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 visited twice now, and have seen two different rotating exhibits, plus some of the…read moremanuscripts and models were there both times. On my most recent visit, my favorite manuscripts on display were from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" (see photos). The current rotating exhibits have to do with the life of Abraham Lincoln in illustrated form, and also documents from the Civil War. I think these will be on display until January, when another rotating exhibit will take its place. Admission is free (donations accepted), and the museum is located in the Sheraden neighborhood, housed in a beautiful old church with stained-glass windows, and a giant pipe organ up in the choir loft . . . Cheers!

What a great repurpose for a beautiful building! Many unique documents and exhibits. Best part is…read moreit is FREE!!

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 visited twice now, and this place is really interesting if you have an interest in Middle…read moreEastern archaeology. The museum is full of ancient artifacts from the Levant, along with descriptive photos, maps, videos, and, and is staffed by some very passionate people. They also occasionally have lectures, which I hope to attend later on this month. I highly recommend a visit here, and the price of admission is free. Cheers!

Incredible place to visit with so many artifacts! My wife and I were the only patrons when we…read morestopped in this afternoon and so we were able to get a lot of attention and interesting details from the lady running the museum today. In addition to the artifacts, there are also a lot of plaques that helped guide us and provided deeper understanding as we walked around. Since we are arguably quite novice in things pertaining to ancient Israel and the Holy Land, we really appreciated the detailed descriptions. This is the kind of place that's a hidden gem of Pittsburgh and I'd love to take family and friends as I think lots of people would appreciate learning more.

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.

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.

Liked the increased onsite parking. The exhibit was housed in the museum but check in was at the…read moregift shop. The French Moderns exhibit was well attended.

If you love history and want to see where things all started here. This is the museum for you…read more It's especially great on the 4th of July. They have special events going on that day. They shoot from the canon, people are dressed in costumes and tell stories from the period. Kids have interactive things they can try with toy guns talking to the soldiers. The museum itself is nice too. They have all kinds of artifacts that you can see. You can see a map and recreations of what things looked like back then. You can see how people lived, what they wore and the struggles they went through to fight for freedom and establish this area. There's a lot of talk about George Washington and how he worked with local Seneca chief guide, Guyasata. You get a general overview in school about Washington and the war but they give you more finite details and how it pertained to this area's growth. If you love history definitely check it out.

I think Pittsburgh is undervalued as a historic American city, and this small, two-floor museum…read moreattests to the city's critical role in the American Revolution and the French & Indian War. At least that's what I learned when I inadvertently visited during my wintry stroll around Point State Park. Yes, to be truthful, I was looking for a break from the obstinate weather, and the $8 admission was a small price to pay. I'm glad I did visit because the curators have taken an immersive approach in providing living history programs which included demonstrations from 18th-century "characters" in recreations of structures like a trader's cabin and soldiers' barracks. Housed in a recreated bastion of the original 1758 fort, the museum carries unique artifacts like a copper whiskey and a cannon. Definitely worth a stop-by. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/VlkxJtR3sY

This year's spring flower exhibit is one of their most fun yet! Due to the cost of visiting, it…read moremakes most sense to buy the annual membership since after one visit you've already paid 33% of it. They'll even apply your ticket to an annual membership at the end of your visit. Just talk to the ticketing booth. This is an iconic Pittsburgh institution and what it lacks in size relative to other botanical gardens in the world, it makes up for it in beauty. Take the greenhouses, the structures are hundreds of years old and are beautifully and painstakingly restored. The current Panama exhibit is fantastic showcasing tropical flora and fauna. This is also a great place to bring kids. The butterfly exhibit is on hold for renovations, but when it's back on your have to bring your kiddos here to see it. Also, their annual train display is always a showstopper. So many noteworthy things to say but that's all for now.

This was the only stop I made in Pittsburg while I was driving through as plants and greenhouses…read moreare something I love! I am so happy with the decision to stop here. It was beautiful inside and even the exterior was photo-worthy. There are multiple rooms to visit (including an outdoor area) and I would have to say that the orchid room was my favorite. The gift shop almost serves as a plant shop where you can buy pots and new plants. I wish there was a little more merchandise to choose from in the gift shop, but I found a little magnet to commemorate my visit. Thanks, Phipps!