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!
This #MuseumMonday, we’re highlighting one of the operational streetcars you might ride during a visit to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum: New Orleans Public Service 832.
Visitors and supporters frequently ask how and why our museum acquired this particular streetcar. The answer is that in December 1947, car 832 was featured in a Life Magazine article (when Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire” debuted on Broadway). Three years later, another magazine article identified 832 as the car regularly assigned to operation on the Desire line. With these facts in mind, our founders and first wave of volunteers grew interested in bringing car 832 to our museum; and they did just that in 1964.
Today, car 832 continues on in the same way as its sister cars still operating in New Orleans. Their fame makes 832 an even more valuable piece of history, which we are very proud to be able to display and operate! #VisitWashingtonPA #trolley #streetcar #museum
Week One of STEAM Summer Camp is in the books - what a great week of Lego Camp! Don’t miss out on the summer of a lifetime for your kids - book a week of camp at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum! Visit our website for information.
Trolleys, trucks, tractors, and more await you at Anything on Wheels on June 27-28! Get up close with vehicles of all kinds and see our trolley parades.
Also that weekend (on Friday, 6/26 and Saturday, 6/27) is the West Penn Trolley Meet! Check out our rail-themed vendors and visiting model railway layouts.
Both events are included with General Admission, which means they`re free for Members! Learn more (or register your vehicle) on our website (link in bio).
#PATrolleyMuseum #VisitWashingtonPA #ThingsToDoPittsburgh
#OnThisDay - June 11, 1960 - streetcars ran in Johnstown for the last time. Johnstown was one of the last small cities to abandon trolley service in the United States. It was also the smallest city to acquire a fleet of PCC cars.
Many of the 1920s-era cars went directly to museums; Johnstown Traction Company 350 is currently on static display at our museum, and 311 and 355 are operational at the @rockhill_trolley_museum. However, none of the 17 PCCs were saved.
📸 Thank you to our friends at Rockhill for sharing these photos from the last days of #streetcar service in #Johnstown! #history
Governor Shapiro gave us a shoutout at the American Alliance of Museums Conference. We agree with his recommendation!
We`d love to return the favor with a trolley ride.
@governorshapiro, consider this your official invitation for you and your family to come see what makes the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum so special - we`ve got a seat waiting for you! 🚎
Today’s #MuseumMonday spotlight is about (arguably) the best trolley to ride during the summer: Rio de Janeiro 1758!
Open trolley rides were once advertised as the perfect way to cool off in the summer. But as safety became more of an issue, open trolleys disappeared in most American cities in the late 1920s.
In Rio de Janiero, however, these cars continued running into the 1960s; and 1758 was saved when a dozen of them were brought to the United States by a group of trolley museums. It is the same Brill Narragansett design as the open cars operated by West Penn Railways in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties (although the West Penn open cars were wider and longer).
Today 1758 is one of the most beloved trolleys in our collection, and it continues to help its riders cool off on hot summer days (and sometimes on warm evenings, too!). #transit #trolley #streetcar #VisitWashingtonPA
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!