There are more than a few bucket list locations for die-hard horror fans. Monroeville, PA is one of them. Considered to be the birthplace of the zombie, the Evans City/ Pittsburgh/Monroeville area was the stomping (and filming) grounds for director George A. Romero. His legacy includes Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and other impactful horror properties like Creepshow. Honoring all those cinematic achievements is none other than the Living Dead Museum.
The current home base for The Living Dead Museum is the Monroeville Mall. This is more than appropriate because primary filming for Dawn of the Dead took place within the shopping center. The dwindling number of retail chains and restaurants is a glaring reminder that all things must come to an end. However, the mall still finds small opportunities to honor its past. Visitors will notice some signage that timelines the mall’s history, as well as a memorial bust of Romero himself on the first floor.
The museum is deceptively large. The well-stocked gift shop offers t-shirts, books, and films mostly pertaining to zombies. Once you check in and head to the left, the museum unravels into a long hallway with multiple rooms on either side. The Living Dead Museum is a true museum, in that there’s informational plaques galore. This means that any non-horror fans in your group can get up to speed relatively fast. The curation speaks to the legacy of Romero’s films and the massive impact Night of the Living Dead had on culture. Visitors will find great information on not only the films, but on Romero and the Pittsburgh area.
Horror fans can expect to find film stills, original props, screen-worn costumes, and SFX figures throughout. I was surprised to see displays from other films here, but that’s the beauty of this museum. It not only preserves the history of Romero films, but some other cool films and television shows like Evil Dead II and Mindhunter, the latter being filmed heavily in Pittsburgh.
You get so much for the cost of admission. It’s not every day that you get to see screen-used items and props held by respected actors, but also an in-depth history of a legendary director and a destination outside of Los Angeles that is so densely steeped in cinema. With that being said, if you can’t make a trip to Hollywood, Pittsburgh may be an equitable fix for any zombie lover.
At the time of this writing, the Monroeville Mall has been sold off to Walmart and its fate does not look good. It’s advisable to plan your visit within the year if you wish to see a filming sight in its last days of glory. You can also attend Living Dead Weekend this June, a celebratory convention centered around Romero’s zombies and films.
Before You Go:
Admission is $8; $7 for children and military.
https://monroevillezombies.com/museum.html
Free parking is available in the mall lot.
This is a self-guided tour.
Photography is permitted.
Hours:
Thursday: 11:00AM to 8:00PM
Friday: 11:00AM to 8:00PM
Saturday: 11:00AM to 8:00PM
Sunday: NOON to 6:00PM
Monday: 11:00AM to 8:00PM
Tuesday / Wednesday: CLOSED
Haunted by Deadlines 