Growing up, I assumed that all cities had gigantic museums full of dinosaurs ... I learned that is…read moredefinitely not the case. It's easy to spend at least a half day wandering about the Museum of Natural History and we were fortunate to visit Thursday night right after 3pm when admission was only $13 per adult; we had five hours to wander about and it was so well worth it. There is literally something here for everyone to enjoy: amazing art, gems, minerals, natural/geologic specimens, insects, birds ... It's an amazing Pittsburgh asset.

Attended a 1 hr Behind the Scenes of Dinosaur Bones tour advertised to members. $50 per person 10…read morepeople per group. Limited number of tickets. Well worth money spent. Our tour was led by the head pf the department. The breadth of her knowledge of the museum, her predecessors, and collection was impressive. Did you know that England has a copy of our T Rex in their Natural History museum? Dippy's extra bones need a new resting place. Currently they have been resting on this shelf since 1800's. The wood is injuring the bottom of the fossil. (I think dinosaur lovers would donate the $30k to get Dippy's bones a new resting place.) Researchers come to study the collection. Fork lifts are used to transfer the bones from one surface to the next. A local college student found an undiscovered amphibian while searching for fern fossils on FedEx property by Pittsburgh International Airport. It was named after FedEx and the student: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/100315-new-fossil-amphibian-fedex Great experience! Would definitely attend again. I wonder what is Behind the Scenes of the art museum ...

This art museum is a gem. The space itself is inviting, the admission is free except for some…read morespecial exhibits, parking is free, staff is knowledgeable and friendly, the shop has exquisite selections and fair pricing. And best of all, the exhibits are well displayed and very engaging. Today was a RAD (Regional Asset District) free day meaning even the special "Reflections in Glass" was free. The glass art was sprinkled throughout, matching up with an art piece for inspiration. There also was a room filled with an immersion experience of video on all 4 walls of the steel industry. Art of Ansel Adams and our local steel industry were highlights. There is even a hallway by the restrooms reserved for artwork by the staff. Truly an elevated experience.

A hidden gem full of hidden gems!! The Westmoreland Museum…read moreof American Art is nestled perfectly in Greensburg with stunning views inside and out. We stumbled upon their Putt-A-Palooza: Art Inspired Mini Golf Exhibit and... of course... had to give it a try, but the golf only helped to showcase the stunning layout and amazing Pittsburgh exhibits. The mini golf had 9 holes that were all inspired by a piece of art on the premise. With point systems similar to Putt Shack and even a battle hole where all four players tee off at once to put it in the hole first. But... then you could receive bonus points by finding the matching art piece in the museum and answering trivia. With the gold exhibit only open til the end of summer, go now!! I can't wait to see what new exhibits and fun events that they host in this space. With discounts for members, we may have to consider joining.

Very much an Instagram attraction, but also a "what you make of it" experience. You can blow…read morethrough the whole place in probably 15-20 minutes or you can spend an hour or two depending on how much time you take to interact with the various exhibits and the "games" that are in the middle of the experience. I was leaning more towards four stars but stuck with three because it IS expensive for what you actually get, the space itself is pretty tiny and it can be a bit crazy if the admission slot you purchase is sold out. I have to admit, I liked this experience more than I thought I would. Sure, it has the tourist trap instagram photo spots, but it has some degree of an educational experience that I wasn't expecting. They have signage explaining some of the illusions and the science behind them. This is what I mean when I said you can blow through our spend more time. You get more out of the experience (and will spend more time there) if you take the time to read why the various illusions work. I'm a knowledge junkie, so this was really fun for me. Your best experience will be if you follow the guidelines they have posted. Each exhibit has places marked on where to stand to get the illusion and the best spot to take the photo. I have to admit, you can get some really creative and fun ones! Although those are the ones you often have a long wait for. There is very helpful staff rotating throughout the experience. I just wish they would gently push some of the people along that seem to take FOREVER to get the "perfect" shot. I came back to the building illusion (the one where you can make it look like you are hanging off the top of a building or sitting on ledge) and ten minutes later the same two girls were still taking pictures despite there being a line behind them. Exhibits are well maintained and the staff is informative. It should just have a lower price point for what you get. Parking is street parking (good luck with that on busier days) or you can park in one of the nearby garages (which would add to your expense). There is a gift shop on the way out with a variety of items ranging from magnets and pins to shirts and games. Is it worth a visit? Sure, but try to find a coupon or buy when they have some sort of promotion to make it more affordable.

Overpriced…read more Tourist Trap. Not a museum at all. It's gallery sized. Takes about 30 minutes to view everything. That includes the time you are stuck waiting for tourists to snap their instagram photos.

59th Carnegie International Art Show is on display now....so may different…read morestyles...renderings....techniques from around the world....give yourself 2/3 hours....I'd definitely go again...

For the museum lovers in the crowd, this is a decent museum. I do remember thinking like a snooty…read moreelite a few times that those accustomed to museums abroad in Europe would think this was weaksauce -- in terms of the art presented and the amount of art (or lack thereof). That said, you DO get entry into not just the museum but also the History museum while there, so your day can be rather full if you want to check out more than just art (e.g., dinosaur bones and other fossils). And perhaps most interestingly -- for those who haven't been to Europe, currently there museum has these huge stone structures that you would find in, say, Rome or elsewhere. I can only imagine how they transported these! But for someone who hasn't gotten to see the immensity of something like an old historic church embellished with stone sculptures that put our basic designs to shame, this is an experience worth having... Get there while they have them if they are part of a temporary exhibit! Bottom line: Decent. Good for the kids, too.

This is one of the coolest museum experiences I have ever had! I had seen the signs for this place…read morefor years but never took advantage of a tour until we visited as part of a scouting group. You learn so much about the history of mining and more importantly, hear from personal examples of what the miners lived through. You take a mine car into the mine (beware this is SUPER tight if you are tall). In the mine area, they have equipment from various eras of mining. It was really interesting to see how the history progressed and how conditions improved (but were still challenging even today). The tour guides are almost all retired miners which was really fascinating because they have the real world, lived experience to share. One of the things that really struck me was hearing about how for ages, kids as young as mine were workers in the mines. Thankfully that has changed and most modern miners are actually people with geology or other similar degrees. There is so much to learn, and it is especially relevant considering our region's mining history. I would recommend this museum to everyone of any age!

My cousins and I took a tour here a few weeks ago. I had no idea this attraction was basically…read moreright in our back yard! They have a museum we looked at while waiting for our tour to start. First we went to a log cabin and watched a 10 min video about the founder. Then we went down to the classroom to go over mine safety. Next we got our hard hats and headed into the car to take us into the mine. This was the coolest part. We got to get out and walk around the mine. Our guide also showed us the different machines and how they are used. This tour was so fun! I highly recommend this tour. I want to come back for their Halloween celebration! One thing to note: the cars going into the mine are pretty low. If you have knee issues or mobility issues, it may be difficult to get in and out of the cars.

I have been to model train exhibits before and have always enjoyed them. Usually these exhibits…read moreare modest in size because of the time, money, hands and other resources required to build and maintain them. Additionally, in my experience they are usually meant to portray hypothetical settings rather than resemble actual places. So, I was quite surprised at both the scope of this particular project as well as the fact that this is a miniaturized cross section of the city of Pittsburgh from 1953 that stretches from downtown toward Ohio Pyle and beyond. Its many historical details are pleasingly accurate as anyone can attest to through research on the internet. For me, I had the privilege of having my Dad and Uncle there (both of whom were living in Pittsburgh in that year and were excited at getting to walk through their childhood city). Walking through the room and experiencing it through their eyes made it perhaps even more enjoyable. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in this very specific category of art. It is definitely worth the entrance fee. Also, a huge shout-out to those who worked on creating this masterpiece. Please keep it up!

This museum has something for everybody. Whether you are a youngster wanting to control your train…read morearound a track or an older "youngster" reliving the experience of the trains you used to have or any age in between, this is a must see museum when you are in Western Pennsylvania. The upstairs HO scale display is a thing of beauty and of the history of the rails in Western PA as close to the real trains and buildings existing in the 1950s. Well worth the price of admission and the caretakers/hobbyists are there to provide information or answer questions about the display or about the history of the museum.

The Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh is quite possibly the best museum of its kind. Off the top…read moreof my head, I can't think of another major city among the many I have been to across the country that does a better job of encompassing its city's history so well in a museum. I'm glad I finally took the time out to visit, as I had not visited on my many prior visits to Pittsburgh. The museum does have a few exhibits dedicated to Heinz ketchup, but there's so much more from natural history to sports history to the periods of time where Pittsburgh was a national leader in steel and glass-making. I especially liked the "Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation" area and the small space they have dedicated to Mister Rogers Neighborhood. The Pittsburgh sports exhibits are really comprehensive, covering non-traditional sports in addition to their major teams (Penguins, Steelers, & Pirates). Even if you don't care for sports, there's a decent variety of exhibits that are sure to catch your interest. The facility itself is wonderfully modern and well organized, such that it's easy to get from exhibit to exhibit without getting lost. There is a decent gift shop and cafe on the first floor. I'd highly recommend a visit to the Senator John Heinz History Center if you're interested in learning about the history of the city of Pittsburgh, or are a first time visitor.

More of a 3.8…read more This place came up over, and over, and over again on lists of places to go to when visiting Pitt. And, I get why. The place has a bunch of random (could choose a better word here) history pieces. Where the place could do better is expand on some of these pieces. Example, as a huge fan of Mr. Rogers and saying you have a part of the set, ok, yeah, you do, and it was awesome to see, but it was such a small fixture, there could have been more. At 20/person to enter, it's worth the trip since it's relatively affordable compared to some 40-50/pp spots. Can easily do 1.5 hours here.

The Frick is ok. you have to pay extra to see the house (which is beautiful), or special art…read moreexhibits. The cafe is expensive. Don't get a scone whatever you do. it was nothing resembling a scone. More like a small hard, dry, cold stone.

The Frick is a local treasure. They have a nice permanent collection and always have great rotating…read moreexhibits. For that reason, we decided to become members. I also found out that they also have great regular programs and special events too. Members receive a discount, which is great. The topics sound really interesting. I'm looking forward to attending one. We have seen so many great rotating exhibits over the years. I really love it when they have excellent art exhibits. The Vermeer exhibit a year or so ago was great. I read up about it before going and found out what a genius he really was with light. The latest exhibit French Moderns was a really good. I loved seeing all the classic artists you would expect in an exhibit like that. However, I found some other artists I had never heard of and was happy to learn about them. They were absolutely excellent. I also loved the Lewis Hine photography exhibit too. He did such a wonderful job capturing the real lives of immigrants and other hard working people from the last century. This perspective is desperately needed right now, as immigrants are often not painted in a positive light. This exhibit shone a light on how they really are and how hard they worked then and continue to work now. The 400 years of William Shakespeare exhibit was wonderful. It was so cool to see the original scripts. So interesting and different than other exhibits they have had! Another exhibit that was one of the best we have seen was the Katherine Hepburn exhibit. I loved learning all about her life, her loves, and all the fabulous clothes she wore throughout her amazing life. The car and carriage museum is also a real find. It is so great to see the evolution of vehicles from the carriage to the car. It is so cool to see all different types of vehicles created over time especially those from the local area. There was also a cool hood ornament exhibit a few years ago that was really cool especially since cars don't have them anymore. The greenhouse is always neat to see too. They have beautiful plants in and outside the greenhouse. I love seeing them grow and evolve over time. Then you go see the Clayton which is also a unique local gem. It's especially interesting to see this knowing how important the Fricks were to the local area professionally and personally. It's really great to see decorated at Christmas. It's a must visit when you come to Pittsburgh. They also offer reciprocity to other great museums all over the country.

This is the quintessential Brownsville historical attraction. If you are looking for a prize of…read morelocal history you cannot find anywhere else then look no further

I have heard of Nemacolin Castle, but had thought it was near the resort by the same name. It…read morewasn't until I entered the address into the GPS that I learned it is located in Brownsville. Husband and I decided to visit when the Christmas tour was offered. We got a history lesson on the man who founded a trading post and built the castle. The Bowman family was quite influential in the area. It is impressive to be made aware of the history behind the family and the home. The home is managed by the historical society and volunteers. It would be great if they would get some additional funding for restoring the home. Right now, they rely on donations and admission fees to maintain the upkeep. There are areas of sagging floors and peeling wallpaper. It is fortunate that most of the furniture items were actually owned and used by the family. The piano is beautiful and one of the first to come to the area. The home was decorated for the Christmas holiday. Admission is $15 for adults and tickets may be purchased online or at the door. On busy times, I would recommend reservations. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We were in a tour of about 18-24 people which was too large of a group. The some of the rooms were small and we were crammed in to hear the guide. Still, it was a nice way to spend a rainy Saturday before Christmas. I want to return when they have a haunted tour next fall.

Husband and I attended the candlelight Open House here that was held by the historical society. I…read morelive only a few miles away from this site, but haven't been here for years. Why is it one doesn't see the places closest to home? There have been numerous improvements and more to come with a new education center under construction. If anyone is interested in the local history of the area, a visit here and Fort Ligonier should be included. It was located along Forbes Road, the main route into the Ohio Country from eastern Pennsylvania, and named for Robert Hanna, an early settler whose tavern also served as Westmoreland County's first courthouse. Hannastown was settled primarily by Irish and Scotch-Irish, though the surrounding area was mostly Pennsylvania Dutch. In one of the final actions of the American Revolutionary War, the settlement was destroyed by a force of The King's 8th Regiment out of Fort Niagara. The gift shop has books, souvenirs in line with this era. The volunteer guides were very nice and cordial during our short stay.

My husband and I were driving home from the Westmoreland County arts and crafts festival and…read morediscovered Hanna's town as we were driving. The place was closing within 15 minutes but I had the opportunity to meet with a couple of staff and learn about the place. Hanna's Town is a national historic site not often noted during the pre and during the Revolutionary War. We learned that it was the first English court west of the Allegheny Mountains and this town had more prominence than Pittsburgh which had yet to be developed. The settlers adapted what was called the Hanna's town resolves which fueled the movement towards independence. It was also was an important site during the war recruiting men for the Continental Army and for the militia that aided the western campaigns against the Indian allies of the British. The actual town itself was burned by Indians and British allies in 1782 and a partial recreated village was built in its place to show the hard lives the early settlers had and the important part they played in achieving American Independence. A lady let us view a one room house with bare floors that had table and chairs, a bed, and a fireplace along with dishes and other things needed for a frontier lifestyle. One can only imagine what life must have been like in that period. I had an opportunity to tour the fort on the grounds and saw various items such as a fireplace, the frame of a TeePee, and a memorial to a 12 year girl by the daughters of the American Revolution who gave her lives to the Indians. With very little time we were allowed into the gift shop where they have additional artifacts about the town itself. They offer tours which last 1 1/2 hours and since they were closing asked us to return for one. Tours are only $5.00 but you can get $1.00 off if you are AAA member or Senior Citizen. I was given a pamphlet where I learned they host events, court reenactments, antique and collectibles markets and other things. This is definitely a must return trip since it will give me an opportunity to learn more about the colonial lifestyle. Located on Forbes Trail Road it is an easy drive to Greensburg.