Join our volunteer team!
For decades, thousands of trolleys connected the residents of Pittsburgh to one another. People took to the trolley to work, on shopping trips, to the amusement park, and to go visit their friends and family. You could take the trolley everywhere, and with its rapid speed, revolutionary electrical lights, and cacophony of bells and whistles, you were sure to have an exciting time doing so.
Although the era of the trolley might have ended, visitors can still experience its thrills at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Guests can take a ride on our two-mile track, see our collection of 50+ historic streetcars, and explore the interactive exhibits in our Welcome & Education Center. Throughout everything, we strive to keep the history of the trolley alive and inspire the next generation of innovators with trolley technology.
This mission is one that we could not at accomplish without the help of our volunteers. Individuals of all ages have a blast working together to keep the Trolley Era alive, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Volunteers restore historic streetcars like the Terrible Trolley back to working condition. They operate the trolleys and give tours of our display building. Volunteers might also dive deep into transit history in our archives, use our antique work trolleys to maintain our wire and track, or get festive by helping at our holiday special events.
No matter what you’re interested in- there’s no experience necessary. We’ll teach you everything that you need to know. There’s also no time commitment. We’ll be thrilled to have your help whenever you can give it!
Take a look below at our upcoming New Volunteer Events, all free of cost. If you’d like to volunteer, but can’t make it to an event, fill out our volunteer application, and we’ll get in touch with you.
Volunteer Open House- Register Here
Saturday, February 10
Morning Session (9:00 AM- 12:00 PM) or Afternoon Session (1:00 PM- 4:00 PM)
Take a behind-the-scenes look at our team’s work in preservation and education. Check out our collection, archives, and restoration shop and chat with volunteers. Get started easily with the volunteer department of your choice. Families and groups are welcome to attend together!
New Operator Training- Sign up
Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25
9:00 AM- 4:00 PM, attendance required on both days.
Start your journey to becoming a Pennsylvania Trolley Museum operator! Enjoy this hands-on course that will cover the basics of operating the many trolleys in our collection. We are always looking for new operators, so if you cannot make these dates, please fill out our volunteer application, and we will work to find a time for you to begin training. Ages 14+.
Museum Guide Training- Sign up
Saturday, March 2 (10:00 AM- 1:00 PM) OR Sunday, March 10 (1:00 PM- 4:00 PM)
Learn how to make each guest’s visit to the Trolley Museum a great one! PTM guides do all sorts of things including greeting visitors, giving tours, and helping with educational programs. This class will go over museum guide basics and help you get familiar with our collection. Ages 14+.