History That Connects Us
A day at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museums is a full sensory experience, from the ring of the bell to the hum and shake of the trolley as it rides down the tracks. Our Museum brings a unique experience to visitors of all generations, connecting us all to the past. From the moment they arrive, our visitors enter a world of timeless memories, historic innovations, and interactive discoveries.
@patrolleymuseum
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š Summer is here! Still trying to make plans for summer vacation? We still have a few spots left in our Lego Engineering Camp from June 15 - 19th for ages 9 - 12. Create a mini golf course, build a working claw hand, and then finish the week by building sets, props, and characters entirely out of LEGOsĀ® to create a stop motion movie masterpiece! Check out the link in the comments for more info and to register!
Quick: what comes to mind if we bring up amusement parks? A local staple in the Steel City is Kennywood; but you might have also thought of Knoebels. Todayās #MuseumMonday post highlights our own connection to Knoebels: Shamokin & Mount Carmel 33.
This 1906 semi-convertible streetcar was built by J.G. Brill for the Shamokin & Mt Carmel Electric Railway Co., and served the anthracite coal communities in Northumberland County.
When its service was no longer needed, the car avoided being scrapped by being repurposed - in 1938, it became a cottage at Knoebels Amusement Resort (formerly Knoebels Groves).
This car came to us from Knoebels in 2023, and while it is currently not on display, it is safely stored indoors awaiting future work. #museum #history #transit
āļøVisit us this summer! āļø
Weāll be open Thursday - Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Stop by and enjoy a four-mile round trip along our scenic track, discover our trolley collection, and explore our interactive exhibits and playground!
The last full experience begins at 3 PM.
Also, check out our upcoming special events on our website (link in bio).
#PATrolleyMuseum #VisitWashingtonPA
FREE ADMISSION for kids 0-17 at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum during May, today through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, and experience the wonder of the trolley era. Thank you @dollar.bank Foundation for your great impact on the community!
Itās starting to feel like summer, so todayās #ThrowbackThursday is all about one of Pittsburghās favorite summer hangouts - and its connection to transit history.
@kennywoodpark is a well known amusement park today, but it was originally a trolley park! In 1898, the land was leased to theĀ Monongahela Street Railway Company; and they began to build picnic areas and attractions for their riders to enjoy at the end of their trolley line. (The location was intentional - the goal of any trolley park was to encourage people to climb aboard during non-working hours, rather than stay home or walk to a nearby business.)
Kennywood didnāt stay a trolley park for long - by 1906 it was sold to businessmen with no ties to any transit companies. But for over 50 years, families could still ride a trolley to Kennywood. Streetcar service to the park came to an end after the 1958 summer operating season.
šø: This photo shows streetcar riders at the then-new Kennywood Park, circa 1900.
#history #pittsburgh #trolley #streetcar
Grab your calendars and start saving the date(s) for the Pennsylvania Trolley Museumās summer special events! Hereās a peak at what we have coming up:
š Trolleys in Space on June 20
š West Penn Trolley Meet on June 26 and 27
š» Anything on Wheels on June 27 and 28
š” Park ānā Ride to the Fair to the Washington County Fair (plus $5 admission to the Trolley Museum itself!) from August 15 through August 22
š Dog Days of Summer on August 29
Check our website (linkās in our bio) to learn more about these events, as well as to find details about Scout workshops, summer camps, and other seasonal activities and programming! #VisitWashingtonPA #pittsburgh
Education
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum provides unique, exciting, and fun educational opportunities for students, educators, and life-long learners! Our museum is dedicated to sharing stories, insight, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) themed opportunities and experiences that will bring the trolley era to life. Check out our Education page to learn about field trip opportunities, Scout workshops, summer camps, and more!
History
Take a ride into the past at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum where the trolley era is alive and well. The Museum uses daily tours, interactive exhibits, multidimensional programming, and special events throughout the year to transport visitors back in time. Our history and STEAM exhibits tell the stories of the people, places, and things that made the trolley era such an exciting and unique time to be alive!
Collection
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is focused on preserving and restoring our collection of antique streetcars. The Museum was founded in 1953 and has continued to conserve, preserve, and restore cars through a mostly volunteer effort. Today, we house a collection of 50 streetcars, many of which are operational and used for daily rides. Visit our Collection page to learn more about all of our different trolleys!