Community Gems
Hidden-Gem Museums in the City
Pittsburgh is known for its world-class museums — Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History , The Andy Warhol Museum , August Wilson Center , Mattress Factory , Children ’ s Museum , Carnegie Science Center , Frick Art and Historical Center , Cathedral of Learning , Fort Pitt Museum , Clemente Museum , Senator John Heinz History Center and many more — but here are nine hidden and not-sohidden gems that make our city ’ s museum scene extra special !
American Jewish Museum 5738 Forbes Ave ., Pittsburgh ( Squirrel Hill ) 412.521.8010 , jccpgh . org
Bicycle Heaven 1800 Preble and Columbus Ave ., Pittsburgh ( North Side ) 412.734.4034 , bicycleheaven . org
Johnny Angel ’ s Ginchy Stuff Museum 1800 Preble Ave ., Pittsburgh ( North Side ) 412.322.1830 , jaginchystuff . com
Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology 616 N . Highland Ave ., Pittsburgh ( East Liberty ) 412.362.5610 , pts . edu / Museum
La Hütte Royal 1812 Rialto St ., Pittsburgh ( Troy Hill ) troyhillarthouses . com
Old Allegheny County Jail Museum , Family Services Court 440 Ross St ., Downtown Pittsburgh 412.471.5808 ( for PHLF tours ), alleghenycounty . us / jail / about / old-county-jail . aspx
Photo Antiquities Museum 531 E . Ohio St ., Pittsburgh ( North Side ) 412.231.7881 , photoantiquities . org
Saint Anthony Chapel 1704 Harpster St ., Pittsburgh ( Troy Hill ) 412.999.4401 , pghshrines . org / about-stanthony-chapel
Soldiers & Sailors Museum 4141 5th Ave ., Pittsburgh ( Oakland ) soldiersandsailorshall . org
The Civil War Room Andrew Carnegie Free Library , 300 Beechwood Avenue , Carnegie 412.276.3456 , carnegiecarnegie . org
The Thomas Espy Post No . 153 ( called the Civil War Room ) contains Civil War uniforms , weapons and drums , all of which saw action on the battlefield . It also has a host of documents and photos . The room itself is quite historic , since it ’ s the last surviving post of the Civil War veterans organization known as The Grand Army of the Republic . The post was set up at the library in 1909 , and there it has remained — a frozen capsule of this pivotal time in our history .
Coventry Log Cabin Robin Hill Park , 949 Thorn Run Road , Coraopolis 412.262.1703 , moonparks . org
This historic cabin was built in 1825 and was the home of John Coventry , a Revolutionary War veteran . His family lived in the cabin for 50 years , then it was passed to another family and remained inhabited until 1975 . It has been meticulously restored , log by log , to its original condition and includes period furniture .
The Dean Martin Room of the Jefferson County Historical Association Museum 426 Franklin Avenue , Steubenville , Ohio 740.283.1133 , jeffcountyhistorical . org
Dean Martin was a household name to all of America , but to Steubenville residents he was Dino Crocetti , the son of Gaetano , the barber . This museum room has a variety of memorabilia , including record albums , photos of the Rat Pack , videos of “ The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast ” shows , a wedding gown made by his mother , Angela , who was a seamstress , and many other personal items of the legendary crooner .
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum 654 Sherwood Avenue , Sheraden 412.458.1355 , karpeles . com
This library museum has rotating exhibits of well over 1 million manuscripts ! Among them are the Constitutions of the 13 original colonies of the United States , the first printing of The Ten Commandments from the Gutenberg Bible ( 1450 ), and Handel ’ s “ Messiah ,” written in Ludwig Van Beethoven ’ s own hand , which shows his great admiration of the composer . The museum also houses a notable collection of art from classic book illustrations and coins from ancient times through the 20th century . A special note for teachers : The Karpeles provides educational programs and lectures for schools at all levels .
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