Information
Landmark: Duquesne InclineCity: Pittsburgh
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
The Duquesne Incline, a historic funicular, carries riders up and down the steep slope of Mount Washington in Pittsburgh, where the wooden cars clatter softly against the rails.It’s been running since May 20, 1877, and still draws crowds with sweeping views of downtown’s skyline and the place where the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers meet.This wooden-car–style funicular stretches 800 feet up a 30-degree slope, climbing 400 feet from the lower station at 1197 West Carson Street in the South Shore, near the Fort Pitt Bridge, to the upper station and observation deck at 1220 Grandview Avenue on Mount Washington.Two original 1877 cable cars, each carrying about 25 people, run daily, pulled by a continuous steel cable driven by an electric motor.Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it operates Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m., and Sundays and holidays from 7:00 a.m. to 12:45 a.m., with the observation deck and gift shop open during those hours.The line keeps moving, and most people get through in less than ten minutes-just enough time to finish a cup of coffee.In 2025, one-way fares are $3.50 for adults, $1.75 for children ages 6–11, and free for kids under 6; round-trip tickets cost $7.00 for adults and $3.50 for children, with a light-rail transfer discount if you use a Port Authority ConnectCard.You can pay cash on board, and both stations have ticket machines that take cards.At the upper station, a small museum holds early photos, incline history, and the old hoisting gear-free with your fare.Step outside to the wooden observation deck for a clear skyline view, or drop a quarter into the binoculars for a closer look.The gift shop’s stocked with souvenirs, local crafts, snacks, and drinks.Because the historic cars have narrow doors and steps, they aren’t wheelchair-accessible, but the observation deck can be reached via a street-level entrance on Grandview Avenue.Parking is free but limited at the lower hillside lot, with metered spots along West Carson Street; the upper station has metered parking on Grandview Avenue that fills fast on busy days.Frequent Port Authority buses stop at both ends, and the lower station is about a ten-minute walk from the Station Square light-rail stop along the Smithfield Street Bridge riverwalk.Built in 1877 by engineer Samuel Diescher to carry workers from hilltop homes to riverside factories, the incline switched from steam to electric in 1888, survived a 1962 closure threat thanks to a community campaign, was restored by a nonprofit, and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975; today, it serves commuters and tourists year-round, carrying roughly half a million riders annually.For the best experience, ride before sunset for daylight views, then linger on Grandview Avenue to watch the skyline light up at night.• Weekends between 11 am and 4 pm are busiest; early morning or late evening rides are quieter.• Combine your visit with a stroll along Grandview Avenue to Point of View Park or with dining at Mount Washington’s restaurants.• Photography is best from the front windows of the ascending car and from the observation deck.• Dress for hillside wind, especially in cooler months, and be prepared for brief temperature changes between river level and hilltop.Weekends pack the most crowds between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., while rides at sunrise or after dusk feel calm and unhurried.
