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Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA

Photo: Notyourbroom, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFreeLocal Gem

Cathedral of Learning

4200 Fifth Ave · Pittsburgh, PA

Why you should go…

The Cathedral of Learning is the University of Pittsburgh's 535-foot, 42-story Gothic Revival skyscraper, designed by Charles Klauder and dedicated in 1937. Inside, the Commons Room is a half-acre vaulted hall rising four stories. The first and third floors hold 31 Nationality Rooms, most of them working classrooms, which you can see on guided or self-guided tours. A pair of peregrine falcons nests on a balcony on the 40th floor.

  • #gothic architecture
  • #nationality rooms
  • #university landmark
  • #historic building

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cathedral of Learning, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Carnegie Museum of Natural History

    $25–$50

    See mounted dinosaur skeletons, minerals and gems, ancient Egypt and Arctic life across 20 galleries.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Carnegie Museum of Art

    $25–$50

    Walk through galleries of painting, sculpture and design, plus a hall filled with full-size plaster casts of historic buildings.

    0.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

    Under $25

    Walk through a Victorian glasshouse of palm, orchid and desert rooms set among botanical gardens in Schenley Park.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Pittsburgh, PA

    Free

    Pennsylvania's second-largest city, anchored by three rivers, a storied steel heritage, and a skyline best seen from Mount Washington.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    PNC Park

    Under $25

    Watch the Pirates play with the downtown skyline and the Roberto Clemente Bridge rising beyond the outfield.

    2.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Duquesne Incline

    Under $25

    Ride an 1877 funicular in original wooden cable cars up Mount Washington to an observation deck over downtown Pittsburgh.

    3.4 mi awayMore like this