The hall was built in 1855–57 and is the oldest opera house in the
United States that is still used for its original purpose. Known as
the “Grand Old Lady of Locust Street,” the venue is the home of the
Philadelphia Ballet and Opera Philadelphia. It was a
...
lso home to the Philadelphia Orchestra from its inception in 1900
until 2001, when the orchestra moved to the new Kimmel Center for
the Performing Arts. The Philadelphia Orchestra still retains
ownership of the Academy. The hall was designated a National
Historic Landmark in 1962.