A ‘Whole Nother’ List of Things to Do

If you’re planning a student trip to Pittsburgh, there’s a ‘whole nother’ list of things to do. Arts, history, technology, sports and more will make your visit a standout. Oh- and you may want to brush up on your “Pittsburghese” before going!

Carrie Blast Furnaces

You can’t visit Pittsburgh without touching on its steel legacy. Rivers of Steel offers several tours of the Carrie Blast Furnaces, a remnant of the legendary U.S. Steel Works. The pre-WWII structure is a rare example of iron-making technology and the only one that still exists in the region. These guided tours are great for student groups and touch on all areas of S.T.E.A.M (past and present).

Monongahela Incline

Built in 1870, this city icon has been in nearly constant use since its construction. It was the first passenger funicular (that’s a ‘fun’ word!) railway in the United States and still transports passengers from Mount Washington down and back again. Students will love the ride and the spectacular view of the city from the top.

PNC Park

Kick off a tour of one of the most beautiful ball parks in America right beside 12 feet of bronzed Willie Stargell! Then go inside the 38,000 seat stadium for an inside look at the Buc’s home field. Wait until you get a look at the Pittsburgh skyline from the PNC Park stands – incredible!

Randyland

Then… there’s Randyland. Not far from PNC Park in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood of the city is a landmark building you can’t miss. Randyland defies description but can best be explained as artist Randy Gilson’s dream of art bringing happiness to his neighborhood brought to life in the most colorful of ways. It’s public art at its finest, with whimsy and curiosity thrown in for good measure. Get the selfie mode ready!

Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning

The University of Pittsburgh’s campus hallmark is the Cathedral of Learning. It’s the second tallest university building in the world at 42 stories and houses classrooms, labs, administrative space and even a studio theater.

Of particular note, though, are the Nationality Rooms. Between the first and third floors, there are 30 rooms designed to represent the many ethnic groups that settled in the region. Designated as “classrooms that teach,” these spaces encourage visitors to experience each unique culture. During the school year, they are used as university classrooms.

So Much for Students

Student groups are (finally) finding Pittsburgh and loving every minute of it. Its stunning performance venues, significant historical impact, reincarnation as a leader in technology and lasting sports legacy will have them coming back again and again.

We’ve just scratched the surface of this ‘whole nother’ list of things to do in Pittsburgh. If you’re feeling ‘nebby,’check out the official Visit Pittsburgh site for more amazing things to do  in this amazing city!

5 Things Yinz Have to Do in Pittsburgh