When it comes to arts & culture and pop art, few states match the collection found in Pennsylvania. From east to west, galleries and museums can be found in almost every major city or town. In smaller towns, rustic regional art galleries, historic homes and museums provide visitors with lasting memories and positive impressions.

    Museum junkies may choose to visit the classic, eclectic and accessible in Americana (Zippo, Harley Davidson), archeology & history, art & sculpture, food (chocolate, mushrooms, pretzels, etc.), music (guitar, vocal groups) and much more! Entrance to museums range from free and "suggested contributions" to fees from $5-10. Here is just a sampling of what’s available.

    Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum -- a tribute to railroad work and workers. Interactive exhibits, rolling stock, model trains and gift shop; it’s the best train-watching stop in North America.

    Andy Warhol Museum -- America’s largest one-artist museum. Seven floors of the Pittsburgh native’s paintings, drawings, sculpture, and personal archives.

    The Mattress Factory -- Founded in 1977, it is a six-story warehouse where mattresses were made at the turn of the century, and has commissioned work by more than 70 artists from around the world. The Mattress Factory has developed an international reputation as a contemporary museum where artists are invited to live and work in residency at the "warehouse."

    Brandywine River Museum -- peerless collection of Wyeth family art, includes works by N.C., Andrew and Jamie -- all in a 19th-century gristmill.

    Mummers Museum -- opened in 1976, this museum houses a collection of Mummers’ costumes and memorabilia. Philadelphia’s world-famous Mummers Parade dates back to the 1800’s and started as a neighborhood celebration. Display and exhibits explain its traditions.

    Phillips Mushroom Museum -- Pennsylvania’s leading crop is mushrooms. Exhibits explain the history and growing of mushrooms. Fresh mushrooms available.

    Rodin Museum -- the greatest Rodin collection outside of Paris. The museum houses 124 sculptures, including bronze casts of The Thinker.

    Wharton Esherick Studio -- although he died in May 1970, the studio looks like he just stepped out for a stroll through the woods. A national historic site, the studio reveals Esherick’s nonconformist creativity through handcrafted doors and hinges, light switches, stairs, walls, cabinets and even ceilings -- very hands-on.

    In addition to the host of art museums in Philadelphia, visit the surrounding region. The Barnes Foundation houses one of the finest private collections of early Impressionist, post-Impressionist and modern paintings in the world.

    The Foundation houses approximately 2,500 art objects, including more than 800 paintings, among them 180 Renoir, 69 Cézanne, 60 Matisse, and works by Picasso, Manet, and Van Gogh. The Barnes Foundation took some 80 paintings on a seven-city world tour to record-breaking attendance from April 1993 - October 1995 to raise funds to restore the Gallery. Advance reservations required.

    Pulitzer-prize winner and author James Michener left his mark with the James A. Michener Art Museum, featuring permanent displays chronicling his life and exhibit space for the works of regional artists. Across the street are "must-sees" from Renaissance-man Henry Mercer. The Mercer Museum leaves visitors awe-struck with a fascinating collection of early-American antiques displayed in a castle-like museum -- more than 50,000 items are on display.

    Next door, the Fonthill Museum’s 44 rooms are chock-full of decorative tile from 2,000 BC Babylonian clay tablets to Delft, Persian and Mercer’s own hand-made tiles. Some tell stories of Columbus, Bluebeard and Dickens.

    The Hershey Dutch Region offers a variety of museums for groups of all ages. The National Toy Train Museum in Strasburg has five huge operating layouts with hundreds of locomotives and cars on display. In addition to the trains, there are video presentations, a reference library and a gift shop. For more information call 717-687-8976.

    In Biglerville, guests can learn everything they wanted to know about the apple. The National Apple Museum, offers exhibits, tours and a relative apple history. For museum hours call 717-677-4556.

    Guest’s can go "hog" wild in York at the Harley-Davidson Inc. Motorcycle Museum-Plant Tour. The museum tour features the heritage of America’s motorcycle classics, while the plant tour shows the final assembly of the famous Harley. Also in York, guests can learn how to bulk up at the Weightlifting Hall of Fame. Visitors can learn about Olympic lifting, power lifting, bodybuilding and strongmanism. For more information call 717-767-6481.

    The Laurel Highlands region of Pennsylvania is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s most widely acclaimed works. Seven scenic miles connect his famous house on the waterfall, Fallingwater, and Kentuck Knob, his extraordinary home on the mountain.

    These buildings reflect the innovativeness of the 1930’s and exemplify the unification of nature and man. Fallingwater is considered one of the most architecturally significant buildings in America. For tour hours call 724-329-8501.

    Kentuck Knob, both dramatic and serene, stands some 2,000 feet above sea level just below the crest of the hill and appears as though part of the mountain itself. Advance reservations required for both houses. For more information call 724-329-1901.

    For history buffs, a trip to the Johnstown Flood Museum is an excellent learning experience. Permanent exhibits recreate the shocking story of America’s most infamous disaster that happened 110 years ago. For museum hours call 814-539-1889.

    The Pittsburgh region offers plenty of diversity with the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Museum of Natural History, which has dinosaurs, mummies, 11 million different insects and a world-class collection of birds; and the Carnegie Museum of Art with its impressive array of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by Matisse, Degas, Van Gogh, Casset and many more. For more information on both attractions call 412-622-3131.

    The Carnegie Science Center features 250 hands-on exhibits, OMNIMAX Theater, interactive planetarium, WWII submarine, children’s discovery areas, miniature railroad display, gift shop and restaurant. Call 412-237-3400 for information on all exhibits.

    For more information about Pennsylvania museums, plant tours and family attractions call 1-800-VISIT-PA to receive your free copy of the Pennsylvania Visitors Guide, highway map and the current Events Guide.

    In addition to calling 1-800-VISIT-PA, Pennsylvania’s travel and tourism website (www.state.pa.us/visit) provides web surfers with detailed information on attractions throughout the state as well as an updated Events Calendar.

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