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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Today’s post celebrates both Women’s History Month and local history alike!
When the United States joined the fight during World War II, transit companies across the nation needed to replace the motormen who entered the armed forces. The result was the “motorettes” - women who served as operators and (dependent on the type of streetcars being run) conductors.
Pittsburgh Railways was no exception; they also hired motorettes, including Anna Nixon. She qualified to operate at the Glenwood Car Barn on February 17, 1945; and she worked with the company until 1958.
Today her uniform is on display in our Welcome & Education Center. We hope you’ll visit and see it for yourself during this #WomensHistoryMonth! #VisitWashingtonPA #history #pittsburgh #museum
#ICYMI: The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum will be closed to the public this Saturday - March 7th - as we host a private event.
We will still be open during our regular hours this Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (March 5th, 6th, and 8th).
Thank you for your understanding! #VisitWashingtonPA
Today, to start off #WomensHistoryMonth, we’re recognizing the women of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum who work every day to preserve the history of the Trolley Era.
From restoration and maintenance to education and guest services, their skills and dedication keep our mission on track; and they ensure that stories and artifacts from the Trolley Era are preserved and shared with our community. Thank you for the work you do, everyone! #museum #trolley #streetcar #history
Join us at Bunny Trolley on March 27-29 and April 3-4! 🐰🌼
Meet the Easter Bunny, pet rabbits with 4-H, go for a trolley ride and search for giant easter eggs, and enjoy a springtime snack and craft. Also, get your face painted at no extra cost by @facepaintpittsburgh!
Get your tickets today on our website (link in bio).
#PATrolleyMuseum #ThingsToDoPittsburgh #VisitWashingtonPA
Did you know that we have nine PCCs in our collection? Today’s #MuseumMonday is about the first one we ever acquired: Pittsburgh Railways Co. 1138. This is a very early example of a PCC streetcar – one of 201 delivered to Pittsburgh Railways in the first two years of production. Since coming to us in 1961, this car has been restored (functionally and/or cosmetically) three times, and it’s currently part of our operating fleet! #museum #trolley #streetcar #transit
As we approach the end of #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to highlight a memorial that honors one of the many activists who left their mark in transit history.
If you visit Philadelphia City Hall, you will find a bronze statue by Branly Cadet. Commissioned by the Octavius V. Catto Memorial Fund, “A Quest for Parity: The Octavius V. Catto Memorial” stands in honor of one of the most influential African American leaders in 19th century Philadelphia.
Octavius V. Catto advocated for equal rights for all, and he worked to desegregate Philadelphia’s public transit (among many other things!). 90 years before Rosa Parks took her stand, Catto sat in a local passenger car and refused to leave it. His action drew a crowd of sympathetic onlookers; and he went on to work with political leaders in support of a state bill that prohibited segregation on transit systems in Pennsylvania.
The fight for equality would continue for decades to come; but today, we can look back and thank past activists like Catto for their incredible work. #transit #trolley #streetcar #history
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!