural landscape.
The Philadelphia Art Museum steps, where Rocky Balboa's spirit has been gazing out at fans for over two decades, are set to get an iconic new resident. A statue of the fictional boxer, originally gifted to the city in 1982, will be permanently placed at the top of the museum's steps, mirroring the climactic scene from the 1976 film that launched Sylvester Stallone's career.
The decision was made by the Philadelphia Art Commission, which approved the move after a heated discussion. The six-member board voted in favor of the statue's placement, with one member abstaining, citing its status as a cultural symbol for the city and its enduring popularity among visitors – a whopping 4 million per year.
"This is a powerful example of democratic public art," said commission member Rebecca Segal. "It functions like great public art does today: through recognition, repetition, and collective ownership and interaction." The original statue will be on display inside the museum as part of a special exhibit from April to August, while a replica will remain at the top of the steps until then.
The transfer of the statue is expected to cost $150,000, but officials say it's worth it. "Permanently placing the Rocky statue at the top of the steps restores it to its original and most widely recognized setting," said Chief Cultural Officer Valerie Gay in a proposal letter. "Formalizing its placement acknowledges the significance the statue has acquired through decades of public engagement and affirms its place within the city's civic and cultural landscape."
The move is also expected to bring in new visitors, with plans for a wheelchair-accessible "Rocky" shuttle to transport fans up to the top of the steps. And when it comes time to return the replica statue, officials hope to install another city-owned statue at the base of the museum's iconic steps – cementing Rocky's status as an integral part of Philadelphia's cultural landscape.
i mean, who doesn't love rocky? but let's be real, moving a famous landmark from its original spot is kinda a big deal... like, what if people don't want it anymore or something 
? and $150k for the move is pretty steep 
. also, a replica is gonna sit up top while the original one is inside... that just seems weird 
. but hey, at least they're trying to make it wheelchair accessible 
which is cool 
. and i guess it's kinda nice that they're planning another statue down there soon 
. overall, idk if i'm a fan of this move or not... i mean, it's rocky, but can we just leave it be? 
The new location for the Rocky Statue is gonna be EVERYTHING! It's like, totally making sense that it would go back to its original spot - it's where all those iconic scenes were filmed and it's just a major part of Philly's history. 4 million visitors per year can't be wrong right? 
The idea of another statue going up at the base of the steps after the original one gets moved is also really smart - it's like they're saying Rocky's here to stay! 
. And what if people get tired of looking at Rocky's face all day? Can't we just leave it alone? 
...
this is so cool, I mean I love that people are passionate about art and culture enough to make some tough decisions 
it'll be such a rad spot for tourist pics 
and I'm sure fans will love seeing the original on display inside the museum during the summer months 
can't wait to see how this whole thing plays out! 
Also, who's gonna maintain this thing at the top of the steps when everyone's running up and down on it all day? It's just a logistical nightmare waiting to happen 
I'm all for it, let's give Rocky the place he deserves! 
I'm literally so stoked about this news! The new Rocky statue is gonna be at the top of the museum steps?! I mean, can you imagine running up those stairs like Rocky himself?! 
, so everyone can enjoy the view and feel like a champ! 