Cathedral of Learning
4200 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A century-old structure on the University of Pittsburgh campus, the Cathedral of Learning features a late Gothic Revival design and a limestone exterior and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the second-largest educational building in the world and was partially funded by the people of Pittsburgh.
Although this 42-story building houses classrooms and administrative offices for the university, it’s open to the public for a few hours Monday through Saturday—however, only certain sections are accessible: the 1st floor Commons Room, the Nationality Rooms on the 1st and 3rd floors, and the 36th floor. Each of the 30 Nationality Rooms showcases a global culture, though they’re also active classrooms and closed to visitors when class is in session.
Tour options include guided group tours and self-led tours with optional paid audio guides, and the landmark is featured on hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus routes.
- While you can’t go to the very top of the Cathedral of Learning, you can visit the 36th floor for sweeping city views.
- Since the Cathedral is on campus grounds, all campus rules apply, including the prohibition of smoking.
- The 1st-floor Nationality Rooms require a small paid admission, while the 3rd-floor rooms are free to access as long as no university students or professors are using the space.
The Cathedral of Learning is on the University of Pittsburgh campus at 4200 Fifth Avenue. From downtown’s Market Square, simply follow Fifth Avenue east for 3 miles (5 kilometers). There’s paid metered parking on all roadsides surrounding the building, and the nearest garage is the Soldiers and Sailors Garage. Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses also run multiple routes with stops surrounding the Cathedral Of Learning.
Get to the Cathedral of Learning as early as possible, as tours are only available into the afternoon hours. Traffic might increase on the weekends and the campus is busy with students on the weekdays, including class sessions in the National Rooms. Keep in mind that the neighborhood of Oakland is also home to businesses and other major city attractions, so parking availability may be limited in the afternoon.
If you’re hoping to discover some of Pittsburgh’s notable educational sites, you’ll be grateful for Oakland’s safe, walkable, and family-friendly location. The Cathedral of Learning is adjacent to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are also within walking distance.
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