Woodmere Art Museum’s mission is to inspire creativity, learning, and self-expression through experiences with the art and artists of Philadelphia and the region.
Housed in a 19th-century stone mansion on six acres in Chestnut Hill, Woodmere Art Museum is dedicated to the art and artists of Philadelphia. The building and grounds, together with the core of the collection, are the gifts of Charles Knox Smith (1845–1916). Born of humble means, Smith eventually built a successful mining company and served on Philadelphia’s Common Council (the precursor to today’s City Council). In 1898, Smith purchased the estate known as Woodmere and began transforming it into a showcase for his art. With the belief that the experience of art and nature together offer a path to spiritual beauty, Smith welcomed his first visitors to Woodmere in 1910. The Museum continues to honor his vision with the WOW, Woodmere’s Outdoor Wonder, which brings together monumental outdoor sculpture, horticulture, environmental conservation, and education.