PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL AVIARY

Pittsburghers made more than 53,000 free visits to the city’s cultural amenities last summer — all thanks to having a library card.

It was all part of the inaugural Summer Staycation 2024 RAD Pass, which provided Allegheny County library card holders free access to local attractions and museums that typically charge daily admission.

And the RAD Pass is back this year, with several cultural institutions like the Carnegie Museums, Frick Pittsburgh, National Aviary, Children’s Museum, Mattress Factory and Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium already posting opportunities available now on RADPASS.org.

“We received such positive feedback about last year’s Staycation program that we couldn’t wait to bring it back for another year,” Dusty Elias Kirk, RAD board chair said in a statement. “Whether you return to an old favorite or explore a new destination, you’re invited to use your Allegheny County library card to enjoy the best of Pittsburgh.”

RAD is the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which for more than 30 years has supported many of Pittsburgh’s cultural amenities through special tax revenue.  Since its inception in 1993, it has provided $2.5 billion in grant support to local parks, libraries and cultural amenities and another $2.5 billion to municipalities.

Free-admission offers already are appearing on RADPass.org; library card holders should keep checking back as reservation spots are added now through the rest of the summer, ending on Aug. 31, according to James Santelli, RAD communications manager.

The following institutions are currently making offers available on RADPass.org:

• The Andy Warhol Museum
• Carnegie Museum of Art
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History
• Carnegie Science Center
• Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
• The Frick Pittsburgh
• Mattress Factory
• National Aviary
• Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

These institutions will be adding events in the future:

• Heinz History Center
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
• Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum

To  book and redeem an offer, follow these steps:

• Log in to RADPass.org with your Allegheny County library card number and PIN.
• Browse for passes by date or by venue.
• Reserve your pass.
• Print your RAD Pass or download it to your mobile device

If you find that you cannot attend a booked visit, RAD officials ask that you please cancel it to make the slot available to someone else.