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 ...

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.

ok, you came to evans city to visit the cemetery anyway, so all good…read more but... don't come here looking for the museum - it's no longer in evans city. they're now located inside the monroeville mall, filiming locaton for 1978's dawn of the dead. also, 3 separate auntie anne's pretzels. lol

I've ordered from the online store. It's been two weeks and no status updates. They will not return…read moreemails, phone calls, or Facebook messages. Really poor customer service. Suck a disappointment

The Andy Warhol Museum is a great place to spend a couple hours before a Pittsburgh Pirates game…read more There are a bunch of levels in this museum, and it's pretty easy to navigate. A ton of art work throughout Andy Warhol's life. The iconic paintings of Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Campbell's Soup, and Coca-Cola are all here. I had a fun time in the video booth where you can record your own distorted video just how Andy Warhol used to record his guests. The museum is $25 for adults, $13 for seniors, $13 for students with ID, and $13 for kids 3-18 years old. Located right by PNC Park the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I didn't know much about Andy Warhol but the 7 floors of information and art gave me a good…read moreunderstanding of his artistic progression and range and life both in (from) Pittsburgh to NY and elsewhere. He was not just an interesting eccentric that pushed culture forward but someone who found a way to make money off his art in advertising while also having a style of his own and forays into film. While this is the Warhol museum, there are pieces by others on the ground floor, including collaborators. Bottom line: Worth a view if you are a museums person and like modern art.

You can learn about West Virginia history at this free museum. Or you can be like my children and…read morejust glance at the exhibits while trying to find buttons to push and things to touch. Your call! If you did go through the museum purposefully, though, you'd find a lot information about how West Virginia, a Unionist state, separated from Virginia, a Confederate state. There are three floors of Civil War memorabilia, West Virginia things and ... honestly, I think I'm like my children, because I didn't read any of the information either. But I know if you want to learn more about West Virginia, this is the place to do it. I mostly just enjoyed walking around, looking at the old furniture, peeking out of the windows and observing all of the nicely preserved historical objects that the museum has so lovingly displayed for everyone to see. This is a beautiful museum, and there's so much to see and learn about that I'm kind of shocked it was free to visit. There was one woman working there when we visited. It's a quiet little museum, so one person working there seemed right. I could tell that she really wanted us to ask questions -- she had a lot of West Virginia knowledge rattling around in her head. Unfortunately for her, my family was only there to push buttons and touch things and gaze out of the windows, so she retreated back to her desk and let us peruse freely. We had a good time at West Virginia Independence Hall, and stayed maybe 30 minutes. But I could see other people staying an hour or more, especially if you are really into history, and you take your time to absorb all of the information that's available.

OMG This museum is FREE!!! It is full of West Virginia…read moreHistory, artifacts and gems. Parking is in the rear and FREE as well. Easy to locate in downtown area of Wheeling across from the B&O Railroad Building which is now part of the community college. For my birthday I wanted to go here so my hubby Tony, daughter Noel and her boyfriend Adam joined me. Outside on the corner is a hugh statue of Governor Pierpont, the first governor of the new State of West Virginia. Some historical markers, a monument to the civil war, and a cannon. Inside there is 3 levels. Top level is the courtroom, were the convention was held to declare, argue and vote on making a new State and breaking away from Virginia. It was here that West Virginia was born. Second levels there are various rooms stuffed full of historical memorable items. First floor there are some civil war informative displays, an old post office and a riverboat display. In the basement, bathrooms and theatre to watch a 18 minute brief film narrates how this all became about. This was originally the Old Custom House.

This is one of the absolute highlights of the Science Center!…read moreThe detail on the village is simply astounding. It creates landmarks and landscapes of the Pittsburgh area. Everything from amusement parks (complete with moving/working rides) to Fallingwater! You enter and have one way to walk through to keep the traffic flowing. It can get crowded, but the staff is generally good at keeping it moving or managing when people are trying to see the same areas. I think one of the most interesting features is that the lighting changes so you can get a view of what it looks like with daylight and simulated night. The night really shows off all the details of the street lights, the lights on the rides etc. They seem to add new elements every year. This year there is currently a vote on which Pittsburgh bridge they will add. (I am hoping Smithfield Street Bridge is the one ultimately added). They will often do fun additions when there is a big attraction in town. For example, when Taylor Swift was here, they "hid" her several places throughout the train display. In the back middle, there is a conductor who will let you blow the train whistle. Don't be shy, adults can have fun pressing it too! If you are at the science center, make sure you don't miss a visit here!

Very nice exhibit within the Carnegie Science Center. The live action minuatures and scavenger…read morehunt game they have enhance the experience. Good experience for all ages.

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.

OMBicycles!! How have I NEVER reviewed this glorious Pittsburgh institution? Literally one of the…read moremost fun places you can visit in the city. They've got so much stuff packed in making so much for the eye to see. Many, many treasures. This is the oldest bicycle shop/museum in the world!! All sorts of fun displays, over 3,500 bikes. Themed bikes, vintage, and hard-to-find bicycles. They've got movie props and so much more too. If you're visiting Pittsburgh, add this place to your stop. It's worth the time!

This museum should be at the top of everyone's bucket list when visiting Pittsburgh! The display is…read moredone amazingly "organized" yet chaotic enough to be exciting! There's nothing boring "museum" about Bicycle Heaven, it will entertain all ages, even if you've never ridden a bike in your life! The collection is absolutely massive from the oldest bike ever made to the new modern lightweight bikes. So many purple seats, it'd be fun to try to count them all!! Be ready for the memories to come flooding through, it's definitely a walk through time.

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.

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.

This is the best kept secret in Pittsburgh. I have now toured it three times, and it never fails to…read moredelight. Tours are small and cozy, so you feel like you're taking a tour of the house as a friend. The guides are engaging and knowledgable. Don't miss it!