Art, History, and Genetically Modified Mice: Pittsburgh’s Best Museums

Pittsburgh has no shortage of museums, from large cultural institutions to niche storefront exhibits. Spend a whole day at the Carnegie Museums, or schedule an Uber to ferry you between two smaller collections. Either way, there’s lots to learn in the Steel City. Here’s where to start.

Carnegie Museums

You could spend an entire day getting lost in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the adjacent Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. The natural history museum has everything from dinosaurs to minerals, and while it’s a field-trip favorite, the museum also holds frequent “After Dark” events, with doors open late for the 21+ crowd. Or for something even more festive, check out its “Third Thursday” events, during which the galleries double as a dance club.

Andy Warhol Museum

Technically one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Andy Warhol Museum, tucked away on Sandusky Street not far from PNC Park, has been educating tourists and locals alike about Pittsburgh’s native son since 1994. But it’s much more than Warhol’s iconic paintings of Campbell’s Soup cans and Marilyn Monroe. The contents of the museum’s seven floors change frequently and often feature other artists—Ai Wei’s work was shown alongside Warhol’s for a recent exhibition—so every visit feels fresh.

Children’s Museum

With more than a dozen exhibitions geared at toddlers to preteens, the Children’s Museum is a perfect way to tire the little ones out before nap time or fill up a weekend afternoon. Check out exhibits on Fred Rogers and Daniel Tiger or get creative with painting and woodworking workshops.

Senator John Heinz History Center

For a deep dive into Pittsburgh’s history, the Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is your best bet. The “Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation” exhibit, for example, highlights innovators like George Westinghouse and Jonas Salk, while others examine Pittsburgh’s role in the oil, steel, aluminum, and healthcare industries. Sports fans and history buffs alike must stop by the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum housed inside the Center, which pays tribute to players and teams from the City of Champions.

Clemente Museum

While Pittsburgh’s best-known sports team might be the Steelers, Pittsburghers of a certain age will always be loyal to the Pirates, and one player in particular—Roberto Clemente. Lawrenceville’s Clemente Museum, located in a former firehouse, is only open for scheduled tours by appointment, but it’s the best place to take your friends and family to learn about The Great One.

Center for PostNatural History

History is great, but if you’re looking for something a bit more, well, modern, head to theCenter for PostNatural History in the city’s Garfield neighborhood. “Dedicated to the advancement of knowledge relating to the complex interplay between culture, nature, and biotechnology,” the center focuses on the impact of the human species on the rest of the world, and houses exhibits on genetic technology and organic and lab-generated specimens. Whether you find its collection innovative or slightly disquieting, it’s well worth the visit.