Discover These 7 Awesomely Quirky Things That Are Hiding Right Here In Pittsburgh
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
Quirky just makes life more fun doesn’t, it? Whether we’re sitting down for a meal at a quirky restaurant or stopping by to say hello to an oversized dinosaur, we just can’t go wrong when we seek out the quirky. We’ve got no shortage of quirky things in Pittsburgh – whether we realize it or not. Here are seven awesomely quirky things in Pittsburgh.
Meet the 150 million-year-old Dippy the Dinosaur, who lives outside of the Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art. Dippy’s real name is Diplodocus carnegii, but you can just call him Dippy. Next time you’re in Oakland, stop by and say hi to our famous, friendly dinosaur. If you can’t get to Oakland anytime soon, no worries. Keep up with Dippy on Twitter.
Next time you’re on the North Side, stop by Randyland on Arch Street. You definitely can’t miss the colorful building, a piece of artwork designed by Randy Gilson. Snap selfies in front of The Mirror Wall, the outdoor murals, and the psychedelic staircase. You might even get to meet Randy.
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If you really want to tire the kids out or to challenge yourself, head over to Canton Avenue in Beechview. With a 37 percent gradient, it is, in fact, the steepest residential street in the world. It’s also a popular spot with bikers and runners. One more surprise: the steep Canton Avenue is a brick road.
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Most of us likely get a little annoyed when we find ourselves in a tourist trap. Not Trundle Manor, which bills itself as the world’s most unusual tourist trap. Admission costs an odd medical device or "some donation." You can visit, by appointment only, to see the fascinating collection of odd medical devices, antique taxidermy, and jarred animals.
Did you know your car can coast uphill? Kind of skeptical about that? Try it out for yourself! Pennsylvania is home to several Gravity Hills, including one in Allison Park. Gravity Hill in the Pittsburgh-area is at the intersection of McKinney Road and Kummer Road. People say if you stop your car at the stop sign, put it in neutral, and ease off of the brake, you’ll feel as though your car's moving uphill. Click here to read more.
If you’re up for a bit of a ride, hit the turnpike for a leisurely drive to Bedford for a glimpse of the Koontz Coffee Pot. In its earliest days, the oversized coffee pot served as a lunch counter. Eventually, the eatery closed and the giant coffee pot went in disrepair. Since it’s been restored, it’s a popular spot for travelers who want a unique selfie or photo. (You can no longer go inside of it.)
Most people imagine spaceships will look like flying saucers. However, one may have looked like an oversized acorn, and you can see it in Kecksburg. Here’s the short version of the story – residents of Kecksburg claimed to see a UFO land in 1965. Decades later, the mystery (which hasn’t been solved) appeared on Unsolved Mysteries. The production crew created a replica of the spaceship that resembles an acorn. You can still see it today. For more about the Kecksburg Space Acorn, click here.
What are something awesomely quirky things in Pittsburgh that belong on this list? Let us know in the comments! Since we’re talking about weird things, check out these 10 extremely weird laws in Pittsburgh.
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Featured Addresses
Dippy the Dinosaur, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Randyland, 1501 Arch St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA
Canton Avenue, Canton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15216, USA
Trundle Manor, 7724 Juniata St, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, USA
461 McKinney Rd, Wexford, PA 15090, USA
108 Telegraph Rd, Bedford, PA 15522, USA
Kecksburg Space Acorn, 5113 Water St, Mt Pleasant, PA 15666, USA