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.
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This #BlackHistoryMonth, we reflect on how the fight for civil rights has long been connected to the history of public transportation in America.
When the Montgomery bus boycott began in December 5, 1955, Civil Rights leaders unknowingly revived a decades old protest. During the bus boycott, protesters would be arrested for violating laws originally created in 1903 to suppress streetcar boycotts in Montgomery. Even well-known historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks were charged with breaking these laws, although they were not aware of the history behind them.
The original laws prohibited boycotting, picketing, and other interferences with lawful businesses; and also prohibited the distribution of notices of boycotts, leaflets, and even stickers and buttons. Black newspapers also could not publish news about the protests.
Though separated by more than fifty years, the protests against Montgomery’s streetcars and buses were part of the same long struggle. Understanding the earlier streetcar boycotts adds important context to the better known bus boycott, and underscores the long relationship between transit systems and civil rights in America.
Photo 1: Photo of the interior of a segregated Birmingham streetcar in Alabama. Courtesy of the Birmingham Public Library Archives.
Photo 2: Rosa Parks being fingerprinted on February 22, 1956, as one of the people indicted as leaders of the Montgomery bus boycott. She was one of 73 people rounded up by deputies that day after a grand jury charged 113 African Americans for organizing the boycott.
#streetcar #trolley #transit #history
Teddy Bears love the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum! 🧸
Bring your favorite stuffie and wear your PJs at Teddy Bear Trolley this weekend (Feb. 14 & 15)! ❤️
Enjoy a scavenger hunt and story time and snag a picture of you and your stuffie in the operator’s seat! And, because it’s Free Kid February, admission is free for kids ages 0-17.
Finally, don’t forget to purchase a sweet treat from our visiting coffee truck @sipandfroth. ☕️
#PATrolleyMuseum #VisitWashingtonPA #ThingsToDoPittsburgh
February 21: Operate a trolley and go behind-the-scenes at our Volunteer Open House! Also, meet our volunteers and sign up to help with restoration, archives, special events, operation, and more!
Register for this free event on our website (link in bio). Families are welcome!
#PATrolleyMuseum #ThingsToDoPittsburgh #VisitWashingtonPA #MuseumVolunteers
Today for #MuseumMonday, we’re highlighting a piece of PTM history as well as the ongoing work happening in our Archives.
During an Archives work session, PTM volunteer Dennis Cramer found a VHS tape of Mac McGrew’s “Three to Arden”. This short film features footage from February 7, 1954 - the day our first three cars made the trip to their new home in Washington County. Dennis then digitized the footage, allowing us to now share video taken on our official founding date! #VisitWashingtonPA #streetcar #trolley #history
LAST CHANCE to vote for Pennsylvania Trolley Museum to earn USA TODAY 10Best Best Small Town Museum! We are so excited to be nominated, and ask you to vote ONE LAST TIME at the link in bio.
Thank you so much for your support!
Vote once per day, per category, per person until Monday, February 9 at 11:59AM EST. The top 10, as ranked by USA TODAY 10BEST readers, will be announced on Wednesday, February 18th.
JUST ONE DAY LEFT to vote for Pennsylvania Trolley Museum to earn USA TODAY @10best Best Small Town Museum! We are so honored to be nominated, and ask you to vote at the link in our bio.
Thank you for your incredible support!
Vote once per day, per category, per person until Monday, February 9 at 11:59AM EST. The top 10, as ranked by USA TODAY 10BEST readers, will be announced on Wednesday, February 18th.
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!