Summer Sensory Friendly Hours
2025-06-17 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-29 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-19 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Summer is here, and with it we’ve added additional times and dates to our Sensory Friendly Hour offerings. Explore the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in a sensory modified setting with 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.

Adults: $20
Seniors (ages 62+): $19
Children (ages 3-18): $15
Toddler (ages 2 and under): Free
Members: Free

Summer Dates:

Tuesday, June 17
Tuesday, July 29
Tuesday, August 19

Available Resources
In addition, silicone bracelets will be made available in both adult and child sizes to assist with non-verbal communication, particularly for individuals who have autism, sensory processing difficulties, or anxiety. The wristbands are designed to provide a visual indicator of comfort levels and engagement preferences.

Red bracelets indicate that the wearer may be feeling overwhelmed or anxious and does not wish to engage in any conversation. They may wish to explore the museum at their own pace.
Yellow bracelets indicate that the wearer may feel uncertain about interactions. They may prefer limited engagement while navigating the museum at their own pace.
Green bracelets indicate that the wearer is comfortable and open to interaction with others.

Furthermore, guests will have access to complimentary Sensory Bags. These bags, which may be requested at the front desk located in the museum store, include noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, sensory items, and a sensory guide. A valid photo ID will be required for the loan, which will be held by the museum until the sensory bag is returned.

With the help of the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, PTM is pleased to provide Sensory Guides that can be used to help offer insight to guests on the sensory stimulation of different parts of the museum. These include touch, taste, sound, sight, and smell. This guide is available online. Physical copies are also available at the museum.

Questions about this event? Please call 724-228-9256 or email visitorservices@patrolley.org

Trolley Tots
2025-06-19 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-07-17 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-08-21 10:30 - 11:30 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
Join us the third Thursday of each month for Trolley Tots! Trolley Tots is designed for early learners (children ages 2-5) and one accompanying adult to discover different types of transportation through sensory play, stories, crafts, music, and getting up-close with the vehicle of the month! Space is limited, so advance purchase is recommended! Children must be accompanied by an adult – for field trip programs for preschool classes and other ages, click here!
Tickets
Tickets include access to the Trolley Tots program and same-day admission to the museum.

$25 for one child + one adult helper for non-members
$5 for one child + one adult helper for members
$10 for additional children in the same family group
$10 for additional adults in the same family group

Register here!
2025 Schedule
Programs begin promptly at 10:30 am and wrap up around 11:30 am. Please allow additional time for check-in and bathroom or snack breaks before we begin!
January 16: Snow plows
February 20: Safety vehicles (fire trucks and police cars)
March 20: Bicycles, motorcycles, and 2-wheeled vehicles
April 17: Tractors and farm equipment
May 15: Rockets
June 19: Boats and water vehicles
July 17: Ice cream truck
August 21: School bus
September 18: Automobiles
October 16: Cherry pickers and bucket trucks
November 20: Construction vehicles
December 18: Trains and toy trains
Vehicles subject to change.

Trolleyology: A Feast of Deck Roof Cars
2025-06-19 19:00 - 20:00 | PA
Join PTM staff, volunteers, and members for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

A Feast of Deck Roof Cars
June 19, 2025 – 7 PM ET – Presented by Dr. Rich Allman

REGISTER HERE

Dr. Rich Allman will present “A Feast of Deck Roof Cars,” including black and white photos from Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, West Chester, Philadelphia Rapid Transit, Fairmount Park, Hershey, York, Wilkes Barre, Conestoga, Pittsburgh and Lehigh Valley), as well as photos from Baltimore, Boston, Washington, Brooklyn, Third Avenue and Public Service, plus rapid transit cars in Boston, Chicago, the BMT and Staten Island Rapid Transit.
Rich Allman is a member of several rail organizations, including the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (#1003) and the East Penn Traction Club which he joined in 1984 and served as president from 1989-1991 and 2001-2003. His traction interests include historical and modern light rail operations worldwide, preservation, collecting photographs, and HO scale traction modeling. Rich is a physician in clinical practice and education, having served on the clinical faculty of Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia since 1992, and was associate director of the residency program in internal medicine. He was medical staff president from 2006-2009 and again from 2015-2016. Rich is currently the lead consultant in clinical ethics at Einstein and also oversees residents in internal medicine in their outpatient experience. Rich is an associate professor of medicine at the Sidney Kimmel School of Medicine of Thomas Jefferson University.

This program will be recorded and available at a later date on the PTM YouTube channel.

Trolleyology presentations will continue on a regular or semi-regular basis. Interested in presenting? Email Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org! We’re specifically looking for programs related to the Trolley Era in general, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. Please join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other PTM news!
*For the best experience, we recommend downloading Zoom in advance.
NOTE: This is a virtual event

Sensory Friendly Hours
2025-06-22 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-20 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-24 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-09-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
Explore the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in a sensory modified setting with 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.

Adults: $20
Seniors (ages 62+): $19
Children (ages 3-18): $15
Toddler (ages 2 and under): Free
Members: Free

Available Resources
In addition, silicone bracelets will be made available in both adult and child sizes to assist with non-verbal communication, particularly for individuals who have autism, sensory processing difficulties, or anxiety. The wristbands are designed to provide a visual indicator of comfort levels and engagement preferences.

Red bracelets indicate that the wearer may be feeling overwhelmed or anxious and does not wish to engage in any conversation. They may wish to explore the museum at their own pace.
Yellow bracelets indicate that the wearer may feel uncertain about interactions. They may prefer limited engagement while navigating the museum at their own pace.
Green bracelets indicate that the wearer is comfortable and open to interaction with others.

Furthermore, guests will have access to complimentary Sensory Bags. These bags, which may be requested at the front desk located in the museum store, include noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, sensory items, and a sensory guide. A valid photo ID will be required for the loan, which will be held by the museum until the sensory bag is returned.

With the help of the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, PTM is pleased to provide Sensory Guides that can be used to help offer insight to guests on the sensory stimulation of different parts of the museum. These include touch, taste, sound, sight, and smell. This guide is available online. Physical copies are also available at the museum.

Questions about this event? Please call 724-228-9256 or email visitorservices@patrolley.org

History Explorers Camp
2025-06-23 09:00 - 12:00 | PA
NEW CAMP! Step back into the past and discover what life was like over 150 years ago! Explore how people historically traveled long distances, such as with sailboats crossing the rivers and oceans, covered wagons traveling the Oregon Trail, and riding from the country into the big city aboard an electric streetcar. Play popular games from days of old, then get hands-on with traditional arts and crafts. Make historic recipes for different foods and candy, identify native plants and their uses, then try growing your own fruits and vegetables.
AGES: 6 – 8
DATES: June 23 – 27
CAMP THEMES: History, Engineering, Science, Transportation, Biology, Nature, Art
COST

$150 Member / $175 Non-Member (Early Bird Special until January 31st)
$175 Member / $200 Non-Member after Feb 1st

Click here to register!

Off the Line: Behind the Scenes at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
2025-06-25 13:00 - 14:30 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
Details
Join the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for a special look behind the scenes! These tours are offered only a few times per year, so don’t miss this chance to visit several of our non-public spaces, including the maintenance and restoration shop, car barn, and Artifact Preservation Building! Each tour will vary slightly depending on the interests of our volunteer tour guides and the current projects being completed.
Tickets are $25, include museum admission, and are valid all day if you choose to visit the museum prior to the tour. Museum members may purchase tickets for the tour for $5. (To purchase admission at this discounted rate, you must be signed into your Neon membership account. If you have an account, click here to sign in. If you are a member, but don’t already have an account, click here to create one or click the “Create an account” option at the bottom of the sign-in page.)
Comfortable, closed-toed shoes are strongly recommended. This tour will visit active work spaces so caution is advised. The recommended minimum age is 12. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to pick up your tickets and meet in the lobby inside our Welcome & Education Center at 1 Electric Way.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online here. Walk-up tickets will be available if not sold out in advance.
Contact
Reach out to Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org with any questions!

STEAM Camp
2025-07-07 09:00 - 12:00 | PA
It’s full STEAM ahead in a camp dedicated to all things science, technology, engineering, art, and math! Design, build, and test the tallest towers, longest bridges, and strongest structures. Explore the history of transportation from trolleys and trains to boats, cars, and planes. Construct working circuits out of playdough, make a batch of streetcar slime, and shrink a trolley down to pocket-size!
AGES: 6 – 8
DATES: July 7 – 11
CAMP THEMES: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, History, Transportation
COST

$150 Member / $175 Non-Member (Early Bird Special until January 31st)
$175 Member / $200 Non-Member after Feb 1st

Click here to register!

Extreme STEAM Camp
2025-07-14 09:00 - 12:00 | PA
Discover how science, history, and technology come together as we explore the past and plan for the future! Make a vegetable powered instrument, then design and build electrifying inventions for a new “Smart Streetcar” using Makey Makey technology. Whip up a fresh batch of conductive playdough, then explore solar-powered vehicles and renewable energy sources. Dive into computer programming with Sphero Robotics to drive through obstacle courses, then design and race robot-powered horsecars. Unleash your inner innovator!
AGES: 9 – 12
DATES: July 14 – 18
CAMP THEMES: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, Robotics, Coding
COST

$150 Member / $175 Non-Member (Early Bird Special until January 31st)
$175 Member / $200 Non-Member after Feb 1st

Click here to register!

Trolleyology: South Jersey Rapid Transit Evolution - Bridge Line to PATCO, Part 1
2025-07-22 19:00 - 20:30 | PA
Join PTM staff, volunteers, and members for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

South Jersey Rapid Transit Evolution – Bridge Line to PATCO, Part 1
July 22, 2025 – 7 PM ET – Presented by Bob Wright

REGISTER HERE

The PATCO High Speed Line, connecting Center City Philadelphia and suburban South Jersey, evolved from a transit plan and a bridge envisioned over 100 years ago. The construction of the Delaware River Bridge crossing its namesake river made the trip between Pennsylvania and New Jersey much more efficient and easy and changed commuter patterns and trips to and from the Jersey Shore. A short rapid transit that was built with the bridge expanded into a major rail service in the 1960s and introduced innovative automated operation and fare collection. Part 1 of this program will cover the origins of the service in the 1920s up through the creation of PATCO in the early 1960s and on to 1990.

This program will be recorded and available at a later date on the PTM YouTube channel.

Trolleyology presentations will continue on a regular or semi-regular basis. Interested in presenting? Email Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org! We’re specifically looking for programs related to the Trolley Era in general, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. Please join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other PTM news!
*For the best experience, we recommend downloading Zoom in advance.
NOTE: This is a virtual event

LEGO® Engineering Camp
2025-07-28 09:00 - 12:00 | PA
Explore the world of engineering and the forces of physics, then compete to build the tallest towers, longest bridges, and fastest vehicles. Design a paper airplane launcher, construct a working claw, and race through marble run mazes. Finish the week by building sets, props, and characters entirely out of LEGOs® to create a stop motion movie masterpiece!
AGES: 9 – 12
CAMP DATES: July 28 – August 1
CAMP THEMES: LEGO®, Engineering, Science, Art, Animation, Math, Technology, History, Physics, Transportation
COST

$150 Member / $175 Non-Member (Early Bird Special until January 31st)
$175 Member / $200 Non-Member after Feb 1st

Click here to register!

LEGO® Camp
2025-08-04 09:00 - 12:00 | PA
Our most popular camp is back again this summer: Join us for a week of LEGO® themed building challenges, artistic creations, and more! Explore the world of engineering while making models, investigate motion with cars and ziplines, then test out gears and simple machines. Create a brick self-portrait, then try painting with bricks! Design and create a LEGO® Town and Trolley Park, then ride down the rails aboard the LEGO Coding Express®.
AGES: 6-8
CAMP DATES: August 4 – 8
TIME: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
CAMP THEMES: Math, LEGO®, Engineering, Art, Science, History, Physics, Physical Science, Transportation
COST

$150 Member / $175 Non-Member (Early Bird Special until January 31st)
$175 Member / $200 Non-Member after Feb 1st

THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT!

$5 Museum Week & Park and Ride to the Fair
2025-08-09 10:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-10 10:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-11 10:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-12 10:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-13 10:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-14 10:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-15 10:00 - 23:00, 2025-08-16 10:00 - 23:00 | PA
From August 9-16, enjoy our $5 tickets that include Museum admission and a ride to the Washington County Fair! Sponsored by Coen Markets.
Visitors may park in one of our three parking locations and enjoy a trolley ride to the fairgrounds for $5 per passenger. Your ticket is good all day, so we’ll give you a lift back to your car at the end of your visit, and you’re welcome to take unlimited trolley rides throughout the day for fun. Your $5 ticket also gives you admission to the Museum on the date of purchase during our regular hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.
Dates and Times
The Washington County Fair runs Saturday, August 9 through Saturday, August 16. Trolley shuttle service runs 10 AM to 11 PM. Trolleys depart approximately every 10 to 15 minutes. The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is open each day of the fair, including Monday, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Park-and-Ride Locations

Museum Lot: 1 Electric Way
West Campus Lot: 1 Museum Road
Eaton Lot: 2800 North Main Street

The trolley takes riders to the Fairgrounds Trolley Platform which is conveniently situated at the front entrance to the Fair and features a covered canopy to shelter riders during inclement weather.
Tickets
Tickets may be purchased for $5 per person, and children ages 2 and under may ride for free. Tickets are valid the entire day of purchase for unlimited rides until 11 PM. This fee does not include admission to the Fair.
Riders and visitors arriving at the Museum from 10 AM to 4PM may purchase their tickets inside our Welcome & Education Center. Riders boarding from 10 AM to 4 PM at our other park-and-ride locations should pay when they exit the trolley at the fairgrounds. Riders boarding between 4 PM and 11 PM will be able to purchase tickets at whatever parking lot they use.
Discounted family ticket packs of 8 tickets will be available. Museum memberships include free rides to the Fair for the amount of visitors the membership covers.
$5 Museum Week
A $5 trolley ride ticket may only be used to visit the Museum on the same date of its purchase. The Museum closes each day at 4 PM, and tickets purchased after closing are not good for Museum admission on that day or any dates in the future. For example, a ticket bought at 5 PM on Tuesday is not good for admission on future days even though the Museum has now closed for the day. Likewise, a ticket bought at 2 PM on a Tuesday is good for Museum admission until the Museum closes that day at 4 PM but is not good for admission on any future dates.
Family Packs rules: Family Packs contain 8 tickets that can be redeemed at any of our park-and-ride locations throughout the week. The tickets contained in a family pass are good for Museum admission on whichever days they are redeemed.
Thank you to Coen Markets for their generous support of this event!

Afternoon with an Artist
2025-08-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
Spend your afternoon with artist J. Craig Thorpe!
Join us on Saturday, August 30 at 1:00 PM for an hour-long program about storytelling and art. Craig will share his railroad-themed art that he developed for the East Broad Top Railroad, Reading & Northern, and other organizations. Then, Scott Becker, retired PTM Executive Director/CEO and Ambassador Emeritus, will join the conversation to discuss how the Museum’s partnered with Craig to bring works from a concept to a reality.
The program will be followed by a Q&A session with both presenters. Craig will be available to sign prints of 1711 and 1713, both available in PTM’s store. He’ll also have a selection of other prints with him available for purchase.
This event is included with General Admission, which means it is free for members. Please click here to RSVP. Non-members will be able to purchase admission to the Museum on this site so that they can quickly check-in at the front desk when they arrive for the program.
Learn more about Thorpe and his work by visiting his website. The painting shown above is Thorpe’s depiction of Pittsburgh’s Terrible Trolley.

Trolleyology: Frankford's Elevated Railway and Its Predecessors - Part II
2025-08-19 19:00 - 21:00 | PA
Join PTM staff, volunteers, and members for our Zoom series, Trolleyology! These programs feature Pennsylvania transit history topics and tales of our collection that you can experience from home. Registration is required but free of charge. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

Frankford’s Elevated Railway and Its Predecessors – Part II
August 19, 2025 – 7 PM ET – Presented by Harry Garforth

REGISTER HERE

The first of two programs based on the book “Frankford’s Elevated Railway and Its Predecessors” covered the history of rail transportation in Frankford from 1833 up to the opening of the Frankford Elevated in November 1922. That included early railroad operations, streetcars (including steam dummies), streetcar electrification, planning and construction of the elevated and its placement into service. Watch Part I here!
Part II (August 19) will continue the story of the Frankford Elevated’s 100 years of service along with its companion project, the Bustleton Trolley. The program will also include new vehicles introduced on the line and changes to the numerous feeder routes including vehicle mode changes. Part II will also cover the complete renovation of the elevated, stations and new terminals.
The book can be purchased on line at:
https://www.thehistoricalsocietyoffrankford.org/product-page/frankford-s-elevated-railway-and-it-s-predecessors-by-harry-garforth
The $25 donation price benefits the Historical Society of Frankford. The book is also available in the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum store and will be available at the East Penn Traction Meet in May.

This program will be recorded and available at a later date on the PTM YouTube channel.

Trolleyology presentations will continue on a regular or semi-regular basis. Interested in presenting? Email Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org! We’re specifically looking for programs related to the Trolley Era in general, Pennsylvania transit history, or stories about our collection. Please join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other PTM news!
*For the best experience, we recommend downloading Zoom in advance.
NOTE: This is a virtual event

Dog Days of Summer
2025-08-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
Say goodbye to the dog days of summer by bringing your canine friend to the Museum!
On Saturday, August 23, your doggies are welcome throughout the Museum’s campus and are invited to take some trolley rides. We ask that all dogs remain on a leash and are well behaved. You must also clean up after them while on Museum property.
Also, visit an outreach table by the Washington Area Humane Society! They’re also bringing a raffle basket that visitors can buy tickets for.
The last trolley ride of the day leaves at 3:45 PM. This event is included with General Admission for humans, but the pups are free (as long as we can spoil them with pets)!
Dogs must pose no health risk to humans and have all appropriate licenses and immunizations. Please be sensitive to other visitors who may be uncomfortable around dogs.

Off the Line: A Behind-the-Scenes Tour
2025-08-30 12:30 - 14:30 | Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA, 15301, United States
Details
Join the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for a special look behind the scenes! These tours are offered only a few times per year, so don’t miss this chance to visit several of our non-public spaces, including the maintenance and restoration shop, car barn, and the Kathryn & David Black Transit Archives! Each tour will vary slightly depending on the interests of our volunteer tour guides and the current projects being completed.
Tickets are $25, include museum admission, and are valid all day if you choose to visit the museum prior to the tour. Museum members may purchase tickets for the tour for $5. (To purchase admission at this discounted rate, you must be signed into your Neon membership account. If you have an account, click here to sign in. If you are a member, but don’t already have an account, click here to create one or click the “Create an account” option at the bottom of the sign-in page.)
Comfortable, closed-toed shoes are strongly recommended. This tour will visit active work spaces so caution is advised. The recommended minimum age is 12. Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to pick up your tickets and meet in the lobby inside our Welcome & Education Center at 1 Electric Way.
Tickets
Click here to purchase tickets online. Walk-up tickets will be available if not sold out in advance.
Contact
Reach out to Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org with any questions!
