Pittsburgh - A City
Reinvented
Museums
Pittsburgh
boasts an impressive
collection of museums. The
Mattress Factory allows
visitors to walk through
room-sized installations
created by artists from
around the world. The Frick
Art and Historical Center
features a Car and Carriage
Museum as well as a
Greenhouse. Sports buffs
will enjoy the Heinz Sports
Hall of Fame and the
Clemente Museum, while the
Nationality Rooms at the
University of Pittsburgh
offer a unique cultural
experience.
Perhaps the most recognized
of the Pittsburgh museums is
the Carnegie. Made up of
four separate facilities –
The Museum of Art, the
Museum of Natural History,
the Science Center, and the
Andy Warhol Museum – the
Carnegie Museums are home to
thousands of exhibitions
ranging from the iconic
Campbell’s soup can to the
world’s largest prehistoric
creatures. Symposium
attendees will have the
opportunity to visit the
Carnegie during the Friday
night cocktail reception.
Family Fun
To ensure that the kids have
as much fun as the adults
during their visit,
Pittsburgh offers
family-focused venues and
activities including the
Children’s Museum of
Pittsburgh, The McDonald’s
Big Mac Museum Restaurant,
the historic Kennywood
amusement park, and the
Idlewild & SoakZone, which
was voted the #2 Best Kid’s
Park in the World.
If
the thought of Pittsburgh
brings to mind images of
sooty factories churning out
steel and glass, you’re in
for a pleasant surprise. No
longer the industrial city
of its past, Pittsburgh has
reclaimed its natural and
historic assets,
highlighting the striking
contrasts that make it
unique.
Located where the confluence
of the Allegheny and
Monongahela Rivers form the
Ohio River, Pittsburgh is
banked on all sides by green
hills. National Geographic
Traveler describes the
city’s natural setting as
“one that rivals Lisbon and
San Francisco,” and the
spectacular view from Mount
Washington - accessible by
riding the Duquesne or
Monongahela Inclines - was
named one of the Top 10 Most
Beautiful Places in America
by USA Today Weekend
Magazine.
Complementing Pittsburgh’s
natural beauty is its unique
architecture. The Pittsburgh
skyline boasts a range of
architectural styles - from
the historic Allegheny
County Courthouse with its
Romanesque details and
rustic granite to the sleek
and modern U.S. Steel Tower,
the tallest building in the
city.
Wondering what there is to
do in Pittsburgh? Read on!
Attractions
Downtown
Pittsburgh offers a range of
attractions within easy
commuting distance of the
Westin Convention Center.
The Phipps Conservatory and
Botanical Gardens, a steel
and glass Victorian
greenhouse built in 1893, is
best known for its seasonal
flower shows and recently
gained national recognition
for hosting the opening
reception for the Pittsburgh
G-20 Summit. The Pittsburgh
Zoo and PPG Aquarium offer
another way to interact with
nature: The zoo features a
big cat habitat safari,
while at the aquarium you
can watch polar bears and
otters frolicking
underwater.
Other nearby attractions
include the National Aviary,
the Rivers Casino, and the
Gateway Clipper Fleet.
Shopping and Nightlife
Located
three blocks from the Westin
Hotel, the Strip District
covers a one-half square
mile area. During the day,
open-air markets offer
shoppers fresh fish, meat,
produce, ethnic foods and
souvenirs. At night, you can
enjoy some of the city’s
trendiest clubs and
restaurants, all housed in
reclaimed industrial and
warehouse spaces.
Additional dining and
entertainment options can be
found at the historic
Station Square complex, the
upscale Waterfront
development, and the
Southside Works.
Performing Arts
Pittsburgh’s wealth of
performing arts venues
includes the Benedum Center,
a restored historic theater
that hosts concerts,
Broadway productions, and a
variety of regional,
national and international
arts groups. The Byham
Theater provides a more
intimate setting for smaller
and mid-size performing arts
groups. Heinz Hall – yes,
it’s named for the creator
of the ketchup! – is an
elegantly restored concert
hall and is home to the
Pittsburgh Symphony.
For dance lovers, the
Pittsburgh Ballet Theater
and the Dance Alloy Theatre
feature local dance troupes
while the Pittsburgh Dance
Council brings in the finest
contemporary dance companies
from around the world.
Rounding out its performing
arts category are
Pittsburgh’s range of
musical offerings, including
the Pittsburgh Banjo Club,
the BNY Mellon Presents
JazzLive, and the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra.
For more information on
Pittsburgh’s rich history
and its many attractions, go
to
www.visitpittsburgh.com
For more information:
Carnegie Museums
www.carnegiemuseums.org
Westin Convention Center
www.westinpittsburgh.com
