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 #ThrowbackThursday shot is from Sunday, June 6th, 1954 - the day that one last rail trip (by the MPRA Club) ran to West Chester, PA.
While the West Chester line had helped to stimulate growth in the region, ultimately West Chester Pike was widened in 1954; at that point, trolley service ended and was replaced by buses.
Note that the photo shows a two-car “MU” train led by Red Arrow Lines 24 - a car that is preserved right here at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
📷 Source: The Trolley Dodger
#history #trolley #streetcar #philadelphia
Last week, some of our Pennsylvania Trolley Museum staff and volunteers traveled to the Heritage Rail Alliance conference in York, PA. Not only did we visit several different rail museums and railroads, but we also attended seminars and networked with peers and colleagues across the railway preservation industry.
PTM received the 2026 Significant Achievement Award in Traction for the restoration of The Terrible Trolley!
Special thanks to the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, Rockhill Trolley Museum, National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation, Strasburg Rail Road, East Broad Top Railroad, York County History Center, and Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society for hosting us! The whole week left us inspired with lots of ideas to bring home to Washington, PA!
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum will be offering sensory friendly visiting hours this Sunday (November 15th) from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
During select times monthly, we give visitors the chance to explore the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in a sensory modified setting. This includes the use of quieter streetcars, lowered exhibit sounds, and soft lighting.
Advanced registration is not required for this event. Tickets will be available at our regular admission prices.
Learn more about the resources available during these hours at our website (link’s in our bio) under the Events tab. #VisitWashingtonPA #museum #SensoryFriendly
Jolly old Saint Nicholas is on his way to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum!
Santa will land in Washington in just over two weeks, and you can meet with him during our annual Santa Trolley ride. Here’s what’s included with your special event ticket this holiday season:
🎅 You’ll have the chance to meet and chat with Santa Claus during a four-mile long trolley ride.
📸 Visitors and families will get to take a picture with Santa at our decorated Fairgrounds platform.
🚂 After your adventure, you’ll be able to explore our interactive exhibits, see our holiday train displays, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies!
This event is very popular, so we recommend purchasing tickets in advance to guarantee your spot for a specific ride time.
Learn more and make your purchase at our website (link’s in our bio!) under the “Events” tab! #VisitWashingtonPA #Santa #SantaClausIsComingToTown
Today’s #MuseumMonday spotlight isn’t about an item in our collection, but instead is about a Pennsylvania Trolley Museum program that you can enjoy from home: Trolleyology!
Since 2020, we have regularly hosted virtual presentations highlighting a mixture of Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales from our own collection. Thanks to the power of virtual tools and recordings, this program lets you experience the Trolley Era from home!
Interested in seeing what has been presented previously? Learn more at our website (link’s in our bio) at our “Trolleyology” page (located under the Research tab in our website’s main menu).
We’re also looking for future programs related to the Trolley Era, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. If you have an idea for a presentation, use the contact information on our Trolleyology page to discuss your topic! #history #museum #streetcar #trolley
#ThrowbackThursday: To the days when PCCs were still part of the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) operating fleet. This particular photo shows “The Spirit of 1776” running past the Hillcrest stop.
PAT PCC 1776 originally debuted as “The Spirit of 1776” in 1973 to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial. It operated in this patriotic paint scheme for years, until a collision in 1982 forced PAT to scrap the car.
While this particular PCC no longer survives, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum visitors can currently see a similar (non-operational) car wearing the paint scheme on display during their visit. #history #trolley #streetcar #pittsburgh
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!