rev:text
| - The Cathedral of Learning (dubbed Cathy by University of Pittsburgh students) is definitely a place to visit in Pittsburgh. Unlike what a previous commenter said, it was never used as a religious building. However, university tour guides do have an interesting story about the building. Apparently, John Bowman, the chancellor at the time, told a taxi driver to go to the University of Pittsburgh. When the taxi driver did not know where it was, Bowman decided to build Cathy so that everyone could find the university.
The main attraction of the cathedral is the nationality rooms. Each one is beautiful and unique. There are guided and recorded tours for $4. If you are planning on doing the recorded tour, plan to bring your drivers license since they keep it for the duration of the tour.
Here are a few things I suggest you do at the Cathedral:
1) Complete a nationality room tour
2) Go to the 36th floor and see the view
3) Therapy dog Tuesday- Almost every Tuesday at 7 pm (when the university is in session) dogs are brought into the ground floor of the Cathedral. It is super fun!
4) Holiday open house- Once every December there is a day of holiday performances and food. The rooms are also free to enter and Cathy is decorated for Christmas!
5) Light show- At the start of the school year, Pitt has a cathedral light show set to popular music.
6) Halloween tour- There is a secret room in the Early American room that they only open every so often that is supposedly haunted. Maxine, the cathedral's director, talks about her own personal experiences with the room. Also, Catula (a cat dressed like Dracula) usually comes.
If you are going to be in Pittsburgh, even for a short time, the Cathedral of Learning is a must-see destination!
|