Rocky Statue Heads Back to Museum

The 8-foot, 6-inch tall statue of movie character 'Rocky,' given to the city by actor Sylvester Stallone, stands before the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia in this Feb. 21, 1990, file photo. City officials are proposing Wednesday, May 10, 2006, putting the statue, which is now in storage, near the museum . (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File) AP - Thu May 11, 11:55 AM ET

The statue, which appeared in "Rocky III" was donated by Sly to the city of Philadelphia with the thought that it would be prominently located, as in the movie, atop the museum steps. Art Museum officials and the city Art Commission had problems with that saying it was just a movie "prop" and questioning its artistic merit. The statue was moved to the Spectrum and later the Wachovia Center. It became a tourist magnet, no matter where it was located.

Yesterday the Fairmount Park Commission approved the site proposed by city officials to move it just to the east of the museum steps made famous in the original Rocky movie. Sly has agreed to this location and was quoted as saying, "This is an incredible honor from the greatest city in the United States of America."

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- Craig