Culture awaits in Pittsburgh

From tracing the brushstrokes of Andy Warhol to catching a show at one of its world-class performance venues, Pittsburgh is overflowing with arts and culture. Come and explore this eclectic city…

Pittsburgh’s diverse neighbourhoods, paired with a thriving culture and arts scene, make this vibrant North American city an exciting year-round destination. Located on what was once one of the country’s most productive coalfields, its iron and steel industries flourished in the 19^th century. As manufacturing declined, this transformative city reinvented itself. Built on a seductive combination of impressive architecture and Midwestern friendliness, today, Pittsburgh is forward-thinking and fun. An array of theatres, galleries, museums and other interesting visitor attractions keep tourists impressed. Come and see for yourself, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Steel City sights

Keen to tick off Pittsburgh's cultural must-sees? Check these out while you're in town.

The Andy Warhol Museum

Iconic artist Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh and this seven-storey museum houses the largest collection of his work, including many of his sketchbooks and signature pop art prints. Visit in summer 2023 for the new Velvet Underground exhibition, which shines the spotlight on the artist’s collaboration with the influential rock band.

The Frick

Henry Clay Frick made his fortune on steel, but this successful industrialist was also an enthusiastic art collector. The Frick Pittsburgh is his legacy, incorporating several museums and ten acres of landscaped gardens. Volunteers unlock the past, providing an insight into the Gilded Age as they lead visitors through the magnate’s mansion.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Located in Schenley Park, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has been welcoming visitors since 1893. There are 23 distinct gardens to explore plus a 14-room glasshouse. Flamboyant actor and singer Billy Porter, a Pittsburgh native, provides the inspiration for the Flowers Meets Fashion exhibit, which is scheduled to be open in May 2023.

Mattress Factory

Since 1977, Mattress Factory has showcased contemporary art in a warehouse vacated by mattress manufacturer Stearns & Foster. Its diverse collection pushes boundaries and invites interaction. Don’t miss James Turrell’s mesmerising sculpted light installations and imaginative pieces from Yayoi Kusama which combine dots and mirrors to dramatic effect.

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Travel a few miles east of downtown Pittsburgh to Greensburg and visit The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. The paintings, drawings and sculptures on display span four centuries. Through art, explore the bucolic landscapes of pre-industrial southwestern Pennsylvania and the impact on Pittsburgh of railroads, mines and steel works.

August Wilson African American Cultural Center

August Wilson was the Pulitzer prize-winning playwright responsible for The American Century Cycle, a series of ten plays including Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Learn more about the places that shaped Wilson’s life and work from The Writer’s Landscape, a permanent exhibition at the arts centre that bears his name.

Fort Pitt Museum

The British built Fort Pitt to beef up their defences during the French & Indian War of the mid-18th century. The site they chose is where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers converge to form the Ohio. Today, the reconstructed fort houses a fascinating museum which explains its historical significance.

Carnegie Museum of Art

Contemporary art in all forms is the focus of the Carnegie Museum of Art. Its vast collection comprises paintings, photographs and prints as well as film and digital media. This summer, a new exhibition by Pittsburgh-born Lyndon Barrois Jr considers the relationship between Hollywood’s heist genre, art conservation and forgery.

The Andy Warhol Museum (Jody Mader)

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Shutterstock)

Fort Pitt Museum (Jin Wu)

Carnegie Museum of Art (Julie Kahlbaugh)

Ones for your calendar

Time your visit to Pittsburgh to coincide with one of these fabulous festivals.

(Jody Mader)

Pittsburgh Pride Revolution

Celebrate 50 years of Pride in Pittsburgh. This LGBTQIA+ community event will take place across Downtown, the Northside, and Bloomfield from 2-4 June 2023. The inclusive festival features free concerts and performances from musicians, speakers, drag artists and dancers. Don’t miss the colourful parade as it processes through the city centre.

Three Rivers Arts Festival

From 2-11 June 2023, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust stages the Three Rivers Arts Festival. A diverse programme of live music, theatre productions and art installations is designed to have a broad appeal. During this free event, more than 200 creators sell handmade art, ceramics and jewellery at the Artist Market.

Black Music Festival (Stop the Violence Pittsburgh)

Black Music Festival

Fans of jazz, gospel, or soul and R&B will want to time their visit to Pittsburgh to coincide with its Black Music Festival. Held 13-15 July 2023, each day’s programme is devoted to a different genre. Free concerts are planned for Point State Park and Market Square in Downtown.

(Pittsburgh Cultural Trust)

Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

Pittsburgh has a long association with jazz. The city’s Hill District was once dubbed Little Harlem and welcomed jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Miles Davis along with homegrown talent like Billy Eckstine. This illustrious heritage is celebrated from 15-17 September 2023 with the 13^th Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.

Grand designs

Pittsburgh’s oldest surviving structure is Fort Pitt Block House, built by the British in 1764; find it in Point State Park. Over in Squirrel Hill, the Neill Log House in Schenley Park is a year younger and the city’s oldest residence. Since then, Pittsburgh’s eclectic architecture has reflected its multifaceted history and evolving priorities. Residential, industrial and ecclesiastical properties across the city demonstrate a wildly diverse approach to building design. Many of the city’s wealthiest industrialists built lavish mansions, though not all survived; one that endures is Henry Clay Frick’s Italianate-style Clayton Estate.

In the 20^th century, Pittsburgh enthusiastically embraced Gothic Revival style, exemplified by the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel. A 1953 addition to the cityscape was the Alcoa Building, the first skyscraper whose façade was entirely constructed from aluminium. And don’t miss the impractical Hendel Building, nicknamed the Skinny Building – it measures just 1.57 metres across.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Tour Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 105km southeast of Pittsburgh in the Laurel Highlands. This extraordinary cantilevered home, designed by acclaimed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, extends dramatically over a waterfall. It was the weekend home of the well-respected Kaufmann family, who owned and ran Pittsburgh's iconic Kaufmann's Department Store (now Macy's). Close by is another outstanding example of Frank Lloyd Wright's work, Kentuck Knob, which, like Fallingwater, perfectly complements its natural surroundings.

Sustainable architecture

Pittsburgh is a trailblazer for energy-efficient building design, boasting more than 30 green-certified buildings. The Heinz History Center, for instance, merits LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. In 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recognised Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ commitment to sustainability with an award for environmental excellence.

Bridges

The first thing you’ll notice about Pittsburgh’s bridges is how many there are. Even Venice can’t muster as many, falling well short of the 446 structures that span the US city’s waterways. The second standout is that they’re yellow; the colour is a nod to the coat of arms of William Pitt the Elder after whom the city is named. Seek out the self-anchored Three Sister bridges, the only trio of identical bridges in the United States; each one is named after a famous Pittsburgher: Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson. These suspension bridges connect Downtown to Pittsburgh’s North Shore and carry traffic across the Allegheny River. If the Pirates are playing on home turf at PNC Park, the bridge is closed to traffic and becomes a sea of baseball fans dressed in the team colours of black and yellow. Other landmark bridges include Smithfield Street Bridge, the States’ oldest steel bridge; and Washington Crossing Bridge, adorned with the seals of the original 13 colonies.

Catch a show

(VisitPITTSBURGH)

Heinz Hall

This opulent theatre is home to the Grammy Award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. A 2,600-seat venue in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, it stages more than 200 classical music concerts each year. In addition, Heinz Hall’s Speaker Series provides a unique opportunity to listen to engaging, thought-provoking and impactful talks.

(Seth Culp-Ressler)

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

Originally a cinema, this theatre and concert hall has an impressive pedigree: Frank Sinatra, Prince and Bob Marley all performed here while it was the Stanley Theater. Extensively renovated in 1987, this 2,800-seat venue is now home to the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.

(@staycee_pearl_and_soy_sos on Instagram)

Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Creative, experimental and above all inclusive, KST celebrates diversity and inspires a passion for the arts through talks, exhibitions and shows. This community-centric performing arts theatre operates an innovative “Pay What Moves You” policy whereby those who can afford to pay higher ticket prices subsidise those on lower incomes.

Byham Theater (Seth Culp-Ressler)

Byham Theater

Byham Theater is more than a century old and still retains many original features from its vaudeville days, such as the mosaic tile floor of its lobby. Today, part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s portfolio, the beautifully refurbished space hosts a varied programme of plays, musicals, comedy and dance performances.

Liberty Magic (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust)

Liberty Magic

Successful magicians excel in the art of skilful deception, relying on sleight of hand to fool captivated audiences. This intimate 68-seat venue stands on the same block where Harry Houdini once performed. Yet, despite your proximity to the stage you’ll still struggle to figure out how they do it.

Stay the night

The Industrialist Hotel, Autograph Collection

The 18-floor Industrialist occupies a landmark skyscraper built in 1902 for James Arrott, Pittsburgh’s “Bathtub King”. Reimagined as an upscale hotel by Marriott, it opened in 2021 after a tasteful remodel. Architect Frederick Osterling’s original Italian marble lobby has been retained, while the greys and oranges of its interior are a nod to Pittsburgh’s steel-making heritage, evoking smoke and molten metal. Each evening, the hotel offers hands-on workshops; they include leather, parchment and candle-making.

Joinery Hotel

The Joinery Hotel is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. It’s conveniently located in Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle; take in the view from its rooftop terrace ten floors up. Built a century ago for the Salvation Army, the property is now a stylish, contemporary space which champions local artists. It maintains strong links with local businesses, collaborating with Thick Bikes so that guests can explore their surroundings on two wheels and Amazing Books to stock its Lending Library.

How to get there and around

From mid-May British Airways will fly direct to Pittsburgh six times a week, with a flight time of just over eight hours. When you've landed in Pittsburgh, the 28X Airport Flyer service takes 37 minutes to connect the airport to Downtown Pittsburgh, departing every 30 minutes. Once in the city centre, travellers can connect with other buses in the network and the ‘T’, Pittsburgh’s light rail transit. There’s a flat fare of $2.75 (£2.22). Pittsburgh’s compact Downtown is easily walkable.

Feeling inspired?

For more information, head over to the official VisitPITTSBURGH website.

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