i visited the carnegie museums of art and natural history on a weekday and had a wonderful…read moreexperience overall. the collection is absolutely massive and it was so much fun to walk through every exhibit. plus, the staff were all very friendly and helpful. if you are driving, there is on-site parking available, but it was relatively full even for a weekday so i had to drive down a few levels to find a spot. the "cards only" sign at the gate is a bit confusing because the machines at the exit actually do accept apple pay! if you want to pay before you get back to your car, there is also a booth inside the museum near the entrance and bathrooms with machines that take apple pay too. the only minor downsides were that many of the hand sanitizer dispensers and toilet seat covers were empty during my visit. despite those small details, i had a great time and would definitely recommend a visit!

When I recently visited the Carnegie Mellon University campus, I got lost on my way to this museum…read more When I asked a student where it was, he had no idea what I was talking about. Given its world-class reputation, I was surprised but not really. After all, if it's not part of his curriculum, why should he know about it? I eventually figured out where it was and didn't know it shared the same building as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The building was massive, and the upside was that a single $25 admission gave me access to both museums. The art museum takes up 155,000 square feet of exhibition space divided into twenty galleries with over 1,800 pieces on display. The focus is primarily on art, architecture, photography, and design between the 19th century and now. Here there are key masterworks from the likes of Renoir and Monet (Photo 7) to Warhol and Guston. The Hall of Architecture is a cavernous room full of plaster casts of architectural masterpieces like the North Transept Portal of the Bordeaux Cathedral (Photo 5). There's an extensive archival collection by Pittsburgh photographer Charles "Teenie" Harris, whose work dramatically focuses on the history of African American life. The wide spectrum of furnishings was particularly fascinating, and the Grand Staircase provides the appropriate grandeur (Photo 9). RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qN_tq21lnL

7 floors of Andy!…read more There are some typically known pieces and a lot of (at least to me) unknown gems on display at the musuem. There was also a room on display showing just how much back stock they have since Andy was so good at replicating and producing due to his technique. That means you can visit many times and hopefully always have something new to see. Standouts: - the cloud display (think of being surrounded by silver balloons flying around. Super cool) - one of his aprons smothered in paint - the chest the infamous manuscript was found in (the shooting fiasco) - urine art Overall, if you can appreciate art a little or love Andy this is a really cool museum! I would suggest allowing at least 2 hours to really take everything in.

As a Warhol art owner, I was a little dissapointed with the art on display. I guess I was expecting…read moreto see some major commercial pieces. But it was still a fun experience and only $12. One visit was plenty. Unless I went for a special event.

The Mattress Factory excels at site-specific imersive installation art, and their permanent…read morecollection has some origami art by some of the biggest names in installation art. The museum also hosts private events, a few of which I've attended, and they were outstanding. The staff are very welcoming. The museum gives back to the local community in a big way.

I've visited the Mattress Factory many times over the years, and it's always a place I enjoy…read morereturning to. I love the main building and how the exhibits are constantly changing, while some of the iconic spaces--like the mirror rooms--remain favorites that you can always count on seeing again. During this visit, I noticed the Dollhouse building has been completely redone. The new exhibit is much darker and heavier in tone, which honestly made me a little disappointed since the dollhouse installation used to be a staple of my visits and something I always looked forward to. The third building had construction going on on the first floor, but from what I could see it looks like it's going to be an incredible new display once it's finished. I was also a little sad to see the delayed recorder projector piece gone, but the new installation in its place was still interesting. One thing I still absolutely love is the water flowing down the handrails--it's such a small detail but always one of my favorite parts of the experience. Overall, it's still a place I enjoy visiting and seeing how the exhibits evolve over time.

This place is incredible ... recently opened on Pittsburgh's North Side in the Chateau neighborhood…read more(very close to CCAC and Acrisure Stadium), this museum is housed in the Astrobotic Lab (next to Wendy's). Admission is $10 per person, and I thought well worth the price of admission. The highlight of our visit was seeing the Peregrine Lander, which is headed to the moon soon. In addition to seeing moon landers and rovers and robots, there are interactive exhibits that curious people of all ages will enjoy. The volunteer docents we met were extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the subject at hand, and I learned a lot in my short visit. I hope to come back again some time and see what new things they are working on next ... Cheers!! P.S. They also have a small gift shop near the admission desk.

The Moonshot Museum opened toward the end of 2022, and it is located at the headquarters of the…read morespace robotics company Astrobotics. Its mission is to inspire students to study science, technology, engineering, and the arts to prepare for careers in the space industry. Inside this museum, visitors can watch scientists construct lunar spacecraft. Currently, scientists are building the small-class Peregrine Lander, the first American lander since Apollo, and soon they will begin to build the medium-class Griffin Lander. This museum is open only on certain days, so be sure to visit their website for their current hours. My husband and I visited this museum on a Saturday. A free parking lot was located outside. Near the front entrance, a volunteer greeted us and processed our payment for admission. The price of admission is currently $10 for adults, $5 for children who are 3-17 years old, and free for children who are 2 years old and younger. After a couple of minutes, another volunteer guided the visitors to the Moonshot Theater. There, we watched a 10-minute video about scientists' work to explore the moon. Then, we watched a scientist working inside the Clean Room workshop. He was building the Peregrine Lander, which in the coming months will deliver payloads to the lunar orbit and surface. This lander has five engines, four legs, communication and navigation systems, and space for payloads, and it is powered by solar panels and a battery. I felt interested in how businesses and individuals may use this lander to send messages and other items to the moon. Outside this room, visitors may view models of a rocket, lander, and rovers and may interact with educational touchscreens. A small gift shop near the entrance sold merchandise such as shirts, magnets, mugs, and stickers. Please note that this museum is small. In total, my husband and I spent 25 minutes inside the museum. We do appreciate that the Pittsburgh-based Astrobotics company is conducting the first commercial missions to the moon.

My daughter is a local member of her library and a perk gets you into this museum on Tuesdays…read more This is a lovely museum and easy to get to. We could not take pictures inside but I was able to capture the exterior. This is great place to visit and learn about the Clayton family that was instrumental in business in Pittsburgh. The tour is terrific and our guide did a good job with all the details. They have a solid gift shop and the grounds are pretty. They also have a greenhouse on site.

Lewis Hines Pictures America…read more First time in Visitor Center due to recent ticketing changes. Very nice addition. The photography was even better than expected. There's just something special about black and white photos, especially vintage. Glad I went.

We were looking for a fun experience for my husband's big sis, and boy did we find it at Bayernhof!…read moreI couldn't recommend this museum more highly. Lisa, our tour guide, was just perfect - entertaining, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and fun. Our 2-hour experience was a joy - it passed so quickly! You call ahead to arrange a tour, and Lisa returned my call maybe a day or 2 later. We arranged it for a Tuesday morning at 10am (the other option was something like 2pm). The 19,000 square foot Bavarian-inspired home is atop a large hill outside Sharpsburg overlooking the Allegheny - and with a lovely view of downtown. You come thru the gate and park near the door. Inside, Lisa talks a bit about the foyer - chock full of collectibles - and takes you to the main room with that fabulous view, a comfy room with a bar just off the kitchen. You settle in to wait for everyone to arrive. The lecture there takes about 30mins, & you learn about the wealthy, quirky eccentric, Charlie "Chuck" Brown, who built this quirky home in 1982. He was a total prankster who had very little sense about how to build a really stable home. After his death, the board would save the home for all to enjoy. The real treat is hearing from some of the 165 music machines spread thruout the house - some Chuck collected, some purchased by the board set up by Chuck's lawyer, Dave, who - with Chuck's faithful secretary - took on the Herculean task after Chuck's death of fulfilling his dream of turning the home into a museum. The mysteries of the home reveal themselves as you go - and Lisa relishes in showing them off - from the hidden doors, wet bars (in almost every room! Chuck loved to entertain though he was socially awkward!), observatory, below ground cellar, cave, and pool room with a waterfall. It's great. Lisa shares tons of stories, knowledge, anecdotes, and more. Our favorite of the fabulous musical machines: the cylinder player on the landing that has a tiny dancing black bird figure inside; the singing birds with real feathers (!!) in the bird cage upstairs; the uber-art deco Decap machine downstairs with the purple velvet pool table; and the fringe lamp victrola in the upstairs guest room. As you're walking thru the house, you can't believe all there is to see and learn. We were fascinated! Just go! You won't regret it.

What an incredibly unique and wild place. Just go! It's cool, quirky, weird, and surprising. This…read moreis not to be missed!

SO COOL!! Highly recommend for people of all ages! such a cool experience!! i liked the exhibits…read morewith the telephones

Small museum dealing with animal experimentation and human influence on the genetic course of…read morenature in other species - much of this is so common we don't even think about it (how many pet animals are products of selective breeding?), but much of the content of the museum dovetails with the sort of experimentation and practices that might raise uncomfortable ethical quandaries or that even may be considered the dark side of science, subject to abuse by the unscrupulous. It is one large, very dark room, partitioned off into different sections, featuring a great deal of stark black-and-white imagery and specimens in jars (not a few taxidermically preserved animal corpses among them). Much of the content is not for the faint of heart - some of the practices addressed here come across as quite cruel, and some of the exhibits can feel bizarre. None of this is a negative. You will probably learn something you didn't know (and possibly didn't want to) should you drop by this museum. A thought-provoking, sometimes frightening experience that will give you a few moments to reflect and take in what you are seeing. 10 dollar donation expected at the reception desk upon entry with the lobby doubling as a gift shop.

Randyland eats Disneyland for breakfast. Who wants to meet Mickey Mouse when you can meet Randy. Or…read moreactually a cardboard cut out of Randy. This place clears Disneyland. Randyland is FREE. So instead of spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars to go to Disneyland, you can go to Randyland for 0. I purchased a Randyland shirt because I wanted to bring a piece of Randyland home with me. They also had a very clean and prestige Porta potty. I highly recommend coming here! -Gustavo

I've been to Randyland many times over the years and it never disappoints. Each visit there's…read morealways something colorful and creative to see. This time I donated and picked up a few drink koozies, which was a fun way to support the space. There were also lots of new displays since my last visit, and I really enjoyed walking around outside and taking everything in. It's such a unique and vibrant place to explore!

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.

Awesome thing to do locally and learn so much from. Kids have a blast. Note to parents and all…read more Bundle up. Even in summer take a sweater or hoodie with you it's COLD down in them mines! Stopped up for the Haunted Mine experience and man they do a great job setting that up and working on it from April - October for a well done finished product! Get there early or you'll be waiting a LONG time as it is with all the haunted attractions I guess. For sure come check them out. You'll have to come twice. Once to see the mine and do the tour and again to enjoy the frights, screams, and scares!

Met with Gingerly Press this past weekend at American Craft Made Baltimore show on Feb 21st. I…read morelearned a lot about their process and loved several prints. I'm still considering buying several for new wall space in kitchen. The earth-valued themes are depicted so simply but their design and colors are very appealing.

Lindsay provided my partner and me with an exceptional tour during an open house, showcasing her…read moreremarkable artistic process and sharing a wonderful story. I absolutely love her work and have decided to frame it on my wall.