Years ago, I was researching the life of my grandfather, who worked in the Pittsburgh streetcar system, but died long before I was born. As now, I was living outside Pennsylvania, far from the museum. The PTM director and archivist were each responsive to my outreach for information. The archivist coordinated several research visits with me, and was helpful in directing me to information at the PTM archives. My research has been completed for years, but that experience is why I remain an out-of-state supporter of PTM. This museum is valuable not only for preserving the past, but also for providing contemporary context as streetcar systems make a comeback in many city centers. I urge visitors to PTM not only to marvel at the magnificently restored streetcars, but also remember the thousands of people who built and operated this and similar systems in the early 20th century.
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- EIN 25-6060314
- (724) 228-9256
- 1 Electric Way Washington PA 15301 USA
- www.patrolley.org
- Facebook page
- PATrolleyMuseum
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Years ago, I was researching the life of my grandfather, who worked in the Pittsburgh streetcar system, but died long before I was born. As now, I was living outside Pennsylvania, far from the museum. The PTM director and archivist were each responsive to my outreach for
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts, Culture & Humanities, Arts Education, Historical Societies & Historic Preservation, History Museums
Mission: The mission of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is to preserve and perpetuate its collection of historic transportation equipment, artifacts and archives and utilize the collection and other resources to provide an unparalleled immersive experience that brings the technology and culture of the Trolley Era alive through entertaining, educational, and diverse programming.
Results: The Museum was established in 1954 with three cars in our collection. Today, PTM preserves fifty-two historic trolley cars and railroad equipment as well as historic structures. The collection includes trolley cars from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and New Orleans’ famous streetcar named Desire. In 2023, we acquired Pittsburgh’s famous “Terrible Trolley” and plan to restore it to its former glory. PTM has grown into one of the finest trolley museums in the United States and one of the region’s most popular living history sites. Visitors come from the tristate area as well as other parts of the country and the world. Last year, attendance exceeded 38,000, an all-time high. Our family-friendly special events frequently sell out. The Museum collaborates with schools, preschools, learning centers, special needs groups, Boy & Girl Scout troops, and others to provide field trips, classroom visits, and scouting merit badge workshops. The Museum became a Certified Autism Center this year, a designation awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This certification highlights PTM’s dedication to the ongoing professional development of its staff through autism-specific training to better understand and assist autistic or sensory-sensitive individuals and their families during their museum visit. Our new, 21,000 square foot Center opened to the public on Nov. 10, 2023, and serves as the Museum’s new front door. Completion of the Center is one of the final steps in the Museum’s efforts to develop the East Campus which also includes a 33,000-brick paved street, known as Volunteer Blvd, the beautifully restored Wexford Station, fountain plaza, family play area and gazebo, and improved parking facilities. The Center improves the Museum’s visitor experience and capacity to serve more people and a broader, more diverse audience. It houses the visitors’ center, interactive exhibits, a classroom, event rooms, offices, and museum store. The Center enables the Museum to properly display and interpret exhibits that tell the history of the Trolley Era as well as STEAM-related exhibits to educate and engage visitors of all ages. These exhibits include dynamic interactive and historical exhibits designed and fabricated by the Carnegie Science Center in consultation with Museum staff. The Center provides a dedicated classroom that further enhances the Museum’s educational programs along with three event rooms that are used for Museum programs as well as rented for corporate and other private events. The event room space features a large 8-foot tall by 15-foot-wide video wall in a theater area that is used for educational films as well as for event rentals. The Center solidifies our national reputation as one of the finest transportation museums in Pennsylvania, broadens national appeal for the Museum, and allows us to become a major tourist destination.
Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 38,000 visitors
Programs: Take a Ride into the Past at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Your visit will include a four mile round trip along our scenic track, a tour of the Trolley Display Building, self-guided exploration of our interactive exhibits, and so much more!