Things to do in Pittsburgh: The Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History

The Pittsburgh skyline.

Pittsburgh is not one of the more well-known cities in the Midwest when it comes to fun activities, or an active urban scene. It is often seen as a small and quaint city in the shadows of the steel mills that once ran the economy of the city. Although the steel industry is no longer the main driving force of city’s economy, the city didn’t just roll over and accept its fate. The city has recreated itself in a sense by trying to draw in large companies for their headquarters. The city has been able to attract several large companies such as Highmark health insurance, Pittsburgh Plate Glass, PNC Bank and even Google. Amazon has also been considering Pittsburgh as a potential location for one of its corporate headquarters and warehouse space for the eastern seaboard. The city has been using the money from these new companies to sponsor things such as the new PPG Arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, as well as several cosmetic and security updates to the downtown area. With Pittsburgh now flourishing in a state that rivals the glory days of the steel industry, it is a common question for people in the city’s growing tourism business to ask “What is there actually to do in Pittsburgh?”

Heinz Art Gallery at the Carnegie Museum

Although Pittsburgh may be drastically changing, there are still several reminders from the city’s past that have been preserved and endured through the unstable economic climate of a city that depended on a dying industry. One of these enduring marks on the city’s history is the Carnegie Museum. The museum was constructed as a gift to the city of Pittsburgh from steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie. The building was erected as a tribute to the arts and sciences, and to house and display the extensive collection of arts and natural history exhibits that Carnegie collected personally for the eyes of the public. The museum consists of a Natural History wing as well as an Art wing that was added on to the museum some time later.  The art wing consists of four different galleries dedicated to different aspects of art. Of the galleries, my favorite is the Heinz Gallery on the second floor of the museum. This gallery is dedicated mostly to the classical artists that have gained popularity in pop culture. The exhibit has pieces from famous artists such as Monet, Degas and even art from a famous luxury liner in the 1930’as that burned during renovations at the pier. The natural history museum is also a very rewarding experience. This portion of the museum consists of exhibits focusing on ancient Egypt, the arctic, prehistoric animal exhibits and an exhibit on minerals and gems that rivals the shelves at Tiffany and Co. The building itself is also a rewarding experience because of the architecture itself. The building is built with the Victorian architectural style that was incredibly popular during the time period. The main lobby of the natural history museum is one of my favorite areas in the building because of its intricate detail and natural lighting from the large overhead skylight. The Carnegie Museum is a Pittsburgh landmark that has provided the people of Pittsburgh with entertainment for over a century. I would highly recommend partaking in the tradition of seeing what there is to see at the museum.

Lobby of the Natural History Museum