Pennsylvania
Signature City Pittsburgh
Program No. 19287RJ
Learn how Pittsburgh grew from its humble origins to the great city of today, discovering neoclassical architecture, renowned museums, unique cuisine and the stunning Duquesne Incline.
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Participant Reviews
Based on 22 Reviews
SHOWING
Who knew Pittsburgh would be so fascinating! We experienced a wide variety of Pittsburgh's personality: botanical garden, aviary (condors, and penguins, and flamingoes, oh my!), historical home, university, museum, steel mill and pump station, art museum, natural history museum full of gems and ancient skeletons, and more! And so much food! (Best was in a former train station where you're transported to the glamorous side of the Progressive Era.) All while led by Woody Cunningham, the most interesting guide I've had in 30 programs, with his eloquent story telling and elevated humor. If possible and there's time before the program, I would suggest taking a walking or bicycle tour of the downtown area.
— Review left October 9, 2024
This is a delightful trip with very interesting museums. Woody, our group leader,is a fountain of knowledge about Pittsburg and clearly loves and enjoys his city. Thus, the city really came alive for me. All the museum guides were also excellent. Pittsburgh’s history is unique and was presented very well at the Carrie Furnace Complex.
— Review left September 21, 2024
I really enjoyed the trip. Woody’s knowledge, expertise and overall enthusiasm definitely was one of the high points. It provided an up-close and personal experience and he managed to do it with a relaxed and supportive manner. I think we really came to understand the Pittsburgh journey over time.
He has a special gift for what he does and I would expect he will continue to do it for as long as he likes.
I would like to suggest that RS do an architectural tour of Pittsburgh. I think there are so many interesting sites that deserve some time. It could be an add-on to this tour or a completely separate tour.
I think it is also worth considering staying downtown even though the UP campus area is very safe. I walked around downtown by myself and felt safe. The hotel ingress and egress was challenging with stairs and luggage. The breakfast food was not enticing (cold eggs…) but dinner meals were outstanding.
— Review left July 13, 2024
I only recent availed myself of The Signature City tour packages. They are well choreographed and informative. Every time I finish one...I am in the catalog looking for another city to explore....
— Review left June 8, 2024
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood... Pittsburgh may surprise you. It has nationally significant industrial history (US Steel, Westinghouse Electric, Alcoa, Heinz [food processing]. But there is also banking (Phipps, Mellon) and a considerable number of innovations and discoveries in medicine, foremost the Salk vaccine. And let's not forget Mr. Rogers.
— Review left June 8, 2024
This was an exceptional opportunity to learn about Pittsburgh and why the residents we met felt positive about their city. The city's heritage and history were laid out for all to know and appreciate. I cannot recall any city visit that showed so much contrast in the improvement of living conditions as this trip showed. An excellent program and a worthy companion to the other Signature City programs!
— Review left April 29, 2024
Great overview of city highlights, Woody was an entertaining & informative group leader. Learned a lot during lectures & field trips, hotel was well located in the Oakland neighborhood near U of Pittsburgh. Enjoyed sampling the local restaurants and learning the history of many city neighborhoods & numerous city benefactors. A 5 star trip, well worth the time.
(Full disclosure- I lived in Pittsburgh in the late 1970's for 4 years, but had not been back in over 40 years, so I was eager for a return visit. I was not disappointed. I saw neighborhoods I had never visited before and learned a lot.)
— Review left January 9, 2024
What a wonderful week this was! My husband and I chose Pittsburgh because it was off the beaten path and we’re interested in American history. We learned so much about the Industrial Revolution and how this fascinating city with hardworking immigrant roots helped build our country. We immensely enjoyed every single field trip. Our leader Woody Cunningham was so knowledgeable and outstanding in building group cohesion and camaraderie within an experienced Road Scholar group. We’re so pleased we took a chance on a place we knew little about. Highly recommended trip.
— Review left October 7, 2023
The Pittsburgh program will open your eyes to a beautiful city that has a rich heritage AND a bright future. Become a college student again, a steelworker and learn about rich men who may have led lives of personal pain, and if they didn't, they should have. Best group leader I've encountered.
— Review left October 6, 2023
I highly recommend Signature City: Pittsburgh for its comprehensive program.
— Review left September 18, 2023
Carnegie and Frick are villains in my book. Certainly fascinating but Heinz and Westinghouse get my praise.
— Review left September 16, 2023
This was a sentimental journey for me as I grew up in Pittsburgh and attended the University of Pittsburgh. I had not returned to my childhood home for many years. This program was evocative of my youth and showed me many different aspects of the city. The experience was greatly enhanced by the tour leader, Woody Cunningham, who represented all the best qualities of a guide; humor, knowledge, organization, and helpfulness. I would follow him anywhere!
— Review left June 11, 2023
Signature City Pittsburg was an easy trip for me. Easy drive from upstate NY.
The trip was all mapped out with interesting things to do everyday. The hotel location was in a safe neighborhood easy access to museums and restaurants.
Great change of pace and scenery!!
— Review left June 10, 2023
If you want to learn about Pittsburgh, from the steel, coal and glass history to the present, then you should consider this trip. Our trip leader, Woody, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the all things Pittsburgh. Each day was an interesting learning experience, as we traveled around town, Woody turned the coach into a classroom. My three favorite and most memorable activities during the week were; the visit to the Heinz History Museum, the visit to the Carrie Blast Furnace and the International Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning.
The hotel accommodation was conveniently located and quite comfortable.
— Review left May 28, 2023
A very complete history and tour of Pittsburgh. Woody Cunningham is a great leader, presenter, and storyteller.
— Review left May 22, 2023
I had little knowledge about the history of Pittsburgh or its place in today's world. This is a very informative program. I recommend.
— Review left October 17, 2022
This is a very enjoyable and informative Road Scholar trip to take. One will have a greater appreciation of the city of Pittsburgh after taking this trip.
Woody Cunningham is an excellent group leader.
— Review left October 24, 2021
Signature City Pittsburgh was fun and informative. The variety of activities in this program kept my interest level very high. I appreciated having a suggested reading list ahead of time so that I could start to understand the importance that Pittsburgh and its people have played in our American history. I was fascinated by the Carrie Furnace tour and the docents who made the steel and iron stories come to life. Our tour guide, Woody Cunningham, has extensive knowledge and deep passion for Pittsburgh which I found to be contagious as I fell in love with Pittsburgh. This is a story of a moribund city that reinvented itself and I am deeply satisfied for experiencing it through this Signature City adventure.
— Review left October 28, 2019
For anyone who has not been to Pittsburgh, this is a wonderful program. It is fun, informative and will at once remove any notion of the city as being smoky, gray and dirty!
— Review left October 21, 2019
VERY worthwhile program.
— Review left May 12, 2019
Enjoyed the trip and tour Woody was enjoyable. For me the sack lunch is a pain the lunches I could enjoy were also lunches that others wanted so by the time I got to the table they were gone. The hotel the females that worked as wait staff should find other jobs, they were irritated most of the time, (bar tender after I looked at the short wine list and setting it down, I asked her if she knew the wines, instead of saying yes or no, she nicely pointed out that it was on the menu I had just looked at). would like to have had glass ware in the room instead of to-go cups
— Review left April 23, 2019
Woody Cunningham went over and above in sharing his time with participants.
— Review left April 19, 2019