The Andy Warhol Museum

"Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." -Andy Warhol

During my long road trip from New York to Chicago, I stopped to refuel in Pittsburgh. Not my first choice in layovers, but it was certainly the top option from which I had to choose. I don't think Pittsburgh is a terrible city; on the contrary, I quite enjoyed my one-nightstand faire whilst on the road.

The two major rivers Allegheny and Monongahela (that merge to form the Ohio River) cut through the city, and the surrounding hills made my directional sense fly out the window. In fact, I lost my way a few times when traveling back to my hotel located in downtown Pittsburgh. I also became distracted by the fact that in bars people still smoke, which made me toss down my drink and head out.

Despite the unexpected waylays, I was pleasantly surprised to be reminded that Andy Warhol was from Pittsburgh. I had to visit the museum dedicated to him. Located close to my hotel-just steps across the Andy Warhol Bridge-the collection is housed inside a converted old warehouse building quite similar to Andy's New York Factory experience. I felt as if I was walking into his studio space. Architecturally, there aren't many notable details, but the intimacy of the galleries and the friendly staff made it memorable. The exhibits get creative and there is always something to learn and discover. There are even collections that might surprise visitors, showing a different side of Warhol.

Pittsburgh may not have been my first choice, but if you find yourself there, be sure to experience Andy Warhol's museum, a great example of American creativity.