Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on September 25, 2026.
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At one point in time Pittsburgh was home to nearly twenty active funiculars, or inclines as they are called here, which were used to transport people and cargo up and down the many different hills located around the city.
Sadly, most of the Pittsburgh incline funiculars have closed over time, the city is now home to only two: the Monongahela Incline, located at Station Square, and the Duquesne Incline, located a mile down Carson Street.
Although we thoroughly enjoy riding both of these funiculars, for those who are interested in enjoying the best view the city has to offer, taking a ride on the Duquesne Incline is a must do experience.
There is a reason why this is one of the most popular attractions in Pittsburgh!
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The Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh Offers Stellar Views
As one of only two remaining inclines in the city of Pittsburgh, the Duquesne Incline is near and dear to everyone’s hearts (much like its sister, the Monongahela Incline, located about a mile down Grandview Avenue above Station Square).
Opened in 1877, the Duquesne Incline has had a long history that included being used as cargo transport, used as worker transport before roads were built, and surviving a brief closure in the 1960s that resulted in the community raising funds to ensure the historic funicular would be operated for many years to come.
Today the Duquesne Incline is primarily used for tourism as its location is quite a bit removed from the main downtown traffic path that its sister incline is used for.
The highlight of the visit to this incline is enjoying the gorgeous view of the city which includes downtown’s skyline, the three rivers (the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny), as well the city’s famous stadiums.
A visit to the incline for first-timers (especially those who are visiting Pittsburgh) is best done by parking at the incline’s paid lot at the base of Mount Washington to allow the city’s view to open up for you as you ride up.
The top station features many historical records from the incline’s history, significant details about how the incline operates, as well as a gorgeous observation deck connected to the station.
For those who love the incline and are interested in checking out how the technology works in even greater detail than what is available in the public areas, the Duquesne Incline offers a self-guided walking tour of the machinery room below the boarding area. This is accessible via a door on the right side when heading out to the viewing platform.
In the past, this area required 50 cents to enter via a turn-style kiosk, but as of our last visit, this seems to have been removed and entry was free.
A visit down into this section will likely only take you a few minutes, and other than seeing the large cables and reading a few detailed descriptions of how the machinery works (several of which are available in the lobby), it may not be of interest to most- especially because a few of the largest gears are visible from the public spaces to begin with.
Head to the Point of View Statue for the Best Vista
If there is one thing about the Duquesne Incline and the viewpoint on Mount Washington I find most interesting, it would be that there is an even better vantage point located just a few minutes away from the station’s platform- and very few people seem to know about it.
When you exit the station, turn right, and head up a small hill roughly 300 feet. You’ll come to a statue, entitled Point of View, of George Washington and Seneca leader Guyasuta during one of their meetings which occurred in the region (although was not likely at this gorgeous spot).
Not only is this statue and published history interesting and worth reading about on the placards at the site, the view of the city is even better than at the incline itself thanks to the lack of fencing and other obstructions that are present on the official viewing platform.
What Else to See on Mount Washington
Unfortunately, the Duquesne Incline is somewhat isolated on Mount Washington, and unless you are dining at one of the upscale restaurants nearby you will be expecting a bit of a walk to enjoy the other nearby attractions. (As previously mentioned, the Monongahela Incline is about a mile to the east, as is a larger business district in Mount Washington proper.)
If you do want a drink nearby and businesses are open, Monterey Bay’s bar has one of the best views of the skyline just across from the Point of View statue, as does Grandview Saloon if you’re looking for something a bit more approachable.
From there, two other fun things to do while at the top of the incline include a hike around the side of Mount Washington on the Emerald View hiking trail that begins at the Point of View statue, as well as walking to the Monongahela Incline for more views of Pittsburgh’s skyline and checking out a few boutique shops and budget restaurants nearby. (If you opt to ride the Monongahela Incline down, you’ll pop out at Station Square and the Smithfield Street Bridge, with an easy walk back to downtown if heading in that direction.)
No matter what activities you choose to enjoy during your trip up the Duquesne Incline, one thing is certain- you will thoroughly enjoy what is the best viewpoint in all of Pittsburgh!
The Duquesne Incline is located on Mount Washington, has public parking at 1197 West Carson Street in the South Side, and is open seven days a week. Exact cash fare is required. If you would like to walk to the incline, there is a foot path that goes from Point State Park across the Fort Pitt Bridge directly to the Incline (entrance to the path is found behind the Fort Pitt Museum). This is included in our 5-mile self-guided walking tour of Pittsburgh if you want to make a day of it.
Looking for more things to do in the neighborhood? Check out our Mount Washington neighborhood guide for all of the best things to see, eat, and do!
Coming down on Sunday. Can you take a bike with you on the incline? And what will the cost be and do you have to have the exact amount?
The incline is exact change and they normally have a quarter machine in the lower station. I believe that bikes are typically only allowed in the Monongahela Incline, but it depends on how busy they are.
How much is parking at the bottom or top
I do t see any driving directions to the top or bottom
There is a public lot at the bottom that is metered. Parking would depend on how long you stay. At the top there is some metered street parking on Grandview, but no lot so its often hard to find a spot. The side streets on Mount Washington may have parking several blocks back, but some streets are also permitted with a maximum visit duration.
Was Pittsburgh always spelled this way or was it once spelled
Pittsburg?
Only between 1891 and 1911. All cities ending in ‘burgh’ were forced to remove the h for standardization in 1891, but there was a lot of local pushback and they got it recognized formally in 1911. There are several places around the city where you can see “Pittsburg” listed- mostly on buildings built in that period.