Carnegie Science Center

Float in zero gravity like an astronaut, explore the inner workings of a Cold War submarine or hold a conversation with an intelligent robot. All this and much more awaits at the Carnegie Science Museum.

The museum opened in 1991 and holds more than 400 hands-on, interactive exhibits within its five floors. The museum also includes the Highmark SportsWorks in the adjacent building, and the USS Requin submarine moored on the nearby riverside.

Step into the future in Roboworld, the world’s largest permanent collection of robot-related exhibits. More than 30 displays encourage you to compete with, interact with or simply observe a variety of robot wonders. Pit your basketball skills against the centre’s robotic shooting arm, or learn about the well-known robots of the world in the Robot Hall of Fame.

Budding doctors will want to try their hand at using endoscopes and other tools used by a real-life surgeon in the Bodytech exhibit. In the SpacePlace area you can perform tests in zero gravity.

If you are visiting with children, stop in at the Exploration Station on the fourth floor, where a large number of exhibits encourage youngsters to use their problem-solving skills. Watch as your child builds electrical circuits, constructs model dams or designs a roller coaster.

Enjoy one of the spectacular shows in the Buhl Planetarium, which brings the heavens to life with high-definition laser technology. The four-story Omnimax theatre also holds regular shows, while three separate theatres run regular science-related shows and demonstrations throughout the day. These are popular so be sure to get there early.

The Carnegie Science Centre is located on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, adjacent to Heinz Field. The free subway, T-Plus, stops next door at Allegheny Station. The centre is open daily, with later hours on Friday and Saturday nights. There is a charge for admission, and paid parking is available on site.