What iconic landmark does Rocky run up during his training?

Rocky runs up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps during his training.

The staircase leads to the museum’s east entrance in Philadelphia, the city Rocky Balboa calls home. In Rocky (1976), Rocky runs through the city as part of his preparation for the improbable fight with heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, finishing at the top of the steps with his arms raised in triumph.

The staircase contains 72 stone steps and became widely known as the “Rocky Steps” after the movie’s release. The scene transformed an ordinary civic landmark into one of cinema’s most recognizable locations and an international tourist attraction. Visitors still recreate Rocky’s run and victory pose.

A common mix-up is naming the bronze Rocky statue instead of the landmark itself. The statue was created for Rocky III and has moved several times, while the steps belong to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The running sequence also helped showcase the Steadicam, a relatively new camera system that allowed smooth movement alongside Rocky as he climbed.