Car and Carriage Museum

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After the turn of the 20th century, the development of the automobile profoundly changed American life. In the Car and Carriage Museum, visitors can travel back to the time of carriages, see some of the first horseless carriages to have an impact on Pittsburgh and learn about Pittsburgh's role in the developing automobile industry..

Rolls Royce

The original "carriage house" portion of the Car and Carriage Museum was used to store the collection of carriages and antique cars that Helen Clay Frick brought to Pittsburgh. The building was expanded in 1997 to accommodate the addition of automobiles from the collection of G. Whitney Snyder (1921-1999).

 

Henry Clay Frick’s 1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost touring car and Howard Heinz’s 1898 Panhard (reputed to be the first car in Pittsburgh) are both on view, along with more than 20 vintage automobiles that illustrate the story of Pittsburgh’s place in automotive history.

An award-winning video, Pittsburgh and the Automobile, alternates throughout the day with a short film, The Stanley Steamer. Through archival film, original footage and interviews, visitors are taken on a humorous and fascinating ride through the early years of automotive history.

Some of the cars and carriages on view include:

c. 1882 Brougham
c. 1897 Pony-size Spider Phaeton
1898 Panhard et Levassor Tonneau
1903 Baker Electric Stanhope
c. 1903 Country Omnibus
1906 Outing Wagon
1909 Bailey Electric Phaeton
1909 Keystone Six-Sixty Roadster
1911 Penn 30 Touring Car
1912 Daimler Laundaulette
1914 Ford Model T Touring Car
1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Touring Car
1917 Standard Model E Touring Car
1924 Auto Red Bug Flyer
1931 Lincoln Model K Sport Phaeton
1940 American Bantam Convertible Coupe


Featured Automobile

One in an ongoing series of featured automobiles
from the Frick's permanent collection.

by Kelly Anderson, Curatorial Intern

c. 1915 Chevrolet 490 Touring

Frick Art & Historical Center, 1998.1

This year marks the 100th anniversary of American automaker Chevrolet. Founded by William C. “Billy” Durant, Chevrolet has played an important role in the automobile industry over the last century.

One piece of that history is currently on display at the Car and Carriage Museum. The Frick’s c. 1915 Chevrolet 490 is a unique and unrestored example of one of the company’s earliest cars. Introduced in 1915 and designed to compete with the Ford Model T, the 490 was an immediate success.


Though it was discontinued after Durant lost the company in 1920, the 490 helped make Chevrolet into the automobile icon it is today.



Chevrolet

Click here to visit our Featured Automobile archive.


The Car and Carriage Museum is open during regular site hours, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. There is no charge for admission. The building is accessible.