Carnegie Museum of Natural History
4.8(4,374)4.8 out of 5 stars, 4374 reviews Pittsburgh, PA
About Carnegie Museum of Natural History
A massive, world-class museum experience combining natural history and art under one ticket, featuring an incredible dinosaur and fossil collection, gems, and active conservation projects.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking a full-day educational outingDinosaur and fossil enthusiastsVisitors wanting a high-value dual museum experience (Art and Natural History)Toddlers and young children (highly engaged by large dinosaur fossils)School-aged kids and teens (great for learning about geology, history, and art)
Why families love it
- Incredible dinosaur and paleontology exhibits with real fossils
- Single ticket includes admission to both the Natural History and Art museums
- Diverse exhibits ranging from the Ice Age and gems to entomology
- Friendly, helpful staff and highly informative, well-mapped layouts
- Visible, active conservation projects
- World-renowned dinosaur fossil exhibits
Insider tips
- Set aside at least 4 to 5 hours to fully explore without rushing
- Enter through the water fountain entrance
- Utilize the museum map to ensure you do not miss any of the 6+ major exhibits
- Consider a guided tour for a more in-depth educational experience
Good to know before you go
- Rushing through the museum in under 2 hours
- Visiting without comfortable walking shoes due to the 2+ miles of walking required
- Extensive walking required (over 2 miles across 3 to 4 floors) which can be exhausting for younger children or tired visitors
- Taxidermy collection described as 'unique', which may not appeal to everyone
- Crowds
- The museum is massive, which helps accommodate large volumes of visitors across its multiple floors
- Value
- Excellent price value. A single ticket covers entry to both the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Art, providing hours of entertainment.
- Accessibility
- Multi-floor layout (3 to 4 floors) with elevator access implied
- Safety
- Clean, highly organized, and well-maintained facility
What parents say
"This was INCREDIBLE! This was my first time visiting and coming from out of state. I really enjoyed my time here. After 4.5 hours I was too tired to continue, but there was plenty more I could have looked at! The ticket includes the history and art museum, which is just wonderful. It is such a good price for so much to see. I adore dinosaurs and fossils, and that was a big draw for me to visit. This really did not disappoint; it was fascinating to see so many fossils while learning about the history of finding them and how some made it to Pittsburgh, such as with Carnegie, but then also specif"
3 weeks ago
"What is there to say? This has got to be 1 of the biggest museums I have ever come to. It's definitely a sight to see. They have 3 floors and over 6 exhibits. My high school friend and I decided to check it out. I walked in, and I was just amazed by the exhibits. We tried to get all of them but only missed 2. We will be back. All I can say is that the paleontology exhibit with dinosaurs was my favorite! Come check it out! I know I'll be back!"
a week ago
"It is a truly enjoyable experience for all ages when you visit this awesome Carnegie Museum of Natural History! The whole building has a lot to offer.. Ranging from art gallery, dinosaur exhibit, natural history with cool animals from all over the world, minerals, gems, and stones from all over the world as well, and more! You can even have a guided tour for more in-depth information! Lots of cool, real artifacts that you can find here.. The souvenir shop is neat and has decent prices for each item. I recommend this place for everyone. Learning history, in my opinion, is a must!"
2 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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