VIRTUAL STORYTELLING CATALOG | DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh

We’ve recorded all of the DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh virtual storytelling events so that you can continue to explore the history of Pittsburgh’s remarkable landmarks and neighborhoods on demand. Enjoy the stories!

Note: Like our live-streamed storytelling events, these archived version are pay-what-you-can ($5 minimum). The “Learn more and get Tickets” links will take you to gopassage.com, our online ticketing partner.

Virtual Storytelling Event Recordings

Virtual storytelling event featuring Chuck Beard and his Abandoned Pittsburgh project

Abandoned Pittsburgh: Gears & Ghosts

Join photographer Chuck Beard for a look inside some of Pittsburgh’s iconic and historic sites, including Duquesne Steel Works, Carrie Furnace,

Learn more and get tickets Abandoned Pittsburgh: Gears & Ghosts

Virtual storytelling event of the Bayernhof Museum

Bayernhof Museum: Music Boxes & Other Obscure History

We invite you for an on-location peek inside one of Pittsburgh’s most unusual mansions – the Bayernhof Museum. This mansion contains

Learn more and get tickets Bayernhof Museum: Music Boxes & Other Obscure History

Learn more about this venue and the blues and rock performers who have graced this stage from current owner John Pergal, and relax and enjoy a live acoustic performance by Ric Proudfoot duirng this virtual storytelling event

Behind The Stage Doors: Rocking at the T-Bird

The Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall had humble beginnings. In 1933 this space was known as Michalski’s Café and was granted

Learn more and get tickets Behind The Stage Doors: Rocking at the T-Bird

During this virtual storytelling event meet one of Pittsburgh’s prominent concert promoters, Rich Engler, of DiCesare-Engler Productions.

Behind the Stage Doors: A Promoter’s Life

Do you enjoy large-scale concerts in the 70’ and 80’s here in Pittsburgh? Ever wonder who makes that happen? Meet one

Learn more and get tickets Behind the Stage Doors: A Promoter’s Life

Behind the Stage Doors: If These Walls Could Talk

Go inside Pittsburgh’s only “juke joint” and meet Moondog’s owner, Ronnie Esser. Moondog’s is one of the region’s most significant stages

Learn more and get tickets Behind the Stage Doors: If These Walls Could Talk

Duirng this virtual storytleling event Johnny Angel invites you into his museum, Ginchy Stuff, to take a stroll through local music history

Behind the Stage Doors: Shama Lama Ding Dong

If you are a music fan who grew up in Pittsburgh over the last 50 years, you know the name Johnny

Learn more and get tickets Behind the Stage Doors: Shama Lama Ding Dong

Learn more about these long-standing staircases that dot our neighborhood hillsides from Laura Zurowski during this virtual storytelling event

City Stairs: Stepping Back into Pittsburgh’s History One Staircase at a Time

City steps were the first mass transportation system, designed to bring workers from the hills to the mills. Did you know

Learn more and get tickets City Stairs: Stepping Back into Pittsburgh’s History One Staircase at a Time

Virtual storytelling event of Roberto Clemente to celebarae MLK day

Clemente Museum: Telling the Humanitarian Story

We commemorate MLK Day 2021 by celebrating Roberto Clemente, a black Latino, known as The Great One. Incensed by the injustice,

Learn more and get tickets Clemente Museum: Telling the Humanitarian Story

Burnham's Pittsburgh skyscrapers include the iconic Frick and Oliver buildings and Union Station, and some others explored during this virtual storytelling event

David Burnham: Made No Little Plan in Pittsburgh

Did you know that, outside Chicago, no other city has more Burnham buildings? Learn more about this man and the buildings

Learn more and get tickets David Burnham: Made No Little Plan in Pittsburgh

Development of Oakland

Oakland is home to museums, universities, and medical centers, but do you know how it all started? You will learn how

Learn more and get tickets Development of Oakland

Finding Solitude virtual storytelling event, showcasing the private residence of Pittsburgh inventor and industry titan, George Westinghouse

Finding Solitude: George Westinghouse

What happened to the mansion called Solitude – the Pittsburgh home of one of the world’s greatest inventors? Why can’t we visit

Learn more and get tickets Finding Solitude: George Westinghouse

We all know about the ketchup and pickles. But what do we know about H.J. Heinz the man at this virtual storytelling event

H. J. Heinz—Secrets of a Pickle King

We all know about the ketchup and pickles. But what do we know about H.J. Heinz the man? Sunday schools and

Learn more and get tickets H. J. Heinz—Secrets of a Pickle King

Virtual storytelling event of Engine House 25 Wines

Holiday Cheers! A Truly Unique Winery Experience

Join head vintner, Duane Rieder, on-location at the Engine House 25 Wines, a discreet and private wine cellar under the Clemente

Learn more and get tickets Holiday Cheers! A Truly Unique Winery Experience

antique skyscrapers in Pittsburgh, virtual storytelling

Multi-stories: Skyscrapers and the Tycoons That Built Them

Back when skyscrapers were a new invention, business tycoons in Pittsburgh and across the country invested in this new form of

Learn more and get tickets Multi-stories: Skyscrapers and the Tycoons That Built Them

Virtual storytelling event of Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly: How a Sassy Girl from Pittsburgh Became a Legend

This is the story of a girl from Pittsburgh who proved her mettle one front page headline after another. She took

Learn more and get tickets Nellie Bly: How a Sassy Girl from Pittsburgh Became a Legend

Painting Pittsurgh virtual storytelling event, 90 Neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Ron Donoughe

Painting Pittsburgh Neighborhoods, by Artist Ron Donoughe

Join DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh for a virtual visit to the studio of artist Ron Donoughe. He has been painting Pittsburgh and

Learn more and get tickets Painting Pittsburgh Neighborhoods, by Artist Ron Donoughe

Pittsburgh’s First Pandemic: The White Plague

Join DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh for the inside story behind the White Plague that ravaged Pittsburgh at the turn of the century. RECORDED

Learn more and get tickets Pittsburgh’s First Pandemic: The White Plague

Pittsburgh’s Lost Chinatown

In the early 1900s, Pittsburgh’s Chinatown was thriving. With more than 20 restaurants, bakeries, import shops, and food markets, it was

Learn more and get tickets Pittsburgh’s Lost Chinatown

Significant African-American Buildings in Pittsburgh

Let’s kick-off Black History Month 2021! Explore the region’s historically-significant buildings documents the accomplishments of Pittsburgh’s African American Community. We share the

Learn more and get tickets Significant African-American Buildings in Pittsburgh

The Hidden Jewish Neighborhoods of Pittsburgh

On this fast-paced virtual tour, we will visit 12 city neighborhoods. With an eagle eye and help from archival records, we

Learn more and get tickets The Hidden Jewish Neighborhoods of Pittsburgh

Christmas market, German origin explore in the virtual storytelling event

To Pittsburgh, from Germany with love: Holiday Markets

German Christmas markets date back to the 1400’s. Did you know that many of our beloved Christmas traditions evolved from these

Learn more and get tickets To Pittsburgh, from Germany with love: Holiday Markets

votes for woman virtual storytelling, womens' suffrage

Votes for Women in Western Pennsylvania

Join us as we explore women’s battle for the ballot in western Pennsylvania. Meet Pittsburgh suffragists who paraded, protested, and rallied

Learn more and get tickets Votes for Women in Western Pennsylvania

Western Penitentiary: Life and Death Inside the “Wall”

This is a story of life and death inside Western Penitentiary, also known as “Western Pen” and “The Wall.” Thousands of convicted

Learn more and get tickets Western Penitentiary: Life and Death Inside the “Wall”

Virtual storytelling event, George Washington Jumonville Pennsylvania

When George Washington Almost Lost His Head

One July 4th proved to be nightmare morning for George Washington. The Virginia soldier was just 22 years old when he

Learn more and get tickets When George Washington Almost Lost His Head