National Aviary
700 Arch Street | Time-Specific Experience
YOUR EXPERIENCE
Beginning at 1:45 pm, guests will be able to enter the Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone™ Theater. When the theater doors close at 2 pm, guests will go on a journey with the National Aviary through the rich and biodiverse continent of Africa during African Adventure presented by AAA Travel. This immersive bird show takes the audience through grasslands, savannahs, deserts, and tropical forests to encounter some of the amazing and diverse species that call the African continent home. Experience the thrill of an African Penguin waddling by just feet away, an elegant Grey Crowned-crane spreading her six-foot wingspan, and more!
After the show, guests will be welcome to tour the remainder of the National Aviary.
Please note that this experience is available at 2 pm only and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 100 participants. The African Adventure show will begin promptly at 2 pm, so we do suggest you come as early as 1:45 pm for admittance. Entry after 2 pm cannot be permitted, to ensure the safety of the animals included in the presentation as well as visitors and staff.
ABOUT THIS BUILDING
The original Aviary, which was built in 1952 by the City of Pittsburgh, was conceived as a garden in which to display the diverse beauty of birds. During the 1970s, as the scientific community began to realize the incredible toll human expansion and resource consumption were taking on wildlife, the Aviary redefined itself as a conservation-minded facility devoted to the protection and propagation of threatened and endangered birds.
As the Aviary’s focus shifted, the City of Pittsburgh was facing fiscal challenges, and its leaders decided to dispose of cultural holdings, which included the Aviary, the Pittsburgh Zoo, and Phipps Conservatory. Like an endangered species itself, the Aviary suddenly needed rescuing. A group of dedicated citizens rallied and protected this “Jewel of West Park,” privatizing the Aviary as a nonprofit in 1992. The groundswell of support for the Aviary was so strong it extended to Washington, D.C., and in 1993, Congress bestowed the official title of National Aviary to honor their world-class bird population.
A series of capital projects have ensued, including Penguin Point, the Grasslands, and Condor Court. In 2018, the National Aviary renovated their flagship Tropical Rainforest habitat—the first update since it opened in 1952. The renovation included the replacement of all 3,146 original panes of glass that formed the walls and roof and the addition of a 15-foot waterfall with immersive spaces for birds to bathe, play, and nest.
Photography Allowed: YES
Wheelchair-Accessible Entrance: YES
Public Restrooms: YES
Wheelchair-Accessible Restrooms: YES
Photo ID Required: NO
Proof of COVID Vaccination Required: NO
Face Coverings Required: NO
Other: Photography is permitted in the facility but is not permitted during the African Adventure Show.