Academy of Music (Philadelphia)
The Academy of Music, also known as American Academy of Music, is a concert hall and opera house located at 240 S. Broad Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Despite its name, the Academy has never contained a music school. It is located between Locust and Manning Streets in the Avenue of the Arts area of Center City.
The Grand Old Lady of Locust Street | |
The Academy of Music in Center City Philadelphia | |
| Address | 240 S. Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States |
|---|---|
| Public transit | Walnut–Locust:
15th–16th & Locust: PATCO Speedline SEPTA bus: 4, 12, 27, 32 |
| Owner | Philadelphia Orchestra |
| Operator | Philadelphia Orchestra |
| Type | Opera house |
| Capacity | 2,509 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1855–57 |
| Opened | 1857 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Academy of Music | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
| Coordinates | 39°56′52.84″N 75°9′54.4″W |
| Built | 1855–57 |
| Architect | Napoleon LeBrun & Gustavus Runge |
| Architectural style | Rundbogenstil and Baroque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000674 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
The hall was built in 1855–57 and is the oldest opera house in the United States that is still used for its original purpose. Known as the "Grand Old Lady of Locust Street," the venue is the home of the Philadelphia Ballet and Opera Philadelphia. It was also home to the Philadelphia Orchestra from its inception in 1900 until 2001, when the orchestra moved to the new Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The Philadelphia Orchestra still retains ownership of the Academy.
The hall was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962.