After spending many hours just around the corner at the Franklin Institute, where noisy exhibits and loud school groups rule, I was treated to the soothing tone of the elegant and uncrowded Rodin Museum — though admittedly geared towards a different demographic. The museum houses more than 120 of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures. The museum had no touch screen interactives — no monitors or interactives of any sort! — nor verbose graphic panels. However, while visiting with our two young children, the security guard (who seemed to be the only employee on the vicinity) provided us with a copy of the well-written and illustrated “Rodin: A Guide for Children and Their Grown-Ups.” The ten-page booklet included a few short stories about Rodin’s youth and adulthood, interesting background information and factoids on seven (only seven! — not overwhelming at all) of Rodin’s sculptures, and a couple of simple thinking activities.
The Rodin Museum is located on Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 22nd Street in Philadelphia, open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free (donations).
Author: David
