Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh history

The first Carnegie International, 1896

To make room for the display of his namesake, Diplodocus carnegii, Andrew Carnegie broke ground on Carnegie Museums’ first major expansion in 1904.

The first major expansion to the building on Forbes Avenue in 1907 provided space for Carnegie’s growing collection of dinosaur fossils, as well as the Hall of Sculpture and the Hall of Architecture.

Adding two new museums Carnegie Museums’ second most ambitious period of growth began in 1974, with the opening of the Sarah Scaife Galleries, which gave Carnegie Museum of Art’s constantly growing collections their own elegant space.

The museum’s name was changed once again in 1986 to its current name—Carnegie Museum of Art—to more clearly show its relationship as one of the four Carnegie Museums (which includes Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, The Andy Warhol Museum.

In 1991, Carnegie Science Center entered the Carnegie Museums fold through a partnership between Carnegie Museums and the Buhl Foundation.

The Heinz Architectural Center, opened as part of the museum in 1993, is dedicated to the collection, study, and exhibition of architectural drawings and models.

By the time of its 10-year anniversary in 2001, the Science Center opened Highmark SportsWorks, the largest collection of sports and science exhibits in the world.

In 2009, the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Galleries of decorative arts and design reopened after a complete renovation.

In 2011, the newly renovated Charity Randall Gallery opened off of the Hall of Sculpture balcony; the space is dedicated to the display of modern and contemporary craft and design, growing areas of strength in the collection.

In 2014, The Andy Warhol Museum rehung its collection, telling the story of Andy Warhol’s life and artwork chronologically for the first time to spectacular effect.

And in 2018, Carnegie Science Center completed a major expansion: PPG Science Pavilion, which houses a suite of STEM Learning Labs; a Special Exhibitions Gallery for large-scale changing exhibitions; a laser digital giant-screen theater; and outdoor learning spaces on the riverfront.