I love history and not being from the Pittsburgh area, I especially enjoy going to sites like this…read moreto learn more about the history of the region I live in now. Everything about Fort Ligonier is incredible! When you first walk in, you check in at the admission counter and get a sticker for your admission. On the left is the George Washington gallery that has interesting artifacts like Washington's pistol from Marquis de Lafayette. There is also an art gallery. Artifacts are clearly labeled and well described, but if you want to dig in deeper, they offer guided tours at various points throughout the day. Even if there isn't a guided tour, the docents stationed throughout love talking about anything you have questions about. On the right hand side is the history gallery which takes you through life at the fort and a history of the area. So much to see and you haven't even ventured to the fort yet! When you decide to see the fort, you meander up a path with lots to see. Recreated cannons and guns, fortifications and guard towers. Once you get to the main area, there are several buildings that you can go in to to get a better sense of what daily life was like at the fort. On select days, they even have costumed interpreters on site to give demonstrations and provide additional insight and history. They are also currently doing some archeological digging to learn even more about the site. It is really neat to think that research is still ongoing after all these years. This is a top notch experience and I highly recommend everyone take the time to come and experience it.

Our family took the guided historic tour of the fort. I would highly recommend it. Our guide was…read moreknowledgeable and friendly. We spent two and a half hours total at the site. My skeptical 12 year-old came away saying it was a cool tour, and he came away knowing more about early American history.

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.

Art in Bloom 2026 was another AMAZING exhibit. I truly do not understand why more people are not…read moretalking about this! This exhibit blends art + nature in the most beautiful way, challenging local floral designers to reimagine pieces from the gallery through stunning arrangements. It's colorful, creative, and exactly the kind of spring energy us Pittsburghers all need during the transition between grey winter and spring!

I went there with a person I am no longer friends with. I have only gone to the Museum one time…read more The parking lot is always full.

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.

Love the museum and all that they have to offer. There's exhibits, events, and workshops. It's so…read morenice to have this in our own backyard. Not to mention the gardens and scenery is just magical and amazing. I highly recommend going and at any age.

I visited the Ligonier branch of SAMA on free museum day. It was my first visit and I will be sure…read moreto go back! Dedicated to regional artists, the museum has about 4 exhibitions per year. Check the website to see what is currently being shown at each location. There's always a display of paperweights to view and there's local art for sale in the hallway gallery. I've been wanting to get here for a long time. I'm sorry I waited so long!

Fallingwater is a great stop if you plan to drive from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh or vice versa…read morelike we did. It is a 4 hour drive from Philly to Fallingwater. I'm glad we stopped. This was by far one of the coolest architectural structures I've ever seen in my life. I see why it has won so many awards as the crowning achievement for architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Completed in 1939 as a weekend retreat for Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann, it is celebrated worldwide as the ultimate masterpiece of "organic architecture"--a philosophy integrating human habitation seamlessly with nature.Located in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, the house is famously cantilevered directly over the Bear Run waterfall. The design anchors reinforced concrete trays and local sandstone to the natural rock, making the house appear to float above the stream Fallingwater has received numerous honors and architectural designations, including: 1976: Designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. National Park Service 2019: Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with seven other Wright-designed properties, in recognition of its universal global significance. I was in awe at the entire complex, all of the rooms, and of course the waterfall that goes all around the house.

Fallingwater is about 1.5 hrs from Pittsburgh and a must see if you are in the area. For anyone…read moreinterested in history, architecture or nature, this place architected by Frank Lloyd Wright is a beauty that seamlessly integrates this home with nature. Tickets for tours should be purchased online in advance to ensure you will get a tour.

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.

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.

The Lincoln Highway is a more scenic, cheaper, and historic way to get through southern PA as…read morecompared to taking the PA Turnpike. At 42nd. and Broadway in New York City in the Lincoln Highway started and ended in San Francisco. I got on the Lincoln Highway west of Philadelphia (King of Prussia, PA) and back on 81 a little bit west of the museum. This stretch of the Lincoln Highway included Amish Country, Gettysburg (Civil War), and the Flight 93 Memorial (9-11).

If you love transportation history, you'll enjoy this gem of a museum! Focusing on the Lincoln…read moreHighway in Western PA, it highlights some of the iconic landmarks such as the Ship Hotel and the Coffee Pot. After visiting the exhibits you can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of pie in the renovated Serro's Diner. Other amenities include an electric car charging station and a weekly SupperMarket on Wednesday evenings during the summer months. Picnic al fresco choosing from many food trucks and grooving to free music from local musicians.