Vote for the Next Miniature Railroad & Village® Model!
- All Ages
- Included with General Admission
- 2nd Floor, Miniature Railroad & Village®
- Content Themes: Early Learners, Engineering & Technology, Environmental Science, History, Human Endeavors, Mathematics
Vote for the Next Miniature Railroad & Village® Model!
The Miniature Railroad & Village® is adding a bridge… And the best part is the choice is yours! Choose which historic bridge you would like to see in miniature form: Smithfield Street Bridge, Hot Metal Bridge, or Panther Hollow Bridge.
Vote daily now through Fri., July 31! The winner will make its grand entrance into the Miniature Railroad in fall 2027.
Model #1
Smithfield Street Bridge
Downtown to Carson Street, Pittsburgh
1883-Present
- Built in 1883, the Smithfield Street Bridge is the oldest bridge in downtown Pittsburgh at 143 years old.
- Designed by Gustav Lindenthal, this state-of-the-art lenticular truss bridge replaced the Monongahela Bridge, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1845.
- At 1,184 feet long, the bridge is one of the first in the country to use structural steel in its construction.
- Originally built with two lanes of traffic, the city expanded the bridge twice, in 1891 and 1911. Today, the bridge accommodates four lanes of traffic.
Model #2
Hot Metal Bridge
South Oakland to South Side, Pittsburgh
1900-Present
- Completed in 1900, Pittsburgh’s Hot Metal Bridge was constructed by Edgemore Boiler Works in two stages.
- The railroad traffic side opened in 1887, and the side for carrying molten iron, now known as the Hot Metal Bridge, was completed in 1900.
- At peak production, the locomotives hauled 4,300 tons of molten iron across the river daily via the 1,174-foot bridge.
- During World War II, 15% of the total steelmaking capacity in the United States crossed the Monongahela River via the Hot Metal Bridge.
- The Hot Metal Bridge has been open for bikes and pedestrians since 2007.
Model #3
Panther Hollow Bridge
Schenley Park, Oakland
1896-Present
- Since 1896, Panther Hollow Bridge has been a picturesque feature of Schenley Park in Oakland.
- Henry B. Rust designed the bridge with the Shultz Bridge and Iron Works of Pittsburgh, PA.
- Panther Hollow Bridge is almost identical to Schenley Bridge, as both were constructed in the same year.
- At 360 feet long, the bridge represents an old and rare example of steel arch technology with a three-hinged deck arch at 120 feet high.
- Unveiled on July 4, 1897, Guiseppe Moretti sculpted the bronze panther statues adorning each of the four corners.
Your Ticket to Ride and Explore Western Pennsylvania Is Here.
Visiting Pittsburgh has never been so much fun. Let the Miniature Railroad & Village® bring the region’s most popular landmarks to life. From Forbes Field and Fallingwater to Kaufmann’s and Primanti Bros., this model village explores Western Pennsylvania’s rich history with the largest train display in the region. Featuring hundreds of animated scenes that capture life up to 1940, this fan-favorite Kamin Science Center exhibition offers a quick and charming way to experience Pittsburgh, all in miniature. All aboard!
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