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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Congratulations, museum volunteers! 🎉
On Saturday, April 27, PTM hosted a day full of festivities to celebrate the accomplishments of our volunteer team. First, our shop volunteers gave a special behind-the-scenes of their work for Members Day, and then PTM volunteers, members, and staff gathered for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet. Many individuals received awards for their incredible contributions to the museum in 2023.
Check more photos from the events and see the full list of Volunteer Award recipients on our blog (link in bio.)
Thank you to our event sponsors, the Washington Auto Mall, and Angelo`s Restaurant, which provided a fantastic Italian dinner, and to the members of our community for their continued support.
Help us restore Pittsburgh Railways M1!
M1 is important to PTM as it was the first car purchased by our founders and is the oldest electric streetcar in our collection. M1 might possibly be the only pay trolley left in existence as well.
Thanks to our generous donors, our first dollar-for-dollar challenge met by GBU Life has been unlocked! Help us meet our second match from long-time member John Wilkins, who has has pledged to match up to $100,000 in donations made to restore M1. Your donation will have double the impact!
Please consider making a donation today to support the restoration of this trolley by visiting our homepage in bio.
This #MuseumMonday we’re spotlighting a “fun fact” about one of the streetcars in our collection:
Did you know that the fixture on the front of Pittsburgh Railways Co. 4145 is not a bike rack? While this is the #1 guess that we hear as people tour our collection, this apparatus was actually meant to “catch” or “scoop up” pedestrians who accidentally wandered in front of the moving car! #history #transit #trolley #streetcar #museum #pittsburgh
Tonight we wrapped up #NationalVolunteerWeek with our annual Members Day and Volunteer Awards Banquet!
Tonight’s dinner was all about the 170+ individuals who donated over 26,000 hours to the Pennsylvania #Trolley #Museum last year. You truly made our operations possible!
Thank you as well to Angelo’s Restaurant, who served up tonight’s delicious Italian dinner.
Stay tuned for more photos and a longer write-up on our blog about tonight’s event!
#ICYMI: Thanks to our youth volunteers, there is a “new” car in the Trolley Display Building! Philadelphia Suburban Transportation/SEPTA Snow Sweeper 04 recently underwent a cosmetic restoration that included new paint and the addition of decals, headlights, marker lights, and catchers. You’ll definitely want to drop by and appreciate this addition to the Display Building soon! #NationalVolunteerWeek #museum #transit #history #trolley #streetcar
Today, we`re highlighting our public-facing volunteers as part of #NationalVolunteerWeek!
PTM`s trolley operators treat our guests to a ride into the past along our two-mile track on some of the many restored trolleys in our collection. If operating a trolley isn`t your cup of tea but you enjoy interacting with the public, why not get involved in our museum store?
Learn more about volunteering at our website (link in bio)! #pennsylvaniatrolleymuseum #patrolleymuseum #pittsburgh #trolley #operator #washingtonpa #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!