The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the oldest art school in the United States, founded in Philadelphia in 1805. In 1876, former Academy student Thomas Eakins returned to teach there and re-vamped the certificate curriculum to what it remains today. Students in the certificate program learn fundamentals of drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking (lithography) for two years, after which they enjoy two years of independent study, guided by frequent critiques from faculty, students, and visiting artists alike.

Notable Academy students and faculty include:

Thomas P. Anshutz
Bo Bartlett
Cecilia Beaux
Alexander Stirling Calder
Jena Campbell
Arthur B. Carles
Mary Cassatt
Lee Dunsmore
Thomas Eakins
Frank Furness
Daniel Garber
William Glackens
Charles Grafly
Robert Henri
John Horn
Joshua Kauffman
David Lynch
John Marin
Alice Neel
Violet Oakley
Maxfield Parrish
Charles Willson Peale
Rembrandt Peale
William Rush
Morton Schamberg
Everett Shinn
John Sloan
Henry O. Tanner
Anthony Visco
Benjamin West

(this list, partly abstracted from the academy's website, www.pafa.org, includes founders and exhibitors)

This year, 2005, celebrates the academy's 200th anniversary. A tunnel is currently under construction beneath Cherry Street connecting the museum building to the newly-acquired 11-story Hamilton building.