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Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh, PA

Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffDate Night

Duquesne Incline

1197 West Carson St · Pittsburgh, PA

Why you should go…

The Duquesne Incline has carried riders up Mount Washington since May 1877, and its original wooden cable cars are still in service. The track climbs 400 feet at a 30 degree grade. At the upper station you can step onto an observation deck facing the Golden Triangle and browse a museum of Pittsburgh history with photos of inclines from around the world. Bring exact cash for the fare, since there are no tickets, reservations or card payments.

  • #funicular
  • #observation deck
  • #city views
  • #historic railway

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 Duquesne Incline, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Local Gem

    Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

    Under $25

    A young, growing botanic garden on a reclaimed coal-mining site west of downtown Pittsburgh.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    PNC Park

    Under $25

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

    0.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Iconic

    The Andy Warhol Museum

    $25–$50

    Explore seven floors of Andy Warhol's paintings, prints, films and archives in his hometown of Pittsburgh.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    The Terminal

    Free

    A five-block former produce terminal in Pittsburgh's Strip District turned market, dining and event space.

    2.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • 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.

    2.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Cathedral of Learning

    Free

    Step into a 42-story Gothic Revival tower with a vaulted Commons Room and classrooms designed around world cultures.

    3.4 mi awayMore like this