Nemacolin Castle stands at the old site of Fort Burd from the French and Indian War. Construction began on the castle in 1789, and the crenellated tower was erected in the mid- 1800s. The castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public for tours and events.
The Flatiron Building was built circa 1830 directly on the National Road as a commercial structure. In addition to the age of the building being historical, the shape takes the form of an old-fashioned clothing iron. The building is the oldest structure on lower Market Street (the original National Road). It is now the site of both the Heritage Center and the Frank L. Melega Art Museum. The Heritage Center was created to tell the stories of road, river, and rail as they relate to the community and the region.
The Frank L. Melega Art Museum collects, preserves, interprets, and exhibits the artworks of Frank Melega. A changing exhibition of contemporary artists promotes their talent and offers the public, through variety in style, medium, and subject matter, an open ended definition of art.
The Monongahela River, Rail, and Transportation Museum, on the northside of Brownsville, displays an impressive collection of artifacts and archival materials related to the history of river and rail transportation in this region. Hours are limited, so be sure to call first so that you don’t miss this attraction during your visit!
Built in 1906, the Thompson House is a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also received the 1994 Outstanding Achievement Award for restoration at the sixteenth annual state conference for historical preservation, which is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Trails
This section of the Monongahela River was named the River of the Year in 2013. A map and guide were created in 2013. Click here to download the map. Click here to download the guide.
River Access
The Brownsville Riverside Wharf Park, located off of Water Street, is a public park that has a boat ramp in order to easily access the Monongahela River. The boat ramp is steep; be sure to inspect the site before you drive to the put-in, especially if you have a large boat. Canoes and kayaks will have no problem putting in. It is just a 4.5 mile trip downstream to the next boat ramp in California, PA. This makes a wonderful short day trip for fishermen, paddlers, and boaters alike.
Fishing
Smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, channel catfish, sauger, walleye, saugeye, and yellow perch can all be found swimming in the waters surrounding Brownsville. Redstone Creek is a stream navigable by canoe that empties a mile north of Brownsville and is known locally to be great for fishing. It is also possible to fish from the wharf at Brownsville Riverside Wharf Park if you are looking for a more relaxed setting.
Interested in visiting Brownsville? Read our sample itinerary, A Day in Brownsville, for ideas of where to go and what to do!
Explore the Area
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