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
Follow us to stay up-to-date on museum news!
It takes a team to keep the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum on track…well actually, it takes several teams!
Our Mobile Equipment team maintains and repairs essential machinery, including forklifts and cranes.
Our Way & Track volunteers ensure our line is safe and operational by both maintaining our existing line and assisting with the construction of new track when it needs replacing.
Finally, our Power & Signal volunteers keep operations moving by maintaining overhead wires and signal systems. Our Trolley Display Building, Fairgrounds siding and platform improvements, and more were all made possible by our Power & Signal team.
These “behind-the-scenes” volunteers all work together to keep our fleet moving, ensuring that our visitors enjoy their 4-mile round-trip trolley ride through Washington!
Interested in joining one of these crews as a volunteer? Learn how you can do just that at our website! #NationalVolunteerMonth
Who`s excited for Free Kid May? 🎉
Kids 0-17 can go for trolley rides, explore our exhibits, enjoy our playground, and more- all for free! Thank you to our sponsor, the @dollar.bank Foundation, for making this possible!
We`re open from 10 AM to 4 PM on Thursday-Sunday, and also on Memorial Day!
#PATrolleyMuseum #VisitWashingtonPA #ThingsToDoPittsburgh
Happy National Volunteer Week! ⭐
Yesterday, we celebrated our volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Our team volunteered for more than 31,000 hours last year! We’re so grateful for everything they do to keep the Trolley Era alive.
Check out these photos of our award winners and read more about them on our blog (link in bio).
#PATrolleyMuseum #MuseumVolunteers
Did you know that we have nine PCCs in our collection? While the majority are from Pittsburgh, today’s #MuseumMonday is about Philadelphia Transportation Company 2711.
The Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) once had a large fleet of PCC streamliners. 2711 represents one of the “newer” ones, as it was built in 1947. It was originally built for service on the busy 23-Germantown Avenue line (and so the car came equipped for 2-man operation).
The 2700s continued in service into the SEPTA years, and we did not acquire it until it was finally available in 1999. It’s perhaps the most heavily modified car in our collection, as it has been made wheelchair accessible for service here at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. #transit #trolley #streetcar #museum
We`ve been nominated for BEST Museum and BEST Place for Kids by @pittsburghmagazine! Please vote daily and spread the word! Check the link in bio to vote now!
If you’ve ever wanted to work in our Restoration Shop, consider joining us as a Maintenance & Restoration volunteer!
Routine maintenance keeps our historic trolley cars safe, functional, and looking their best. From interior repairs to electrical work, a number of hands-on tasks are essential for preserving and caring for our operating fleet.
Restoration work, on the other hand, helps return the cars in our collection to “like new” condition, and also creates a new (often moving!) historical exhibit for visitors to enjoy and learn from.
Learn how you can join our volunteer team at our website (link’s in our bio)! #NationalVolunteerMonth #museum #history #trolley #streetcar
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!