The Frick Pittsburgh is the city's most graceful quiet retreat, a collection of museums set in gardens at 7227 Reynolds Street in the Point Breeze neighborhood, a few miles east of downtown. It was the home of the industrialist Henry Clay Frick, and the estate is built around Clayton, his restored Victorian mansion, which you can tour with a guide. Around it you will find the Frick Art Museum, whose permanent collection is free to see, the Car and Carriage Museum, whose historic vehicles are a favorite with visitors who did not expect to love them, a greenhouse, and gardens and lawns that are open to wander. A free general admission ticket is required for the free parts of the site, while Clayton tours and certain special exhibitions are ticketed. A cafe and a museum store are on site, and parking is free. For visitors who have already done the big downtown and Oakland sights, the Frick is a calm change of pace and a wonderful place to stretch your legs on a fine day.
Hours and tickets
The Frick is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday. The gardens and grounds open from 8am to 5pm, while the Grable Visitor Center, the art museum, the car museum, the greenhouse and the store open from 10am to 5pm. Clayton tours run from about 10:15am to 3pm and often sell out, so buy them ahead of time. The site also closes on a list of holidays that includes New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so check the calendar before you go.
Planning your visit
A free general admission ticket is needed for everything that does not charge extra, and you collect it at the Grable Visitor Center if you have not reserved. Plan about two hours for the museums and grounds without a Clayton tour, and about three if you add the mansion. The Frick is best in spring and early fall when the gardens are at their best, but the greenhouse and museums make it a good choice year-round. The cafe is open until mid-afternoon, so time your lunch accordingly.
Making it count
It is in a residential area, so a rideshare or car is the easiest way to arrive, and free on-site parking makes driving simple. It combines well with a morning at Phipps Conservatory or the Carnegie museums in Oakland, which are both a short drive away. Visitors who care about fine art, decorative arts or historic cars will find the combination hard to beat, and families with older children enjoy the cars and the lawns.
What to expect
The experience
A campus of museums and gardens with free entry to the grounds, art museum and part of the car museum, plus guided tours of Clayton, the Frick family mansion, for a fee.
Best time
A spring or early autumn weekday, when the gardens are at their best and Clayton tour tickets are easier to find.
How long
Two hours for the free parts of the site, about three with a Clayton tour.
Tips
Get your free general admission ticket, buy Clayton tours ahead, and remember the Frick is closed on Mondays and several holidays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art and design lovers, car and carriage enthusiasts, and anyone who wants a peaceful break from downtown.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the historic cars and the lawns, and the free entry keeps costs down.
- Couples
- A slow, beautiful afternoon, finished with lunch at the cafe on site.
- Pair with
- Phipps Conservatory or the Carnegie museums in Oakland.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Is The Frick Pittsburgh free?+
Entry to the gardens, the permanent art collection and parts of the car museum is free with a general admission ticket. Clayton tours and some special exhibitions are ticketed.
What days is the Frick Pittsburgh closed?+
It is closed on Mondays and on several holidays, including New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Do you need to book Clayton tours?+
Tours often sell out, so book in advance if you want to see inside the mansion. They run in the morning and early afternoon.
Is there parking at the Frick?+
Yes, there is a free parking lot, entered from Reynolds Street.
Where is the Frick Pittsburgh?+
It is at 7227 Reynolds Street in Point Breeze, a few miles east of downtown and near Oakland.
