Pittsburgh's beaux-arts elegance and muscular art-deco swagger, together with its stunning surroundings of mountains and rivers, set this city apart. From quirky museums and live music events, to street art and hikes with incredible skyline views, you can enjoy a lot of the city's art, culture, and history for nothing whatsoever. There is a Free Fare Zone on the rail network! Here are 13 of the greatest free things to complete when you're next in Pittsburgh.
Allegheny Landing
They call Pittsburgh the "town of rivers," so it's only appropriate it includes a park by which to admire its internal waterways. Allegheny Landing was among the first urban riverfront sculpture parks in the country, even though it may get a little littered, the current sculpture plus waterfront biking and walking trails make for a very lovely slice of city green space. It's pleasant in spring and autumn, and dramatic in the winter months snow.
Rivers of Steel Homestead Streetside Gallery
Rivers of Steel is dedicated to preserving Pittsburgh's industrial and cultural heritage through exhibitions, tours and events. Some, like a tour of Carrie Blast Furnace, a huge and derelict structure around the riverfront, will cost US$21, but others, like the Homestead Streetside Gallery, have the freedom. Here, you can wander the area admiring a series of murals which have been developed by local artists.
Emerald View Park
To enjoy fabulous free views within the Pittsburgh skyline, go to Emerald View Park, which links in the hillside neighborhoods of Duquesne Heights, Mount Washington and Allentown, and includes several significant viewpoints. There are also public art displays and suggested hiking routes. Find out more about Pittsburgh's history on the 1.5-mile-long walk along the Grand View Scenic Byway.
Allegheny Observatory
The Allegheny Observatory belongs to the University of Pittsburgh located in Riverview Park, several miles north of downtown Pittsburgh. It's a significant astronomical research institution and just opens to the public free of charge pre-booked tours, which run Thursday and Friday evenings in the summer months.
Randyland
Randyland is an outdoor art museum that promotes a message of affection and happiness. It's comprised of a huge yellow house with enormous floor-to-roof wall murals. There's a small army of garden statuary and a junkyard's price of painted furniture having a bunch of painted signs from around the world. All of this provides a general sense the man who lives here has embraced the world's weirdness in its entirety. You can't forget it if you've seen it, and if you haven't seen it, get here.
Pittsburgh Background and Landmarks Foundation
The PHLF group works towards sustainable rise in Pittsburgh through preserving the city's background and building a strong communal feeling. The organization offers free downloadable self-guided walking tours of several city neighborhoods.
Bicycle Heaven Museum
Bicycle Heaven, the largest bicycle shop on the planet, also transpires with contain a free bicycle museum with a fascinating assortment of nearly 6000 vintage bikes from around the globe. Best part: it's free to visit the museum (donations welcome), and when you're done browsing, you are able to pick up any bike gear you need.
Frick Art and Historical Center
Henry Clay Frick, of recent York City's Frick Collection fame, built his steel fortune in Pittsburgh. The Frick Art and Historical Center shows a little art collection (including beautiful medieval icons), plus his cars. Admittance to the causes, the Permanent Collection and also the Car and Carriage Museum is free of charge.
Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning
Soaring 42 stories, the Gothic tower at the Cathedral of Learning, part of the University of Pittsburgh, is really a city landmark. Trip to see the delightful Nationality Rooms, 30 classrooms themed to localities which range from Russia to Syria to Africa to Ireland. Make a reservation ahead of time to tour the rooms, or take a digital tour, which is available online anytime.
Center for PostNatural History
"Postnatural history," according to the artist-founder of the quirky museum, is the field of plants and animals designed by humankind. Learn about spider-silk -making goats, selective breeding and much more. Most likely not your very best first-date spot, but definitely a fun and unconventional spot to learn about all things.
Banjo Night at Elks Lodge
Find out why Pittsburgh is known as the Paris of Appalachia at the Pittsburgh Banjo Club around the North Side. From 8pm on Wednesday nights at Elks Lodge the stage comes complete with players and the audience sings along to all the banjo classics. Reservations recommended.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh doesn't lack for beautiful, muscular buildings and also the main branch of the Central Library isn't any exception to this rule. The main branch of the library product is a beautiful, multilevel hybrid of neoclassical and beaux-arts influences, and serves as a nice spot to relax and rest the feet while exploring round the Carnegie Museum complex.
Fort Pitt Block House
Fort Pitt Block House, originally constructed in 1764 like a defensive redoubt for Fort Pitt, is the only remaining area of the fort. It's the city's oldest building and a national historic landmark. It's liberated to go to the Block House and wander through lovely Riverside Park. However, if you're keen to know much more about in france they and Indian War of the mid-18th century, tickets towards the nearby Fort Pitt Museum cost $8.
