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    Fort Pitt Museum

    3.9 (27 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Ria F.

    We live in Pittsburgh yet we have never gone to this museum before but our son is studying this in school and requested a trip for a birthday treat. And it was a treat, indeed. For 2 adults and 1 child, it was just over $20 and we spent about 90 minutes there. Two floors of exhibits and lots of information. There are even two short videos to watch. I actually learned right along with my son. Tips - The block house is only open on Saturday. Plan on checking out their small gift shop. Lots of cute Pittsburgh items.

    Raymond S.

    Nice little museum. You need an hour or so if that. Lots of G. Washington, as there should be, nice exhibits along with video presentations.

    Entrance.
    Karla D.

    It's not the best museum around but it's got some factual historical items that are important to our area. It's clean and easy to navigate. Frankly I'm thankful for this little piece of our past.

    Kari C.

    This museum is located in the same vicinity as "The Fountain" at Point State Park. If you're sightseeing there, you could pop into this museum (and check it off of your bucket list) if you care to know more about early Pittsburg. This is probably one of the least impressive museums that I have ever visited. It is small (two floors) and had no special exhibits during our most recent visit. The first floor features a 3D map of early Pittsburg and a few paintings (many are replicas) of early influential historical figures in the area. There are also two replica cabins displaying what life would have been like for soldiers or Natives in the 1700's. The second floor is visually more appealing, but I personally found the content displaying Native Americans as "savages" who captured and scalped White European settlers to be disheartening. I wasn't a fan of that exhibit. The second exhibit regarding the revolutionary war was pretty boring. Other features include reenactment scenes of soldiers (outside of the museum). They shoot off a cannon at designated times. I also noticed a volunteer tour guide who was offering to guide guests through the facility. I'm hard-pressed to believe that anybody would actually rate this museum five stars. While it may have potential to be more captivating, it hasn't reached its full potential yet. Hopefully, "the powers that be" are saving the admission fees in their piggy bank to bring Fort Pitt museum up to speed.

    R V.

    Ultimately, I definitely enjoyed my experience at the Fort Pitt Museum and I'm glad I finally went after many thoughts of "I should totally go." I knew very, very little of the early history of Pittsburgh, Fort Duquesne, and the French-Indian War, etc. As someone who has an interest in history, though, I'll admit that I found it a bit overwhelming. I should have prepared myself with some better background knowledge - it would have helped me keep things straight. But, again, I definitely had a good time. In fact, I think the exhibits toward the end of the museum were more interesting than the first main room. I'd like to go again - and it would give me an excuse to spend more time at the Point. Really, the most iconic part of Pittsburgh, and I never seem to get there... The other reviewer here noted that it's easy to miss it. I'd say the first couple times I went to the Point, I definitely didn't notice it at all!

    Chelsea C.

    Small but well taken care of. Lots of interesting information and interactive exhibits. My daughter loved exploring inside. Outside you get beautiful views of the waterfront and can take a walk around the park. Downstairs they have a few things to look at and interact with, the upstairs has many displays and a ton of information.

    Paul L.

    This history museum never grabbed my attention and a recent visit didn't change my mind. I will say, though, that they must have spent a lot of the budget on the ultra-realistic mannequins: they look like recruits from the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

    Kristi S.

    I was in Pittsburgh last July and visited the Fort Pitt Museum. The Fort Pitt Museum displays artifacts and information on the French Indian and Revolutionary Wars. Soldiers were housed at Fort Pitt during those wars. I thought the Revolutionary War was fought more east of Pittsburgh and found out last July there were battles near the city.

    Cookies and Cream cake! Delicious!!

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    Review Highlights - Fort Pitt Museum

    It's got a nice exhibit on the history of the fort and information on the people on both sides of the French and Indian War.

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    Carnegie Museum of Natural History

    Carnegie Museum of Natural History

    4.7
    (216 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    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 section of Pittsburgh has a lot to offer. You would have to take an Uber or Lyft from…read moredowntown. This is a World class combined art and history museum. Your admission ticket includes both the art and natural history museums. Admission is half price after 3pm, but the museum closes at 5:00. A few minutes away from the museum you have the Heinz Chapel, Nationality Rooms, and the outfield wall of Forbes Field.

    Photos
    Gift shop
    Gift shop
    Carnegie Museum of Natural History
    Carnegie Museum of Natural History

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    Museum of Illusions - Pittsburgh

    Museum of Illusions - Pittsburgh

    4.0
    (72 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    Kid friendly
    Discounts available

    Very cool experience especially for kids or even just a rainy day. It's about a 30-45 minute…read moreexperience with lots of illusions and mind games to enjoy

    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.

    Photos
    The boys.
    The boys.
    Museum of Illusions - Pittsburgh
    Was I really standing on my head?

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    Was I really standing on my head?
    Mattress Factory Art Museum

    Mattress Factory Art Museum

    3.9
    (252 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    I have definitely learned that contemporary/modern art is just not my thing. That being said, that…read moredoesn't mean that Mattress Factory isn't worth a visit. The museum does not have its own parking lot, so you will need to find street parking. However, there seemed to be plenty of options in the area. They exhibits are spread out over various floors and areas. They have a suggested path, but you can really explore at your own pace and interest. The "famous" work is the polka dot room which is really intriguing and visually appealing. My daughter like to say "art is all about how the artist sells it and what you make of it" and this is the perfect place to put that mentality into effect. There were some pieces that I was just baffled about being "art" and there were others that while I personally didn't enjoy them, I could appreciate the time and talent that went in to creating them. If you are looking for a unique museum experience, this is definitely the place for you.

    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.

    Photos
    Small wall work from Luke Stettner's State of the Sky
    Small wall work from Luke Stettner's State of the Sky
    Lots like junk, right?
    Lots like junk, right?
    This is an exhibit of trash.

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    This is an exhibit of trash.
    Kamin Science Center

    Kamin Science Center

    3.9
    (251 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    There is a lot to love about the Science Center! Multiple floors of exhibits, plenty are hands on…read moreand there is something for all ages! Plus there are several different live shows daily along with planetarium shows (free with admission). There are also add ons like the laser show and the omnimax cinema. There is a paid parking lot right outside the science center. Parking is very reasonable ($6) but depending on how busy it is, you may end up quite far from the entrance, so keep that in mind. You can purchase admission in advance online (especially important if you are visiting one of the special exhibits) or you can get it there. Either way, you will need to wait in line to get your wrist band. There are times that there is quite a line, but they seem to be pretty efficient overall at getting people through. Some favorites of our family are the earthquake simulator, the electricity show, the model train and the submarine. (note, it is wonderful to see, but there are plenty of tight spaces so might not be great to tour if you are Closterphobic). I wish they hadn't taken out their robot area. They replaced it with a Mars exploration exhibit which is interesting, but for my kids and I it was kind of a one and done whereas the robots we would visit every single time and spend tons of time there. They area that was formerly sportsworks is currently being renovated to a gocart track which I'm sure will be fun. But it seems like with each renovation they are removing some of the more educational aspects and replacing them with things that will be more fun centered. There is a cafe on the ground floor. Typical cafe type stuff that is decently priced for museum food, but still costly. You can always pack your food or just get something to eat after your visit. Avoid the weekend of Thanksgiving and the weeks of Christmas break at all costs. I made that mistake once and it was so crowded you could barely move. Definitely not a fun experience. They often host special events for both members and the general public. I've been to a few of the 21+ nights and while they are fun, as a member they aren't worth the cost to me. One of our favorite events was the Polar Express PJ party where you started the day with some science themed activities, Santa and then hot coco and snacks for a private screening of the film. Overall, a fun museum for people of all ages (definitely not just a place for kids).

    I first visited this science center many years ago while I was in college. Even then, it was an…read moreenjoyable experience, although it was beginning to show its age. After hearing about the recent major renovation, I was excited to return with my family and our young children. Unfortunately, we left feeling underwhelmed. Several of the interactive exhibits we were looking forward to were out of order, which was disappointing, especially for the kids. Some areas also felt sparse, including one section that was largely just a LEGO play area. Given the investment in the renovation, we expected a more engaging and polished experience. Overall, we didn't feel the science center lived up to its potential or justified the admission price. While there are still some enjoyable exhibits, we had hoped for a more immersive and interactive experience.

    Photos
    Chandelier, Titanic exhibit
    Chandelier, Titanic exhibit
    Entrance
    Entrance
    This dude

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    This dude
    Bayernhof Museum

    Bayernhof Museum

    5.0
    (28 reviews)
    6.3 mi

    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.

    AMAZING! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. My friend is a music lover and I thought this would be interesting…read more He enjoyed it and I loved it even though I don't appreciate music the way he does. The museum reminded my kids of a real-life Clue game - it is definitely worth visiting! I highly recommend.

    Photos
    Bayernhof Museum
    Bayernhof Museum
    Bayernhof Museum

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    Senator John Heinz History Center

    Senator John Heinz History Center

    4.5
    (266 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Pittsburgh icon in a great new home
    Pittsburgh icon in a great new home
    Fun Room for Kids at Heinz History Center
    Fun Room for Kids at Heinz History Center
    Horse-Drawn Fire Truck in Lobby at Heinz History Center

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    Horse-Drawn Fire Truck in Lobby at Heinz History Center
    Carnegie Museum of Art

    Carnegie Museum of Art

    4.5
    (112 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    I stopped by the Carnegie Museum of Art because I was looking for something fun to do inside. The…read moreCarnegie International is on display throughout the museum. Super cool, this is the 59th year and is the longest running exhibit in North America. This year titled "If the word we". As I was standing in the lobby reading about the exhibit, a small group started to assemble and a docent arrived for a free art walk of some classical pieces on display. In all my years of going to the museum, this was my first docent led tour and it was really interesting. It lasted about an hour and was very interactive with the guests. I really enjoyed.

    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.

    Photos
    Charles "Teeny" Harris photos
    Charles "Teeny" Harris photos
    Photo 11: Vintage dishware
    Photo 11: Vintage dishware
    Exhibit of chairs

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    Exhibit of chairs

    Fort Pitt Museum - museums - Updated August 2026

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