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    Fort Ligonier

    4.7 (19 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Fort Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
    Lisa M.

    We visited Fort Ligonier in the winter which was probably a bad idea. The museum hours were shorter since it was out of season and exploring the grounds in the brutally cold afternoon made for a quicker than planned visit. The museum volunteers were friendly and told great stories about the history of the Fort and the surrounding areas. The volunteers could see that we were curious about the grounds but reluctant to listen to their tour outside. They told engaging stories from the warmth of the museum and pointed to areas on the grounds to illustrate their points. They talked about their annual reenactment events which sounded interesting. The artifacts were well maintained. The museum is easy to navigate with a stroller or wheelchair.

    Bringing out the big guns.
    Teresita C.

    I am a total museum junkie. I will go to big ones and small ones, cheesy ones (RIP UFO museum of Portland, OR) and grand ones. I had no idea what to expect with this living monument to fort-titude. The museum building houses a spectacular array of artifacts, in addition to the usual story boards and displays. What is really awesome is the full-scale, on-site reconstruction of the 1758-1766 original fort. American heritage just doesn't get any cooler than this. You can climb down a spooky, precarious ladder to where the ammunition kegs were kept, step into a working hospital, or hang in the fort mess hall. A kooky, amicable historian in an authentic English uniform lurks around with his gear, gunned up and ready to answer all your questions. There are weapons and cannons and more oh my. Kids would probably go nuts here, it's a historical goldmine. Wow, am I a geek or what? $8 an adult is a small price to pay for all this American heritage action. After the museum you can hop up the road for a little fun in downtown Ligonier, a darling little community.

    Everyone smiled!!
    Sarah J.

    Today we decided to pack up a variety of kiddos (ages 6 to 17) and learn about the happenings at Fort Ligonier. The adults had not been there since grade school and quite honestly really didn't remember a thing about it so between the kids and the concern for how interesting it could be we packed up the car and promise ice cream for the reward. When we arrive we were greeted but smiling group of ladies who could not have been friendlier. We asked if there were any guides available and Judy said that she would be happy to and we found out later that it was her first time. She was so great with ALL of the kids and they all ended up asking questions, even the 16&17 year olds. She was so friendly and engaging she even convinced ALL of the kids to dress up AND SMILE for the picture. She walked us all through the museum and took us through every building outside and was really great at explaining the use of all of the buildings in a way even the little ones understood. In the end we headed into the art gallery and she was able to give us all of the history of George Washington's guns and also gave a really interesting story about King George and why her went mad. To find out you'll have to go yourself. I just have to say I was very pleasantly surprised how much a group of people who really didn't have much interest in American war history really ended up having a really great time and learned a lot. I think we will be back, it really was so much more than we all expected. Also need to say that both Gabi and Nicole were also so super sweet to the kids.

    Nice history of the fort and area during the period around the French and Indian war. Nice artifacts and displays indoors and the recreated Fort based on excavated findings gives an accurate portrayal of how it was back then.

    Kept seeing the advertisements for Fort Ligonier Days and so glad I made the drive from Pittsburgh! My first visit, my first re-enactment and it was truly special. I spent most of my time in the museum because there was just so much to see, read and take in! What an incredible museum! Very impressive! Then I toured the outside, spoke with many of the re-enactors and waited for the show! First came the artillery demo and it did not disappoint! The kids really enjoyed the big bangs! Then the fighting began! Many around me said this was their first re-enactment too and we were all mezmerized! The man were really into it and kept loading and shooting while the narrator kept giving us the history! It was chilling and utterly engaging. I visited some of the wonderful artisians at the festival and couldn't believe with all of the people, there was room to wander around and enjoy the food and drink. HIGHLY recommend you visit this amazing Fort and teach your kids history!

    Fort Ligonier
    Deborah N.

    We finally made time to stop and tour Fort Ligonier over Memorial Day weekend. This is something that although we live fairly near, we never made time to do. It's always too crowded in the fall, during Fort Ligonier Days and parking is very limited. With the Memorial holiday, I learned online that the fort would be hosting a group of reenactors from the state of Indiana. They would do artillery demonstrations and also stage a mock battle between English and French soldiers. The museum is a wonderful source on the time period involving the French and Indian war, which was known as the 7 Years War in Europe. There are priceless artifacts on display. Both the regular volunteer guides and the reenactors were very friendly and very willing to share their knowledge and passion on this period of history. They were intent on involving young and old visitors. There were quite a few people from out of town who made a special trip just to visit this fort. There is a souvenir shop with lots of items for sale. I picked up two coloring books on colonial soldiers for my great-nephews. The museum building is expanding to make an education center; so the parking lot has been reduced due to heavy equipment, but the improvements will be worth the temporary inconvenience. It was a very nice visit and something I would take an out of town visitor to see.

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    5 years ago

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    10 months ago

    This is definitely worth a visit. Alot of great history, the museum is very well put together both inside and outside

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    A historic site which I never really knew existed. Do a bit of research before visiting to get the true "flavor" of this site.

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    13 years ago

    Haven't visited this place for a long time. Enjoyed walking around the small fort.

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    8 years ago

    Wow the new expansion is beautify. Must visit. They did a wonderful job. If it's been a while since you visit you must stop in

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    Ask the Community - Fort Ligonier

    Review Highlights - Fort Ligonier

    This is a world class museum dedicated to colonial life during the French and Indian war.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    This was the moment I realized I overstayed my welcome in Pittsburgh, an indisputably great city…read more However, even indisputably great cities can have disappointing attractions. My first clue was that I discovered this museum was not specific to Pittsburgh. In fact, it's part of a privately owned museum chain, one of over sixty identical museums across over 25 countries. I came here because I had a free morning trying to avoid the wintry weather. I decided to make stops on the North Shore along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Clearly, not every stop is a landmark. This museum appears to be targeted to either young families with hyperactive kids and Instagram-addicted tourists. Falling somewhat into the latter category, I found the admission rather steep at $25 for what looked to be a relatively small scale space. I paid that same amount for both Carnegie Museums (Art and Natural History). This museum consisted of a series of interactive exhibits that create optical illusions. There were several spinning wheels, tilted spaces, distorted rooms, and mirrored illusions. My walkthrough lasted around fifteen minutes. Kids were anxious to go through the exhibits at breakneck speed, and my attention span was rarely stimulated by the exhibits. In visiting this museum, at least I won't be curious about the sixty other Museums of Illusions. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/h0qh7n2Ol5

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    We visited the museum as the Flood Museum was, ironically, closed due to water damage. The change…read morein itinerary ended up being a good thing as the Center was surprisingly informative, interactive as we toured the Center as a particular immigrant, and the staff were super helpful! Barb guided us through the flood exhibit on the third floor & recommended other places in town to visit & eat at. We also hope to bring our grandkids back to visit the children's area.

    This is well worth visiting if you're in the Johnstown area, or even coming out from Pittsburgh if…read moreyou're looking for a good children's experience. It embraces the town's heritage while keeping it fun for the kids. Sadly, most of the negative reviews on here are out of date and don't really apply anymore. We became members and took our kid here every day for the last three days and he never tired of it! He loved all the interactive experiences and toys, but especially going up through the coal mine and slide. He loved the kitchen area and the DJ booth. The other kids there seemed to all be really enjoying themselves there, too. We have been to about a dozen kids' discovery centers in two different countries in the past two years and this is one of the better ones, if not the best. The employees do an excellent job keeping the place clean and tidy, and are friendly, too. Previous old reviews seemed to complain that several things were broken or worn out, but that wasn't the case now.

    Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum

    Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum

    (2 reviews)

    This is a wonderful little museum located just three miles west of Ligonier. I do want to emphasize…read morethe word "little" since the museum itself is housed in the former Darlington Station, used by the Ligonier Valley Railroad. But though it be small, it be mighty and chock full of exhibits and information. The mission of the museum is to preserve the history of the Ligonier Valley Railroad, which ran from 1877 to 1952, carrying millions of people and tons (literally) of freight. In the name of preserving that history, the museum has collected over 3,000 items, from lanterns to dinnerware to maps to photos...and so on. The volunteers are wonderful and knowledgeable, so I definitely recommend letting them talk you through the highlights of the collection and the railroad's operations. Their storytelling abilities truly brought the history behind this museum to life when I visited; and their insight into the railroad's influence and impact helped me appreciate the area that much more as I walked through Ligonier itself. Definitely take the time to visit this little gem during your next trip through Ligonier. Before you leave, take the time to explore the caboose housed on the property as well!

    The museum is housed in a beautifully restored 1896 depot. The former owner of the Ligonier Valley…read moreRR was the famous Mellon family. Outside an assortment of rail artifacts and in the future, perhaps a motorcar. Although the collection of artifacts is small, the tour guide fills out the time with much history and LGV RR stories.

    Fallingwater - Access to one of the pools from the living room

    Fallingwater

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    I've been wanting to visit this place since I was a kid. I finally got there. They are doing a lot…read moreof work on the building so unfortunately, a lot of the building was covered with scaffolding which was unfortunate and they were offering refunds, but this was only time to get there so I went. I did the guided house tour which was great. The lady who did the tour was very knowledgeable. I appreciate that they give you ear pieces so you can hear and don't need to feel like you need to be so close to the guide to hear. Unfortunately, there was a medical emergency (ambulances and all) so we could not get to the 3rd floor, but they did let us see the staff quarters instead which I do not believe was part of our tour initially. They had a really nice gift shop as well. They also had a café but I did not look into there so I do not know exactly what was being offered. I would love to visit again once the scaffolding and tarps are gone. Regardless, this place is very peaceful and just beautiful inside and out.

    It's hard for me to convey why visiting this landmark was so significant for me. I was a lad of 12…read morewhen I saw pictures of this house in a coffee table book about Frank Lloyd Wright in a mall bookstore. I remember because I was so drawn to the aesthetic of the building. It initiated my attraction to open living spaces, mid-century modern design, and organic architecture. All these decades later, I made it, and the sight of the house actually made me tingle. I said tingle, not tinkle. That happened in the surprisingly spacious restroom at the visitor center before the tour. Built in 1935 for Pittsburgh department store magnate Edgar J. Kaufmann and his family as a vacation home, the unprecedented cantilevered construction is a 4 bed / 4 bath that would've been pooh-poohed by the more obnoxious wannabe buyers on "House Hunters". The main house is 9,200 square feet of which 4,400 are outdoor terraces. Outdoors is where Edgar's worldly wife Liliane threw parties for their friends. However, the key draw of the multilevel terraces was the sound and sights of the Bear Run stream underneath. Except for the Kaufmann's impressive art collection, there is nothing ornate about the two-tone house of light ochre and Cherokee red. The innovative design elements speak for themselves like the glass-enclosed staircase down to the stream. Given my longstanding desire to come here, I went for the $89 In-Depth Guided Tour which ran well over ninety minutes and gave us full access to the house interior and the surrounding grounds including the guesthouse and the gardener's cottage (now used as staff offices). Our guide Larry did a fine job sharing the history behind all the architectural details of Wright's idiosyncratic design and uncompromising commitment to organic compatibility. Be aware that the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy started a major $7 million preservation project in 2023 and it's not due to be complete until next year (fingers crossed). The advanced age of the structure had caused leaks, cracks, and corrosion, so repairs are still underway. However, some of the house was still covered with scaffolding with terrace access a bit limited. It didn't bug me though because we're talking about checking off a major bucket list item for me. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qN_tq21lnL

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    I was really impressed by the museum of natural history and the art museum. The natural history…read moremuseum had cool fossils, beautify rocks/minerals, and breathtaking dioramas that really put you in the habitat of the creature they are portraying. The museum was relatively empty when I went except for multiple field trips of elementary school students. Admission for one adult to the museums was only $25 for the whole day, which felt like a steal. There were plenty of opportunities for children to enjoy the exhibits as well. The museum was clean, inviting, easy to navigate and had staff all over to help give directions.

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    Truth be told, I doubt I would've driven from Downtown Pittsburgh to the Laurel Highlands just to…read moresee this house even though it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright toward the end of his life. Like most dilettante tourists, I came here because it's a scenic ten-minute drive from Fallingwater, Wright's unequivocal masterwork (review: https://yelp.to/dm_1LqdsKL). Did I regret making the detour? Absolutely not, Kentuck Knob definitely has its own merits. Built in 1956 for local ice cream tycoon I.N. Hagan and his wife Bernadine, this angular Usonian home sits on a hill that provides the structure its name. The Hagans were friends of the Kaufmanns, the owners of Fallingwater, and they were so impressed, they hired Wright to design their main house. Similar to Fallingwater, this house was integrated with the surrounding nature. It was built to look like an extension of the hill rather than residing on top of it. Unfortunately, photography was forbidden inside the house as the family still keeps their personal effects here. There were no right angles in the design. The dining room table has a trapezoid shape that could be separated into two parts. The kitchen reflects an irregular hexagonal shape with a large, matching skylight. The bedrooms are similarly angular, and in true Wright fashion, the hallways are very narrow with little room to breathe much less walk. A short walk away from the house provides a spectacular panoramic view of the Youghiogheny River gorge (Video). There's a shuttle between the house and the visitors center, which houses a gift shop and a cafe. Alternatively, I took the brief hike down the hillside because there were public art pieces to peruse along the way, including a piece of the Berlin Wall (Photo 7). It's worth knowing that Wright visited the site only once and never saw the finished house. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qN_tq21lnL

    Truly amazing and beautiful place. We scheduled the in-depth tour with Luann as our guide and I was…read moreenthralled for the entire 90 minutes. Though it was pouring the day of our tour, I never felt like Luann was rushing through, even as we stood outside with umbrellas to see some of the details. My husband had so many questions and she was armed with an answer for every one, even knowing the history of the unique furniture pieces inside. You could tell she had a genuine interest in the house and was happy to share what she knew. The weather kept us from taking the woodland path back to the visitor center but I am excited to go back and walk the grounds.

    Fort Ligonier - museums - Updated May 2026

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