Carnegie Museum of Art
Enter the monumental Hall of Architecture, then follow Pittsburgh's art museum from historic plaster casts into changing contemporary work.
Artwork inspired by John Kane
The Hall of Architecture's towering facades and fragments are plaster casts assembled so visitors could study distant architecture at full scale. Andrew Carnegie's collection had 144 architectural casts by 1907, and the hall remains one of only three architectural cast courts worldwide. Stand back to see the complete walls, then move close enough to notice where a copied building becomes a museum object.
The museum shares its Oakland building and admission with Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Move from the cast hall to sculpture, painting, photography, and the changing Carnegie International. The Forum Gallery, store, and café can be entered free. Compare one architectural detail with something made recently; that conversation across centuries is more rewarding than racing through both museums.
- Cast court
- Opened in 1907
- Shared ticket
- Art and Natural History
- After 3 p.m.
- Weekday discount
Quick guide
- Start at full scale
- See the Hall of Architecture from its entrance before studying a single cast.
- Cross eras
- Pair one historic architectural fragment with a contemporary gallery work.
Know before you go
- Read the copies
- Identify which parts are plaster casts, not original stone.
- Change distance
- Compare the hall's grand view with close-up surfaces and seams.
- Follow a contrast
- Move to a contemporary gallery with one visual question in mind.
- Leave time next door
- The Natural History museum is included, but needs its own visit time.
Good to know
The free Forum Gallery, museum store, and café do not require a ticket; the main galleries do. Both museums share a ticket, but trying to see everything in one short visit is unrealistic.
Notice these
- Hall of Architecture
- Hall of Sculpture
- Carnegie International