Drop the podcast mic: there’s more than meets the eye when listening to the Yajagoff! Podcast on-site and behind-the-scenes recordings. From iconic couch conversations at The Andy Warhol Museum to stepping into an otherworldly, musical dimension at the Bayernhof Museum, there’s an abundance of rich, unique history to uncover around Pittsburgh among its world-class museum scene. Even with sunny weather breaking, a rainy day is always expected in our city; Take a tour of these six rare museums:
1. The Clemente Museum
Image via The Clemente Museum, Instagram
Housed in the memorable and historic Engine House 25 in Lawrenceville, The Clemente Museum highlights the world’s largest collection focusing on Roberto Clemente. Explore baseball artifacts, art, time-capsuled photographs, memorabilia, literature as well as relics reflecting Clemente’s personal life and humanitarian initiatives. From the Gold Gloves to a vase engraved with his wife’s name, Vera, made personally by him, step into the outfield of history that will leave you knowing more about the legend himself.
2. Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum
Image via the Western PA Model Railroad Museum, Instagram
Located in Gibsonia, the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum preserves the history of railroad systems and historic landscapes showcasing Western Pennsylvania through a larger-than-life, mini model railroad. The museum’s main attraction sets eyes on the summer of 1952 in a 40’ X 100’ scale representation of the tracks traveling between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Cumberland, Maryland. The museum also offers kid-friendly activities with interactive and toy train displays. Plus, be sure to mark your calendar for their acclaimed Annual Holiday Train show each year starting from mid-November to mid-January.
3. Bayernhof Museum
Image via Bayernhof Museum, website
The Bayernhof Museum may be one of Pittsburgh’s best-kept secrets nestled in a quiet neighborhood with a grand view of the Allegheny River that may have some competition with the West End Overlook. The museum is the former residence of Charles B. Brown III, the museum’s founder, which houses 19,000 square feet of world-class automatic music machines, music boxes and rooms filled with items you won’t learn about anywhere else. Take an adventure through each room to discover a different world of historic music masterpieces and mysteries, such as a secret cave built in the house. $10 tours are guided and are by call appointments only at 412-782-4231. The intimate tour and exploration are limited to 12 people at a time. Children must be at least 12 years of age with 16 years old and younger being accompanied by a parent or guardian.
4. Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff
Images via Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff, Facebook
Cool takes on a revitalized new meaning, [and we mean ginchy] as Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff provides a showstopping performance of legendary greats in music with owner Jack Hunt, aka “Johnny Angel” from Johnny Angel and the Halos, who curates music displays and more. Take a stroll through his vintage shop of clothing, records, signed pictures and more collected from the 1950s to the present. After, take a journey down memory lane in the back of the store to learn about Johnny Angel’s colorful career with renowned artists he’s worked with over the years. From national tours to Pittsburgh jams, you’ll relish in the royalty of memorabilia and famous, noteworthy findings.
5. Bicycle Heaven
Image via Bicycle Heaven, Instagram
Featured in the New York Times and Associated Press, Bicycle Heaven is the world’s largest bicycle museum and shop and is located next door to Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff. Cycle your way through close to 6,000 vintage and new bicycles and witness in person the Bowden Spacelander, the first fiberglass bike, or the Pee-wee Herman bike from the movie, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Admission is free and open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donations are appreciated!
6. The Andy Warhol Museum
Image via The Andy Warhol Museum, Instagram
Arguably the largest collection of Andy Warhol’s artwork and archival materials, The Andy Warhol Museum is an iconic, pop art crown jewel with five out of seven floors of discovery featuring The Warhol’s Collection, showcasing the artist’s work from the 1940s to his death in 1987. Paintings, commercial illustrations, sketchbooks and much more, the Warhol film and video collection includes 350 preserved films while housing the whole artist’s work in video of more than 4,000 videotapes. Plus, the museum has rotating exhibitions of Andy Warhol’s work but features other contemporary artists that resonate with Warhol as well. Check out the most current exhibition, Paola Pivi: I Want It All, open now until August 15, 2022.
