Rocky Steps, Philadelphia

The famous set of 72 stone stairs leading to the Museum of Art in Philadelphia is widely known as the "Rocky Steps," owing its moniker to a memorable scene from the 1976 movie Rocky. Devoted fans of the film often reenact Rocky's iconic ascent, viewing it as a symbol of an underdog triumphing against all odds or an ordinary person rising to meet a challenge.

This scene metaphorically mirrors Sylvester Stallone's journey from foster care to homelessness, sleeping in a bus shelter. Yet, he clung to the story of Rocky, eventually securing the lead role and rising to Hollywood stardom.

Sylvester Stallone revealed that the iconic scene originated when the crew discovered the steps while on a tight budget location hunt at night. Surprisingly, boxer Joe Frazier, who had a cameo, claimed the scene was influenced by his training but wasn't given due credit for his impact on the film.

Originally, Stallone had envisioned Rocky carrying his dog Butkus up the stairs, but the large bull mastiff proved too heavy for the task. Nevertheless, the breathtaking view from the top of the stairs, offering a panoramic vista of Eakins Oval, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and Philadelphia City Hall, motivated him to reshoot the scene sans the dog.

Three decades later, in the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, Stallone revisited the concept and carried a smaller dog named Punchy to the summit of the stairs. The closing credits of Rocky Balboa feature a montage of numerous individuals running up the steps. In that same year, during the unveiling ceremony of the Rocky Statue at the base of the stairs, Philadelphia Mayor John Street acclaimed the Rocky Steps as one of the city's foremost tourist attractions and dubbed Stallone, a native New Yorker, as "the city's favorite adopted son."