If you love the off-beat and unusual, Pittsburgh is a great place to be. The opportunities for oddities in Steel City are bountiful. There’s something for everyone’s strange palate, whether you’re into architecture, natural science, history, or you simply enjoy the weirder aspects of humanity.
Here are some of the best unusual places in and around Pittsburgh, Pa.
Robot Hall of Fame
Visit the robots that made a difference in our world at the Robot Hall of Fame. The RHOF awards, which have been awarded since 2003, are to commemorate robotic achievements in science, industry, and society. Past inductees include R2-D2 from Star Ways, a Roomba, the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers, and more. Get the chance to see many of these robots, which are standing proudly on display, at the permanent exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center’s roboworld.
Monongahela Incline
If you’ve never taken a ride on a funicular, you’re missing out. If you’ve never heard of a funicular, it’s a small railway system that takes passengers up and down steep inclines via cable and pulley systems. Pittsburgh is home to two funiculars. The Monongahela is the oldest operating funicular in the United States. It’s been taking people up Mount Washington since 1870. The other one, the Duquesne, is a mile away from the Monongahela.
Cathedral of Learning
If you’re a fan of interesting buildings and architecture, you’re a fan of the Cathedral of Learning. This University of Pittsburgh building’s doors were opened in 1937. A marvel of neo-Gothic architecture, the Cathedral rises 535 feet into the Pittsburgh skyline. It’s home to the Nationality Rooms, which showcase classrooms designed in the style of countries all over the world. The Cathedral’s main hall looks like the inside of a centuries-old European Catholic cathedral.
Center for PostNatural History
To see a museum full of mankind’s effects on the natural world, head over to the Center for PostNatural History. Get the chance to see rodents affected by the Atomic Age, genetically altered organisms, and more. This museum’s broad focus is on humans’ relationships with plants and animals. Where else can you see an E. coli specimen and a live goat that’s been genetically modified to produce spider silk protein in their milk? Likely not many other places. Oh, it’s Freckles — the goat’s name is Freckles.
The Weeping Glass
If you’re looking for a gift shop that has those harder-to-find items you’ve been looking for, the Weeping Glass deserves a visit. Small taxidermy animals, creepy dolls, and more macabre items line the shelves of this unique shop. The Weeping Glass also serves as an event space, where you can peruse vendors’ weird wares, watch sideshow performers, and listen to live music after the sun goes down in Allentown. This is a fantastically unusual shop to visit, whether you’re feeling morbid or not.
Get out and explore your world. See something new and strange or beautiful and one-of-a-kind. If you think something’s missing from this list, let us know. We’re always looking for another unusual attraction to visit.
Image via Flickr by Always Shooting
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