A couple stands close together among wildflowers in front of a mirror building while taking a selfie together.

A large black abstract sculpture with sweeping, curved forms stands in a spacious gallery with visitors observing nearby.

Visitors enjoy Calder Gardens, with two people walking along a garden path while another pair sit on a bench surrounded by wildflowers.

A Calder Gardens sign sits among trees and paintings as sunlight filters through, with Philadelphia's skyline in the background.

A gift shop with books, art-inspired tote bags, apparel and design objects neatly displayed on wooden shelves and tables.

A mirrored building reflects the surrounding greenery, with a pathway lined by flowers leading to the entrance.

Calder Gardens: A Look Inside Philly’s Newest Attraction

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Last updated on September 25, 2025 by Jovan Ellis

Calder Gardens is not a museum.

There are no wall labels. There aren’t multiple artists. And you won’t find any historical contexts or encyclopedic exhibitions.

So what, exactly, is Calder Gardens? It’s a geometric wonderland of innovative and contemporary artworks by acclaimed Philadelphia sculptor and inventor Alexander Calder — spanning his entire 50-year career.

Calder’s story is told not just through the rotating selection of art and sculpture, but also through the architecture of the mirrored building — and through an outdoor landscape designed to grow over time.

Calder Gardens is an ever-changing attraction that’s meant to be experienced slowly, fostering thoughtful reflection and a sense of wonder.

Fast Facts

Located at 2100 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Dedicated entirely to Alexander Calder
Ever-changing installations
Hosts regular events and experiences

Want to see it all for yourself? Read on for a guide to visiting Calder Gardens.

What’s Calder’s story?

Alexander Calder (1898 – 1976) was one of the most acclaimed and influential artists of the 20th century.

A native Philadelphian, Calder bounced around the world, from New York City to Paris and beyond. Those global influences inspired him to create game-changing abstract masterpieces that shifted the way art was perceived.

Calder also loved tinkering with balance, motion and gravity, and went on to be the inventor of the mobile (those wired, kinetic sculptures that drift, spin and sway). It’s what he’s still most famous for today.

Fun fact: Calder came from a family of artists. His grandfather crafted City Hall’s William Penn statue, and his father designed Swann Memorial Fountain. (The more you know!)

So, why should I check out Calder Gardens?

Calder Gardens is a dynamic, multi-tiered cultural space dedicated entirely to a single artist. (Translation: He’s kind of a big deal.)

The attraction is a little ethereal — capturing that interplay between art, architecture and nature — and, much like Calder’s mobiles, the Gardens’ collections rotate over time. No two visits will be exactly alike; there are no specific paths to take, and nothing ever stays the same.

If that’s not enough of a reason to visit, the landscaping is gorgeous, and you get to go inside an 18,000-square-foot reflective metal building. I mean, c’mon.

What are the grounds like?

Outside is as much a part of the attraction as the inside.

Before I even arrived, I saw the glint of the hazy mirrored building — shimmering like a silver coin in the daylight.

Stepping through the main gate feels like a nature walk. The stone path weaves through a charming meadow featuring 250 plant varieties (and 37,000 individual perennials!).

Based on the decision to forego a traditional lawn, you can tell the surrounding scenery was designed with mindfulness and environmental awareness in mind.

The building was designed by Swiss architectural practice Herzog & de Meuron, and the landscape was conceived by Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.

What’s waiting for me inside?

Once I was inside, I was immediately hit with a sense of calm solitude.

The building greeted me with thick walls, cool temperatures and soft natural light, and the bunker-like entryway made it feel like I was entering a secret hideaway.

The main staircase descends underground to a mezzanine overlooking the main gallery, showcasing kinetic mobiles, towering metal stabiles, abstract sculptures and original paintings, before leading down into the magic of the gallery itself.

The space is surreal. The pieces in that subterranean atrium are monumental and intense. Calder’s use of primary colors is on full display — everything leverages bold blues, bright yellows and intense reds (known as “Calder Red”), with pure whites and pitch blacks for dramatic effect.

Calder Gardens features all sorts of diverse and abstract works. From imperceptibly slow-moving mobiles to the massive structures that you can walk through. The inaugural installation even features a shrine dedicated to Calder’s family.

Some of my favorite moments were discovering the small, nearly hidden Vestige Garden — an underground outdoor garden-within-a-garden — and walking beneath a gigantic mobile that reminded me of galaxies and phases of the moon.

Plus, I love that many of the pieces rotate (mobile pun intended). But really, they won’t all be there in a few months. So, the works I saw may not be the same ones you see later. To see what’s on view now, visit the official site here.

Are there any events or shows?

There’s more to Calder Gardens than the art, with a programming lineup as experimental as Calder’s work itself.

The space hosts special events, live performances, film and video screenings, educational lectures, artist commissions, and sonic experiences. For what’s up next, visit the attraction’s upcoming programs calendar.

Who will love Calder Gardens?

Are you the playful type who remembers building paper mobiles and doodling spirals as a kid?

Are you a modern art enthusiast who loves the way Picasso, Mondrian and others redefined art?

Are you a fan of architecture, design, science, engineering or physics?

If you said “yes” to any of those, welcome to Calder Gardens. Personally, as an art and science nerd, I found it to be way too much fun seeing how Calder’s work combined the two disciplines.

Plus, kids age 12 and under get in free, so bring the whole family (more on tickets below).

How long should I plan to spend at Calder Gardens?

At Calder Gardens, your journey is your own. There’s no fixed path to follow or intended ways that you’re expected to appreciate the art.

So, if you’re just visiting to see the artworks and displays, you can blitz through Calder Gardens pretty quickly — but you’d be robbing yourself of one of the best parts of this attraction.

My recommendation: Those looking to truly experience Calder Gardens — with all the solitude, exploration and reflection that the space encourages — should expect to set aside at least an hour or more. Relish the labyrinth and seek out those hidden nooks and crannies.

How can I get the most out of my visit?

Take it slow. Calder Gardens is an institution that’s meant to be savored.

After speedrunning the different rooms and installations, I took a second, found my chill and actually reflected on the space — and it’s the small details that really engaged my curiosity.

Pause and watch the mobiles move, with different images revealing themselves in the sharp and smooth perspectives.

Stop and smell the perennials. (No, really, did that prairie grass just smell like popcorn?)

Wander around the space, duck beneath the structures, peer around corners and find whole galleries behind what appear to be walls.

Oh, and don’t just stay inside.

Calder Gardens is meant to be observed slowly — inside and out — and some galleries and experiences aren’t immediately obvious or apparent. That’s by choice.

The attraction is continuously unfolding and changing over time, so the best way to experience the space is by taking your time, taking it all in and coming back.

What’s the accessibility like?

One of the more refreshing things about Calder Gardens for me was just how accessible it is.

The attraction is fully accessible with outdoor ramps winding through the landscape, all the way to the front entrance. Doors, pathways and hallways are wide, and there are indoor elevators available to take you down to each of the attraction’s floors.

Plus, whenever there’s an event, American Sign Language interpreters and assistive listening devices can be requested for free.

As for the facilities, the restrooms are all gender-neutral (and include baby-changing stations); there are first-come, first-served lockers for any big bags or other belongings you don’t want to carry around; and folks needing to take five can sit on the big, tiered auditorium-style steps.

What’s the scoop on the gift shop?

What’s an attraction without a gift shop? Fortunately, the quaint shop at Calder Gardens is chic, curated and full of fun goodies.

The shop features books on Alexander Calder through different eras, ages and locations — like during his time in France — as well as books and items examining the creation of Calder Gardens itself.

Visitors can also find fun souvenirs like locally produced candles, Calder art playing cards, sculpture prints, sketchbooks and other gifts.

What do I need to know before swinging by?

Calder Gardens is located on Benjamin Franklin Parkway (specifically, 2100 Benjamin Franklin Parkway), right between major attractions like The Franklin Institute, the Rodin Museum and the Barnes Foundation.

Tickets are required to enter the building, but guests are welcome to walk through the landscape free of charge. For info on hours and ticketing costs, visit the Calder Gardens website here.

There’s no on-site parking, but you can use parking apps to find good spots at nearby garages or try metered street parking. The Franklin Institute garage, located at 271 North 21st Street, offers the closest accessible parking.

Additionally, Indego bike share stations are nearby, and you can get to the Gardens easily via SEPTA and the Philly PHLASH bus loop.

Calder Gardens is captivating, eccentric and wholly subverted my idea of what a “museum” is supposed to be.

Following its fall 2025 opening, Calder Gardens is only in its infancy. In a year, many of the works will be replaced with an entirely new set of masterpieces. In two years, the baby plants that dot the landscape will become lush foliage home to native fauna.

It’s an attraction that never stays the same — shifting with time, light, motion and perspective — so every visit feels brand new.

For more on Calder Gardens, including ticket purchases and info on what’s on view, click the button below.

Visit Official Website