Philadelphia Muses Mural, Philadelphia, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

The Philadelphia Muses Mural is a large public artwork on Locust Street in the Washington Square West neighbourhood of Philadelphia. It belongs to the city's huge collection of murals, which has earned Philadelphia a reputation as a city of street-level art, and it is free to see from the pavement.

The story behind it

Philadelphia has more public murals than most cities, thanks largely to the Mural Arts programme, and this painting on Locust Street is one of the works that shows how a blank side wall can become a landmark. The name points to the muses, the Greek goddesses of the arts, which suits a neighbourhood known for its theatres, galleries and creative life.

The mural is often linked with the artist Meg Saligman, one of the best known muralists in the city. Details of the painting's making vary between sources, so it is worth reading any plaque or checking the Mural Arts website for the full credit.

What to look for

• Step back to the far side of Locust Street so you can take in the whole wall at once and judge its scale against the buildings around it.
• Look for the figures that stand for the muses and the arts, and notice how the colours and poses give the flat wall a sense of movement.
• Check the lower corners and edges of the wall for any credit or signature, which names the artist and the programme behind the work.
• Notice the other murals, signs and painted details on nearby blocks, which show how widely public art spreads through this part of the city.

Tips for your visit

• You view it from the street, so no entry is needed and a stop of 10 to 15 minutes is plenty for photos and a close look.
• Daylight is best, as the colours read more clearly and you can see the detail across the street.
• It sits in a walkable area of cafes, shops and restaurants, so it pairs well with a wander through Washington Square West.
• Traffic and parked cars can block the view, so take your photos from a safe spot on the pavement.

See it on a quest

The mural is one stop you can reach on foot during Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Washington Square West, Philadelphia. The quest is a self-guided walk through the neighbourhood, so you see the streets around the mural rather than just the wall. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.