Explore galleries, theatres, museums and more with FTF's guide to fine arts and fun attractions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Atop the junction of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, Pittsburgh -- like a stubborn, embattled prize fighter -- has refused to relinquish its strong culture and status as the largest inland port in America, despite its loss of the steel industry in the early 1980s. Starting with a thoughtful endowment of the city's fine arts by Henry Heinz in 1967 that blossomed into a financial growth that led The Wall Street Journal to rank Pittsburgh's "Roboburgh" region among the top 13 high-technology centers on the map, Pittsburgh has grown into an excellent family travel destination.

A Rich Cultural District

As a first-time visitor to Pittsburgh, I was pleasantly surprised by the dedication and generosity to the fine arts that arose from the financial slump of an old industry town. One of the greatest marks of this dedication is the 14-block Cultural District in the heart of the city's downtown area. The district is dominated by two old movie palaces from the days of vaudeville renovated into spectacular theater centers, Heinz Hall (412/392-4900), the current home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts (412/456-6666). Two smaller and more intimate additions to the district are the O'Reilly Theater (412/316-1600) and the Byham Theater (412/456-1350).

Those interested in viewing a college production by the renowned drama department at Carnegie Mellon University will be interested in the multi-million dollar Purnell Center for the Arts (412/268-2407 for tickets) which houses two new theaters, one of which holds 500 capacity and features a motorized orchestra pit. Film enthusiasts will appreciate the independent and foreign films screened at the nearby Harris Theater (412/682-4111). More mainstream audiences will enjoy the Loews Waterfront Theater (412/462-6923) which offers 22 theaters, stadium seating and a restaurant and full bar on the second floor.

The Cultural District is also full of sculpture and monuments to the visual arts. A gathering place for downtown sightseers, Agnes R. Katz Plaza boasts elegantly sculpted benches and an illuminated fountain by the sculptor Louise Bourgeouis. A nearby monument to the architectural history of Pittsburgh can be found in the towering pile of old terra-cotta building fragments, dubbed Palazzo Nudo by its Russian creator, Alexandr Brodsky. Just above the Wood Street subway station are the Wood Street Galleries (412/471-5605), where some of the edgiest art of contemporary national and international artists is exhibited.

Shining Son: Native Andy Warhol

On the North Side is one of the largest single-artist museums in the country, The Andy Warhol Museum (412/237-8300), devoted to exhibitions and recreations of the work Pittsburgh's most famous pop culture artist and one of the most unique figures to come out of the Pittsburgh area in the last century. Although some of Warhol's darker paintings and photographic exhibits may not be suitable for younger children, a slew of children were enjoying the "Silver Clouds" exhibit on the fourth floor during my visit, a room full of eerily suspended and floating chrome balloons that the children were free to touch and shove in different directions.

The nearby Mattress Factory (412/231-3169), in the historic Mexican War Streets district, is another stark example of Pittsburgh's singular artistic tradition, with mind-boggling room-size installation exhibits presented by artists who construct their work while living on the museum premises. The Silver Eye Center for Photography (412/431-1810) has four annual major exhibitions and monthly gallery rotations of new photographically produced artworks that will intrigue the photographers in the family. To the east, the famous Carnegie Museum of Art (412/622-3131) contains exhibits of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and 19th Century American art.

Pittsburgh's large investiture in the arts has indeed contributed to its bloom into a successful, modern waterfront city; it has also helped shape the city into a very kid-friendly destination. An environmental group, Zero Population Growth, recently rated Pittsburgh as the sixth best city in the nation to raise a child, in part because of the various educational facilities for children spread throughout the city area.

Educational & Kid-Friendly Attractions

The city boasts an impressive threesome of educational yet entertaining cultural centers for kids. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History (412/622-3131) offers children the third-largest repository of dinosaur fossils in the world. The Pittsburgh Zoo (412/665-3640) was rated by FamilyFun Magazine as the 3rd best zoo in the United States, and that was before its $17.4 million aquarium was completed.  Last but not least, the Pittsburgh Children's Museum (412/322-5058) has also completed an expansion and renovation which cost more than half a million dollars.

Fun learning opportunities seem to continue without end. The Carnegie Science Center (412/237-3400) contains interactive planetariums and a breathtaking four-story OMNIMAX Theater.

Nearby on the north side, the National Aviary (412/323-7235) helps kids learn of their feathered friends through interactive graphics and a collection of more than 500 rare birds. The new $1.7 million African Penguin Exhibit, encompasses 2,300 square feet and opens on May 23, 2009. Penguin Point invites visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the African penguins as they swim, play, nest, and scale rocks. The exhibit also features wheel chair accessibility, providing a Kids ViewTube, which shows underwater views and allows kids to pop up in between the penguins in domed bubbles. The exhibit is home to Stanley, Simon, Patrick, Elvis, and Sidney, but will be adding 10 more penguins to the new space. In addition to the penguin exhibit, the National Aviary will be opening 10 new exhibits as part of their $23 million expansion, which will include a FliteZone for indoor bird shows, a green roof for raptor flight demonstrations, a café and new classrooms.

The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (412/622-6914) teaches kids about trees and plants and contains a special children's Discovery Table and also in Oakland, the Nationality Classrooms (412/624-6000) located in the Cathedral of Learning represent for children the diverse ethnic heritages of the Pittsburgh area.

Fun For The Whole Family

When the kids are having one of those days when they just don't want to have "educational" fun, there is always the National Historic Landmark Kennywood Park (412/461-0500), which The New York Times voted the "Coaster Capital of the World." Also two waterparks, Sandcastle Waterpark (412/462-6666) and Idlewild (724/238-3666) provide family fun destinations where the whole family can find something to "wet" their appetite for outdoor fun on a summer afternoon.

But the potential for outdoor fun for families visiting Pittsburgh reaches far beyond the domain of its acclaimed amusement parks. Families wishing to splash through the local rivers can take the WWII "swimming truck" offered by Just Ducky Tours (412/402-DUCK) that starts at Station Square and provides a thorough tour of downtown Pittsburgh, splashing through whatever watery obstacles stand in the way. An incline ride is available up to the viewing decks perched atop Mount Washington, which provides one of the most splendid elevated views of the city, try Duquesne Incline (412/381-1665) or Monongahela Incline (412/442-2000) if you'd rather not walk or drive it.

For a day of shopping and an excellent sampling of city culture, the family will enjoy a walk through the Strip District. The downtown Point State Park (412/471-0235) offers 36-acres at the meeting point of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers for pleasant walks and historic sights. Also known as "The Prize" of a key battle during the French and Indian War as the former site of Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt, families may visit the Fort Pitt Blockhouse, the last surviving building from the original fort, while enjoying an afternoon stroll.

Then & Now: Commitment to Nurture

It is from the former British Prime Minister William Pitt that Pittsburgh received its name. After the colonial general John Forbes captured the French Fort Duquesne in 1758, he felt indebted to name their conquered territory after Pitt, who had given the colonists sufficient courage and support to contest the French legions. In Forbes' own words, Pitt had enabled them to become "masters of the place."

Pittsburgh natives have continually shown themselves to be "masters of the place;" despite severe economic slumps the people of Pittsburgh have managed to maintain an enthusiasm for their fine arts and a dedication to raising their youth in a creative and nurturing environment that acknowledges the importance of the region's history and also thoughtfully projects toward the future.

Pittsburgh Travel Tips

The Pittsburgh area also has great centers for kids to socialize, learn and play. A few good ones are The Center for Creative Play (412/371-1668) and Fun Fore All (724/779-2270).

Some attractions the kids may not want to miss are the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall/Museum (412/621-4253) and the Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum (304/242-8133).

For family dining in the area try Eat'n Park Restaurants (412/461-2000), Kings Family Restaurants (412/751-9005), Hoss's Steak and Sea House, or the Houlihan's Restaurant on the South Side (412/232-0302).

For summer and holiday season travel specials, plus more information on great activities for all ages, call 800/359-0758 or check out www.visitpittsburgh.com.

One final note, during your visit be on the lookout for the locally renowned dialect of Pittsburgh's long-time residents, known as Yinzers. The dialect is known by the speaker using the expression "Yinz" just as a Southerner uses "Y'all" (i.e. "Are Yinz goin' downtown?").

- Susan Finch