This was a pleasant surprise while I visited the area. I had time to kill and needed to find something to do. I looked up what was in the area to fill that void and this popped up. At first I was skeptical as I was not sure what this was and where it was. I guess you can say that this is technically part of the Pitt campus they have here, but it is still confusing.It was confusing to get here, and then to figure out if/where you can park without being in violation of some law. Just pull into the lot and be on your way. As long as you are going to one of the three that are included here, you will be fine. When I walked inside, I did not know where to go. The museum is off to your left, but secured to the point that you cannot enter on your own. To the right you have the café/gift shop area. Right in front of you is what appears to be an information desk with many things on the counter. I, not sure what to do, and after trying the door to the museum, made my way into the café and asked for some direction. I was told to ring the bell at the information desk. When I went back out to the desk I found the bell with a fairly small note stating to ring it for the museum. Once I did that I was let into the museum and told which direction this flows and some information on what it was I was about to see.Once inside the museum it can be a bit overwhelming. Especially if you do not know what the museum is about. But you ease into it by reading all the information in front of you and go with the flow.First, I had no idea who Marilyn Horne was. Once you delve into this museum, you know who Marilyn Horne is. She is a world renown opera singer that came from this area. Starting in Bradford and then heading out to the West Coast to pursue music. She has sang at some of the most well-known opera houses throughout the world. As you walk through the museum (which doesn't take long as it is small) you basically walk through her life. Both on the professional level and personal level. You see her grow as a person and performer. You can scope out some of her costumes from shows she was in. You can read over how she has met some interesting people. You can sit down in the theater area where you watch a short documentary with commentary from Ms. Horne herself. I really liked that portion. You sit in the viewing area and they dim the lights to let you know the show is about to start. I think that was a nice, subtle touch.This is one museum that you can do in less than one day and really take it all in. Best of all, it is another free museum to get into!
Tony Wisniewski
if you are in the area, this is worth your time. A well curated museum to a treasure of the opera world. I enjoyed the presentation and the taped asides from Marilyn herself!
Marie M.
Bright and clean lovely coffee shop located inside the Marilyn Horne Museum & Exhibit Center. Has many of the things a full scale Starbucks does (pastries, sandwiches, and cookies), along with a very pleasant lady working at the counter. I stopped in for a flat white and she was pleasant and the coffee was delicious.
Tom Kirkconnell
Bus group enjoyed tour very much
Tara K.
HIDDEN ARTS & CULTURAL GEM ALERT!! :-D :-D :-D My husband and I were in Bradford PA for a quiet weekend getaway, and initially headed here to relax in the cafe. We figured that since it is a Starbucks, they'd have WiFi for some laptop work. When we arrived, we were immediately sidetracked by all of the other things in this wonderfully renovated space! Which are all FREE! The Marilyn Horne Museum and Cafe is located on the first floor of one of the UPitt buildings. The museum is free admission. Marilyn Horne is an opera icon who originally hails from Bradford PA. I personally know very little about opera, and was entirely unfamiliar with here music or contributions to the field. But the museum did an excellent job of enlightening me on her illustrious career in a very interesting and entertaining way. The museum is small, essentially one loop of exhibits, with a theater towards the middle that plays a documentary about Marilyn's life. But if you take your time going through it, you can easily spend an hour or more here. The museum exhibits are bright and easy to read. Many have multimedia elements, like video and audio recordings. There are also a couple interactive exhibits and games. I liked the tips on how to get the most of your own opera voice. We didn't belt it out, but I'm sure it would have been okay if we did. Opera in all forms is celebrated here. ;-) In addition to the museum, the first floor also includes the Starbucks café, and a lovely gift shop. The gift shop is well organized, with all of the attention to detail that any major museum gift shop would have. We picked up a CD of Marilyn's most known recordings. Neither my husband nor I are typically opera listeners, but we are all-around music lovers. (Well, except country, of course, hehe). Marilyn's accomplished life so wonderfully curated in the museum had us wanting to hear more, and share her music with our kids at home. We also had the opportunity to chat with the museum director for a while, Matthew. He was beyond knowledgeable about Marilyn, about some general Bradford PA history, and about the building itself that the museum is in. He encouraged us to explore some of the building's authentic charms. I hoofed it up to the fifth floor to poke around the original ballroom space, which is slated for revitalization. The hope is it will someday be used as a grand performance space. The potential is definitely there, so once it gets to that point, I'm in! The original parquet floors and art-deco chandeliers are stunning. It will be a sight to behold once it is all restored and functional again. Let me close with saying again that I know nothing about opera. I am not an opera fan. I've never been to an opera. But I love learning about regional history and arts contributions. And I love when someone's passion for sharing knowledge is so vibrant, and accessible, and well done, no matter what the actual content of that knowledge may be, that you can't help but be swept up by that love of sharing learning, too. The Marilyn Horne Museum is just that. You don't have to love opera to take something away from this space. Bravo to the makers of this lovely contribution to this community. I look forward to visiting again with our kids! :-D
Della Moore
This is an awesome museum, and a fitting tribute to a wonderfully gifted and talented lady. Beautifully put together. Also, check out the foyer on the right side of and behind the elevator.
Patrick Tanner
What a great little gem found in the former oil city of Bradford, Pennsylvania! All for free too!Stop in to learn of former world star, Marilyn Horne - born in Bradford - and her travels in the Opera. The Museum has a great little cafe and gift shop for you to explore as well. If you're in a hurry, you can make the rounds in less than an hour. The longer you stay, the more there is to discover.A newly installed exhibit in the first floor lobby area about Henry Lewis, Horne's spouse explores the artists life. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area!
Mags
Get in the Christmas spirit at the Marilyn Horne Museum’s holiday weekend. Carolers in gorgeous costumes and plenty of very high quality local crafters and small businesses offer a fantastic selection of items. I found many Christmas gifts here within the craft sale and also at the cafe shop.
Joshua Juda
As a collector of vintage jazz and classical records I was shocked to find out Marilyn Horne was from rural Pennsylvania. I was passing throught and discovered this museum by accident. Very well put together, with a friendly staff person to greet you. Great interactive displays and information about Marilyn including costumes, films of opera performances and more. Would recommend.
Stacy Rich
Beautiful tribute to a fabulous singerAnd the adjoining coffee shop had good coffee and GREAT dessert
Pros: Good location, mostly friendly employees, clean, nice gift shop Cons: pastries (lack of selection, sometimes stale, sometimes not labeled, have to ask for pricing etc.) & silence (love coffeehouse music but here no music at all), no wifi!
Taylor Tarahteeff
The Marilyn Horne Museum is a world-class exhibit space located at the heart of Downtown Bradford. The building is a recently restored echo of 1930s design, complete with grand lobby. The exhibit space itself is small but dense, with lots of textual, audio, and video information to explore. Even those like myself who hadn’t had much exposure to opera will find themselves impressed with the skill and prominence of this local diva.Standout features of the museum are the interactives, a small theater offering a documentary, and audio wands to hear Marilyn reminisce on her career.Overall a standout museum and worth a visit for folks from all walks!
Courtney Mealy
The Marilyn Horne Museum is a gem in Bradford and is advancing arts and culture of our region. The café is a great place to grab a drink and you can find unique items in the shop.
Mary R.
Lied online and said they were open. I drove 2 1/2 hours to visit. Then was turned away by a very nasty mouthed man. Never go to this town. People are horrible there.
Brent Stahl
Who would think Bradford Pa and Marilyn Horn could be connected?
This was a pleasant surprise while I visited the area. I had time to kill and needed to find something to do. I looked up what was in the area to fill that void and this popped up. At first I was skeptical as I was not sure what this was and where it was. I guess you can say that this is technically part of the Pitt campus they have here, but it is still confusing.It was confusing to get here, and then to figure out if/where you can park without being in violation of some law. Just pull into the lot and be on your way. As long as you are going to one of the three that are included here, you will be fine. When I walked inside, I did not know where to go. The museum is off to your left, but secured to the point that you cannot enter on your own. To the right you have the café/gift shop area. Right in front of you is what appears to be an information desk with many things on the counter. I, not sure what to do, and after trying the door to the museum, made my way into the café and asked for some direction. I was told to ring the bell at the information desk. When I went back out to the desk I found the bell with a fairly small note stating to ring it for the museum. Once I did that I was let into the museum and told which direction this flows and some information on what it was I was about to see.Once inside the museum it can be a bit overwhelming. Especially if you do not know what the museum is about. But you ease into it by reading all the information in front of you and go with the flow.First, I had no idea who Marilyn Horne was. Once you delve into this museum, you know who Marilyn Horne is. She is a world renown opera singer that came from this area. Starting in Bradford and then heading out to the West Coast to pursue music. She has sang at some of the most well-known opera houses throughout the world. As you walk through the museum (which doesn't take long as it is small) you basically walk through her life. Both on the professional level and personal level. You see her grow as a person and performer. You can scope out some of her costumes from shows she was in. You can read over how she has met some interesting people. You can sit down in the theater area where you watch a short documentary with commentary from Ms. Horne herself. I really liked that portion. You sit in the viewing area and they dim the lights to let you know the show is about to start. I think that was a nice, subtle touch.This is one museum that you can do in less than one day and really take it all in. Best of all, it is another free museum to get into!
if you are in the area, this is worth your time. A well curated museum to a treasure of the opera world. I enjoyed the presentation and the taped asides from Marilyn herself!
Bright and clean lovely coffee shop located inside the Marilyn Horne Museum & Exhibit Center. Has many of the things a full scale Starbucks does (pastries, sandwiches, and cookies), along with a very pleasant lady working at the counter. I stopped in for a flat white and she was pleasant and the coffee was delicious.
Bus group enjoyed tour very much
HIDDEN ARTS & CULTURAL GEM ALERT!! :-D :-D :-D My husband and I were in Bradford PA for a quiet weekend getaway, and initially headed here to relax in the cafe. We figured that since it is a Starbucks, they'd have WiFi for some laptop work. When we arrived, we were immediately sidetracked by all of the other things in this wonderfully renovated space! Which are all FREE! The Marilyn Horne Museum and Cafe is located on the first floor of one of the UPitt buildings. The museum is free admission. Marilyn Horne is an opera icon who originally hails from Bradford PA. I personally know very little about opera, and was entirely unfamiliar with here music or contributions to the field. But the museum did an excellent job of enlightening me on her illustrious career in a very interesting and entertaining way. The museum is small, essentially one loop of exhibits, with a theater towards the middle that plays a documentary about Marilyn's life. But if you take your time going through it, you can easily spend an hour or more here. The museum exhibits are bright and easy to read. Many have multimedia elements, like video and audio recordings. There are also a couple interactive exhibits and games. I liked the tips on how to get the most of your own opera voice. We didn't belt it out, but I'm sure it would have been okay if we did. Opera in all forms is celebrated here. ;-) In addition to the museum, the first floor also includes the Starbucks café, and a lovely gift shop. The gift shop is well organized, with all of the attention to detail that any major museum gift shop would have. We picked up a CD of Marilyn's most known recordings. Neither my husband nor I are typically opera listeners, but we are all-around music lovers. (Well, except country, of course, hehe). Marilyn's accomplished life so wonderfully curated in the museum had us wanting to hear more, and share her music with our kids at home. We also had the opportunity to chat with the museum director for a while, Matthew. He was beyond knowledgeable about Marilyn, about some general Bradford PA history, and about the building itself that the museum is in. He encouraged us to explore some of the building's authentic charms. I hoofed it up to the fifth floor to poke around the original ballroom space, which is slated for revitalization. The hope is it will someday be used as a grand performance space. The potential is definitely there, so once it gets to that point, I'm in! The original parquet floors and art-deco chandeliers are stunning. It will be a sight to behold once it is all restored and functional again. Let me close with saying again that I know nothing about opera. I am not an opera fan. I've never been to an opera. But I love learning about regional history and arts contributions. And I love when someone's passion for sharing knowledge is so vibrant, and accessible, and well done, no matter what the actual content of that knowledge may be, that you can't help but be swept up by that love of sharing learning, too. The Marilyn Horne Museum is just that. You don't have to love opera to take something away from this space. Bravo to the makers of this lovely contribution to this community. I look forward to visiting again with our kids! :-D
This is an awesome museum, and a fitting tribute to a wonderfully gifted and talented lady. Beautifully put together. Also, check out the foyer on the right side of and behind the elevator.
What a great little gem found in the former oil city of Bradford, Pennsylvania! All for free too!Stop in to learn of former world star, Marilyn Horne - born in Bradford - and her travels in the Opera. The Museum has a great little cafe and gift shop for you to explore as well. If you're in a hurry, you can make the rounds in less than an hour. The longer you stay, the more there is to discover.A newly installed exhibit in the first floor lobby area about Henry Lewis, Horne's spouse explores the artists life. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area!
Get in the Christmas spirit at the Marilyn Horne Museum’s holiday weekend. Carolers in gorgeous costumes and plenty of very high quality local crafters and small businesses offer a fantastic selection of items. I found many Christmas gifts here within the craft sale and also at the cafe shop.
As a collector of vintage jazz and classical records I was shocked to find out Marilyn Horne was from rural Pennsylvania. I was passing throught and discovered this museum by accident. Very well put together, with a friendly staff person to greet you. Great interactive displays and information about Marilyn including costumes, films of opera performances and more. Would recommend.
Beautiful tribute to a fabulous singerAnd the adjoining coffee shop had good coffee and GREAT dessert
Restaurantji Recommends
Pros: Good location, mostly friendly employees, clean, nice gift shop Cons: pastries (lack of selection, sometimes stale, sometimes not labeled, have to ask for pricing etc.) & silence (love coffeehouse music but here no music at all), no wifi!
The Marilyn Horne Museum is a world-class exhibit space located at the heart of Downtown Bradford. The building is a recently restored echo of 1930s design, complete with grand lobby. The exhibit space itself is small but dense, with lots of textual, audio, and video information to explore. Even those like myself who hadn’t had much exposure to opera will find themselves impressed with the skill and prominence of this local diva.Standout features of the museum are the interactives, a small theater offering a documentary, and audio wands to hear Marilyn reminisce on her career.Overall a standout museum and worth a visit for folks from all walks!
The Marilyn Horne Museum is a gem in Bradford and is advancing arts and culture of our region. The café is a great place to grab a drink and you can find unique items in the shop.
Lied online and said they were open. I drove 2 1/2 hours to visit. Then was turned away by a very nasty mouthed man. Never go to this town. People are horrible there.
Who would think Bradford Pa and Marilyn Horn could be connected?