- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
19 reviews for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
I grew up in Chicago, now live in Washington DC so I have been to places like the Field Museum and the Smithsonian. I have been to museums all over the world. And I have to say that I was very impressed by this museum. It is outstanding.
I visited my friend Susan D. for the weekend recently. We decided to make Friday our "Cultural Day". Saturday was reserved for shopping with Susan's cousin. As I mentioned on my review for the Carnegie Library, this museum is housed in a beautiful neo-classical strutcture.
We saw a great temporary exhibit on Insects, Inks & Inklings, showcasing the art of Jane Hyland. Hyland is an illustrator for the Museum and this exhibit of her artwork examines the complex and fascinating anatomy of moths. Another temporary exhibit was "Time Machines". I had in my mind something along the likes of H.G. Wells. Well it was not that but a collection of watches fromt he H.J. Heinz Collection.
One of my favorite permanent exhibits was "Dinosaurs In Their Time". They bill this as "T. Rex vs T. Rex" and it shows dinosaur fossils posed in "active" positions and arranged chronologically. Susan says it was a renovation of an earlier dinosaur exhibit that just featured dioramas.
I also enjoyed the Alcoa Hall of American Indians. This is only major museum exhibition organized around American Indians' relationships with the natural world. But it goes one step further by showing the Native Americans in contemporary society and it explores the local connection of those that worked in the steel mills.
There is too much to list, the exhibits that I enjoyed here. The term might be over-used, but this is definitely a world-class museum and one you should make a trip to see.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
Us lucky Carnegie Mellon students could get into this museum for free, sooo I managed to make it here once a year. Looking back, I probably should have gone way more. The architecture of the building is so open, airy and bright. I love the layout and the gigantic staircase up to the galleries.
My favorite part - the gigantic room with all the dinosaur skeletons and the last room in the art galleries with the modern art... there's a really neat blue painting with concentric circles, which tricks your eyes into thinking it's breathing. crazy.
$11 with a valid Student ID
Another $1 off if you're a AAA member
The admission is valid to both the National Museum of History and the Art Museum
$10 to see dinosaurs?! Yeah, that's truly all I came to this museum for. I hurried through the minerals, the architecture, and headed straight to the dinosaur exhibit. I actually felt intimated by these enormous sets of bones. It's very humbling to walk by the T-Rex and all the other great dinosaur bones - they're terrifyingly humongous!
And please, if you're going to bring your kids to the museum, they shouldn't be running around the T-Rex screaming "I FOUND TEEE REXXXXX TEEE REX TEEE REXXX" for the entirety of your visit.
Great place to visit, definitely check it out.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
So much to see! I was visiting Pittsburgh for a weekend and was wondering around, looking at downtown and my future school, CMU, when it started raining. I ducked in here, not really knowing what it was and what to expect.
I've only made it through 3/4 of the first floor but you can easily spend an entire day here and it might not be enough. I visited the architecture, gems and stones and rushed through the dinosaurs.
None of the exhibits were too crowded (on a Sat!) , you could browse in peace and not feel rushed.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)
I was trying to decide whether to visit the Carnegie Museum of Art or the Museum of Natural History, and decided to go with the art museum first. Lo and behold, your admission ticket to one gets you into the other at no charge, and they're connected so you don't even have to go outside. Score!
So, two great museums for the price of one. The art museum, even on a Saturday afternoon, was not crowded. The galleries don't have the most intuitive layout, and I kept feeling like I was missing something as I walked through the smallish rooms. Still, it was pretty easy to find the collections that most interested me. The photography exhibit has some fantastic portraits and slices of Pittsburgh history.
The natural history museum, on the other hand, was full of kids of all ages running around among the dinosaur skeletons. I spent less time wandering the exhibits of gemstones and preserved animals than I had spent with the art, but still recommend checking out the badass dioramas of North American and African wildlife.
Overall, a worthwhile diversion on a larger scale than you'd expect in a city Pittsburgh's size, with a bonus museum in the price of your ticket.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
No offense to Pittsburgh residents....but wow!!! Who would have thought Pittsburgh would have so much culture? It was my first time in the city and I imagined...well not this!
The Natural History museum was excellent. Tons to see, and great exhibits. The gems were extensive and really interesting. The kids loved the dinosaurs & Indian exhibits. Very interesting displays on the Inuits. The only exhibit that needed a little help was Ancient Egypt. There was very little to see and nothing as interesting as most of the other city museums with Egyptian exhibits.
The museum also has a snack bar & vending area downstairs. Inexpensive and great to grab a quick bite to eat.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Yet another reason that Pittsburgh is so incredibly lucky. The Carnegie Museums are scattered throughout the Pittsburgh area and include the Oakland Museums (highlighted here) as well as the Carnegie Science Museum and the Andy Warhol museum.
This three building complex (the Museum of Art, Natural Science and History, and the Carnegie Library) sit on an entire city block, lined with sculptures of winged sirens, dinosaurs and literary legends. Complimented by the lush Oakland landscape, right on the backdrop of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, the locale delivers wonderful exhibitions across most mediums and provide a wonderful cultural and learning experience.
I recently visited the museum to see "Horse," an exhibition in the history museum, depicting how this working animal has influenced human culture. A VERY interesting and educational exhibit. With one of the largest dinosaur collections in the world, you could literally spend an entire day in the History museum alone.
Over at the Art Museum (which joins through one hallway) The Scaiffe Galleries house works of Rodin, Monet, Klimt, Hopper and many others. There's something there for everyone - paintings, etchings and sculpture. And, don't miss the Hall of Art and Architecture. This enourmous room houses casts of early Greek and Roman buildings, as well as church and mission facades' which cannot be matched.
If you're in town for the Carnegie International, you're extra lucky. As one of the largest annual art shows, the museum hand picks pieces from around the world, showcasing leading contemporary artists. A must see.
There is a cafe inside the museum, as well as a couple of gift shops. There are also several restaurants on Craig Street, adjacent to the museum. There is paid parking next door to the Art museum. Metered street parking is also available. The museum is largely funded through the Carnegie Foundation, and has a huge donor program. Annual memberships offer great benefits.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Dear Carnegie Museum,
The T Rex vs T Rex is amazing! I am so happy that Dippy is back. I am so happy that the taxidermed animals have returned too! I have missed seeing the lions attack the man riding the camel. Although I'm curious.. what happened to the panda bear? I realize he doesn't fit into Africa or Native American animals but surely there's a place for him somewhere? Maybe he fell apart :( Regardless, the dinosaurs are amazing and you've done a splendid job redo-ing the dino hall.
Now.. the art museum. I put up with the Pampillion ridiculousness when you hung a bunch of paintings salon style in one room. It was silly and uncomfortable but I put up with it waiting for the day when I would return to the burgh and see the new art wing that was then under construction. You have let me down. Woefully let down. Yes, the rooms are nice. The paint scheme is nice, grouping by time period is nice. Here is why I'm mad at you: What is up with just putting numbers under paintings and not labeling them with the title, artist and date? What if I don't want to look up paintings by number in a binder? or if an old lady and her husband are hogging the binders? it was poor form. You should be ashamed. All that money from the Carnegie Fund and you can't make some labels?!?! geez. Boston MFA and Philadelphia MOA both have you beat right now and it breaks my heart. You could be great if you wanted but someone dropped the ball.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
I had a week off from work recently. I needed it to take a little break and I decided, what better way to get caught up on all the museums and cultural institutions in the 'Burgh?
To say that the Carnegie is THE Pittsburgh Cultural Institution is indeed an understatement and as I live in nearby Squirrel Hill, I am so happy to have it within walking distance. Although the day I visited, I rode my bike and parked it all day. (Note to Yelp'er Mike O. from Park Ridge, IL--I didn't wipe out this time!).
I decided to spend the entire day at the Carnegie, and believe me it was worth it! As Emily H. says, the Dinosaurs in their time was really worth it! It went from being a stuffy, dull, "stuffed and mounted" exhibit to being a really neat walk-through one. The murals really give the exhibit a sense of time and place. The exhibit shows how the plants, mammals, fish, and insects that surrounded them continue to evolve and create the biological diversity that surrounds us today.
A long-time favorite of mine is the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems. I've always loved the bright colors of the gems and could stand there for hours in hushed awe of these beautiful stones. The museum just added the Wertz Gallery of Gems and Jewelry to the Hillman Hall. The gallery has an extensive collection of birthstones, giving the history of each and how birthstones came to be. The current special exhibit is the watches and timepieces from H.J. Heinz, including a stunning music box and watch piece.
But as much as I enjoy natural science, I really love art. The Carnegie Museum of Art includes American art from the late nineteenth century, French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, and European and American decorative arts. The Heinz Architectural is dedicated to the collection, study, and exhibition of architectural drawings and models. I particularly enjoy Asian art and the Carnegie has an extensive collection of Japanese prints.
One special exhibit that I really recommend will be there only until October 18, 2008 and it is "Abstract Art before 1950: Watercolors, Drawings, Prints, and Photographs". It consists of avant-garde works by European, American, and Japanese artists.
So while the admission fee is $15.00, it does include both the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Art. To get your money's worth, plan on staying a whole day. I did and I still feel like I didn't see everything.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (3)
Pittsburgh is really lucky to have such a world-class institution like the Carnegie Museums. The museum complex is so big, you will likely need more than one visit to see everything. I believe the Carnegie Museums rival the Smithsonian Museums in terms of quality of exhibits. Granted, the Smithsonian has the Hope Diamond. I really enjoyed the Carnegie's art section. Their dinosaur fossil exhibit is top-notch.
When I was visiting the Carnegie Museums this summer, they were hosting the Life On Mars international art exhibition. They showcased a very interesting array of international artists that were on the cutting edge.
A visit to the Carnegie Museums is a must if you're interested in either art or history and worth the admission price.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
Both the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Art Museum are not to be missed. It definitely surpassed all of my expectations. It was the dinosaurs that I came for, but The 2008 Carnegie International exhibit was the most impressive part of the museum. I pretty much spent 4 hours there and I felt like I was rushing. You must see it for yourself!
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (2)
If you're not into blockbusters and the crowds that attend them, you might really enjoy spending a slow, quiet day with the impressionist and modern paintings in the art museum's permanent collection.
When I moved to Pittsburgh, they had this sort of omnibus exhibit of their own permanent collection called (somewhat inappropriately) Panopticon and arranged kind of Barnes Collection style. That was cool. But on subsequent visits, the permanent galleries were equally impressive and even more pleasurable in their everyday arrangements.
I might be mistaken, but I think that even everyday the paintings are hung above one another, not all in a straight line in a white box of a room, ala the Metropolitan's modern collection.
I also think the furniture collection is pretty exciting and the Teenie Harris Collection and Project is fascinating.
I will say, though, that in six years I was never once moved to go to any of the special exhibitions they hosted.
I guess it's important to note, too, that the art and natural history museums are attached to one another (and located in Oakland), and one admission covers both. The fossilized dinosaur skeletons at the natural history museum are supposed to be amazing, but I OD-ed on dinosaurs somewhere around the second grade. Still, the whole Victorian super-museum thing is an experience.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
First off, you have to pay (although you do get two museums out of this for only $10.) So you've payed, and you go in and look around and the first room you come to seems amazing. Ancient statuary, tombs, the Elgin Marbles... Wait, the Elgin Marbles? You seem to recall that those are in London. Isn't there an ongoing controversy about repatriating them to Greece?
Oh. Wow. Oh, ok. They're all plaster casts. That's sort of cool, I guess. Maybe I'm a bit slow on the uptake. So, move along. The contemporary art works are pretty fantastic, particularly a Rachel Whiteread piece, a video installation filmed supposedly in a semi-trailer, and a sculpture using mirrors. Also, there is some great Pgh related art. Especially the painting of the dog from the firebrigade.
Go over to the Natural History Museum. Appreciate the fact that the displays were constructed before people worried about portrayals of violence and proceed to play a pretty fun game of Spot-the-Dead-Thing-in-the-Diorama. And trust me, nearly every diorama includes a death. Go into the wood paneled room (yep) and walk into an area that is tucked away and looks like an after-thought to see a badger. It's a pretty great badger, as far as they go.
Notice that much of the museum is under construction. Wander out after an hour or two. Maybe when the dinosaur exhibit is up it will be worth going; apparently the bone collection if extensive. In any case, leave a little disappointed.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
How to put this gently?
While I may go back to Pittsburgh some day, I will never return to the Carnegie Museum of Art.
It's not that I mind that its gallery seemed small compared to others I have viewed (sometimes small museums have some hidden treasures) or that one whole gallery was blown glass and I felt like I was at a bong shop on haight st. in sf.
It comes down to the fact that a docent, while trying to explain a painting with a watchtower in it, told the students it was a watchtower "from Auschwitz, a place where they basically fried a lot of Jews". Seriously? That's how she chose to describe concentration camps to a large class of what I could only guess were middle schoolers? It sounded like she described a bad breakfast joint..."oh that place? they basically just fry eggs".
On top of all that, the description of the piece stated the watchtower was reminiscent of those that were spread throughout East and West Germany during Hitler's rule (i.e. not those in Auschwitz).
In sum, docents are a reflection of the institution in which they volunteer, and this one sucked. So, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, if you're going to hire racist people to lead your tours, at least make sure they have their facts straight (or can read).
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
I visited both the art and natural history museums last weekend. I majorly bummed that the large dinosaur exhibit was under refurbishment. Most of the rest of the museum is a large taxidermy exhibit - not my thing.
In addition, the art museum, although nice, did not live up to the "major impressionist collection" rep it has. Maybe I'm just spoiled with Philly museums, but this one was a bit of a disappointment. Major thumbs down to the museum for not notifying visitors ahead of time that the statue room was shut down for a private function during the day.
Always a pleasure in this museum. The exhibits are always unique and interesting and everything has wonderful information about the history. This is truly a great place to visit.
I had a first date to this museum about three years ago and I must say it was one of the most unique dates I've ever been on. Guys/Girls if you're looking for an interesting place to take a date that's not the dinner/movie cliche.. this is totally it!
The pros: Dinosaurs in Their Time is pretty cool. The years of renovation were worth it - the former dinosaur hall is completely transformed. Remember how everything was in straight lines and the dinosaurs were up on their big pedestals? Now the exhibit is sort of S-shaped, the walls are painted with colorful murals, the support columns are disguised as trees, there are plants around the dinosaurs and dead leaves underneath. Underneath every dinosaur is a nameplate with a lot of information and a touchscreen with even MORE information, including a section on how the Carnegie Museum researchers contributed to the discovery or naming of this dinosaur. There is a lot more natural light than I remember, and there are 2 balconies that overlook the exhibits for more photo opportunities. There is also an extensive timeline of the Carnegie Museum's expeditions and contributions to paleontology, and a timelapse video of the renovations.
The cons: The rest of the history museum is pretty lame compared to this new and awesome exhibit. The biggest examples are the 2nd floor Halls of African and North American Wildlife and the 3rd floor Birds hall. Big cases of taxidermy in a wood-paneled room with dim lighting - hardly thrilling. The 3rd floor Polar World is starting to look dated too. Even the fonts used date the exhibits.
Admission is now $15 for adults, $11 for students (free for Pitt students!). This does get you into the Carnegie Museum of Art also, but I'm usually tired after doing the whole history museum so I never get over to the art side. I would recommend seeing the dinosaurs, then skipping the rest of the history museum if you've been there before. The Dinosaurs in Their Time would get five stars on its own, but the rest of the museum is lagging behind unfortunately.
the Carnegie museum of art has a rich history in the art world that most people would not even know or appreciate. the world renown international exhibitions are something worth making a trip to the museum for. this year's international was very solid in its curator's ability to bring lots of cool artists to the show and have a theme. these shows happen every 3 years as it takes them that long to plan a show of that caliber. the permanent collection is not bad considering it's Pittsburgh and not NYC. people are way to judgemental of cma's collection, don't forget you're in Pittsburgh and not a major metropolitan with millions of art folk. and the natural history museum that is connected is pretty awesome if you like dinosaurs, probably one of the best dinosaur displays I've seen in all my museum visit.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
In my making of places I will visit when going to Pittsburgh the Carnegie Museum had to make the list. With the many hours spent in the adjacent library and the museum itself there is really no way I could not make time when I visit. I am not sure if what seemed like ominous dinosaur skeletons are still there or not but either way it will be a walk down memory lane to go.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)