ALLEGHENY WEST VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR
TO EXPERIENCE CHRISTMAS AS IT WAS CELEBRATED OVER 100 YEARS AGO!Our tour features restored Victorian homes plus the historic Calvary United Methodist Church, famous for its beautiful Louis Tiffany stained glass windows, all decorated to celebrate a Nineteenth Century Christmas.
These personally guided tours afford a rare opportunity to glimpse a by-gone era and experience the warmth of the season in a truly old-fashioned style. Most homes in Allegheny West are over 100 years old and Victorian in architectural style. Lavishly decorated for the holidays, they recall the late 19th Century birth of the traditional American Christmas elaborately decorated mantels, towering Christmas trees and pine, holly and mistletoe on stairs and chandeliers. This unique tour is part of Rick Sebak’s Emmy Award® winning documentary, Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh showcasing the finest holiday celebrations in Western Pennsylvania and is featured in the best selling international travel guide “1000 Places to See in the U.S and Canada Before You Die”.
At the end of your tour, you have the option to visit one of the world’s largest toy train museums-a private collection of hundreds of colorful train sets from the early 20th century; many of them rolling through enchanting miniature villages. There is an additional charge for the train museum.
Tour guides will explain Victorian holiday traditions, provide the history of Allegheny West and its famous Nineteenth Century residents and discuss the individual homes as they are visited.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I get there and where do I park?
Allegheny West is located just west of the Aviary and West Park and north of the stadiums on Pittsburgh’s Near North Side. Free parking is available in the specially designated CCAC parking lot on Ridge Avenue with the entrance between Galveston and Ridge Avenues. This parking lot is at the end of the tour; please allow 5 minutes to walk from this parking lot to Calvary Church, at the corner of Allegheny and Beech Aves. There is no parking available at the church.
For GPS, use 940 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. This location is directly across from the on-ramp to the Ft. Duquesne bridge. It is the parking lot between the Subway Sandwich Shop and Graybar.
This is a map of the tour locations, including the parking lot, the church, the train museum and the Holiday Shoppe.
2. Are tickets still available?
YES! You can purchase tickets at the door for $25 each (cash or check only) for the next tour that has open spaces. Each tour is limited to 25 people and they leave every 12 minutes. There are open tours from 12:00pm – 2:00pm and after 4:00pm. The last tour leaves at 8:00pm. If you don’t have reservations in advance you will be asked to wait for the next tour that has an open space. We cannot accept reservations over the phone the day of the tour.
3. If I registered in advance what do I need to bring with me?
We no longer send out tickets. You should check in under the name of the person who purchased the tickets. If you are able to, please print out the email confirmation you received, but it is not required. If you did not receive an email receipt there’s a possibility that your transactions wan’t complete. Please call (412) 418-2027 if you have questions about your reservation.
4. Can I do just the Toy Train Museum?
Yes. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased either on-line or at the Museum at 719 Brighton Ave. The hours for viewing the trains are:
- Friday: 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 12:30pm to 10:00 p.m
The train museum is only open to the public during the Christmas House Tour.
5. How long does the tour take?
You should allow about 3 hours for the tour. There are 6 houses on the tour spread over 3 blocks. You will be walking the entire time. This does not include the optional Toy Train Museum or the Holiday Craft Shop at the end of the tour.
6. Can I take photos?
Unless a homeowner asks you not to, photographs are fine on the tour. The tours are on a tight schedule so please don’t get separated from your group while taking photos.
7. Are the same houses on the tour this year as last year?
One of the houses, Holmes Hall with the toy trains and Alex Watson’s house are always on the tour. However, the other 4 houses were not on the tour last year.
8. What if there is bad weather?
All tours are will take place as scheduled and will not be canceled for weather related reasons. This is Pittsburgh and bad weather is part of the charm.
9. Is there a place to grab a quick bite to eat before or after the tour?
Food is available at Calvary Church for purchase. Typical food selections include: roast beef sandwiches, hot dogs, chili, cakes and cookies, coffee, tea, soda, hot chocolate and cider. Restaurants in the neighborhood include Allegheny Sandwich Shop,Lindos, Carmi Family Restaurant, or Nicky’s Thai Kitchen, Peppi’s, Giorgios Pizza, and Brix
10. Where is the Holiday Shoppe located?
Due to the renovations at Jones Hall, this year’s Holiday Shoppe will be a Byers Hall, across the street from the Ridge Ave. parking lot. Please stop in for a complimentary cup of cider and a cookie.