See the murals: schedule a tour

We are committed to the health and safety of our community and our mission to save and share the Vanka Murals. Our limited offerings include mandatory policies and procedures that must be followed by staff, volunteers and visitors. We will continue to monitor public health recommendations for prevention and containment from the CDC and Allegheny County Health Department and adjust or suspend operations as needed.

1. Advance Reservations are required and all visitors must provide contact information in advance or on the day of the tour. Tours will be limited and day-of requests are not guaranteed. If you are unable to use our online registration system below, please email: tours@vankamurals.org to make your reservations.
2. The 11AM Saturday tour is guaranteed. A second tour will be added at 12:30PM if the first tour is full. Private tours are possible on Sunday – Friday only at this time. Please note that private tours may not be immediately accommodated due to limited volunteer availability.
3. All tours will be limited and physical distancing must be maintained.
4. Masks must be worn at all times on the St. Nicholas campus. Visitors are expected to bring their own mask. A Vanka Murals mask is available for purchase here. A limited number of disposable masks will be available but are not guaranteed.
5. Online payments for admission ($10 per person), merchandise, and/or donations are preferred. Merchandise may be purchased in advance for pickup during tour hours. Cash or checks (payable to SPMMMV) may be mailed in advance or presented in a sealed envelope at registration.
6. All visitors should arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour and must wait outside the Church until invited in by a volunteer.

We can’t wait to see you. Our thanks in advance for your patience as we maintain these protocols for the health and safety of our visitors and volunteers. The Vanka Murals full COVID-19 Policy is available.

Questions? tours@vankamurals.org

Maxo Vanka’s murals provide a great platform for learning for all ages. Contact us about lessons in the immigrant experience, social justice, art and more.

By car: Follow the easy directions via google map

On foot: A sidewalk with curb cuts run up Maryland Ave. to the church. The accessible building entrance is located on the rectory side of the church.  Maryland Ave. can be reached via a short, picturesque walk across the 40th St. Bridge or the Millvale Riverfront Trail.

By bus: Two bus lines run right off of Maryland Ave. The 2 Bus Line runs along Grant Ave. between Downtown and the North Hills, and the 1 Bus Line runs along E. Ohio St. between Downtown and Tarentum. You can plan your trip at the Port Authority website.

By bike: Millvale is served by a bike trail along the Millvale Riverfront Trail from Downtown. In addition, there are bike lanes connecting the 40th St. Bridge to Maryland Ave. The nearest Healthy Ride Bikeshare Station is located across the 40th St. Bridge at Butler St. & 42nd St. in Lawrenceville. Find stations and information at the Healthy Ride website.

Public tours, led by docents, are held on Saturdays at 11:00 am. Private tours at other times are by appointment only. A minimum of eight people or a donation of $80 is required. Due to church schedule, private tours are not available after 3:00 pm on Saturday or before 12:30 pm on Wednesday.

For advance reservation (including pre-payment of admission fee) and private tour requests email us at tours@vankamurals.org.

Please remember that St. Nicholas is an active parish. Mural viewing is NOT allowed during regularly scheduled Mass, 5:00 pm Saturday and 8:00 am Wednesday, or during other church-related activities.

Please try to arrive at least 10 minutes ahead of the tour start time. If you arrive late, you may join a tour in progress or wait for the next one. The $10 admission is still required.

Trained volunteers serve as docents. We recruit volunteers with diverse experiences, expertise and interests. A passion for the Vanka Murals and desire to tell their story is the primary qualification.

Tours are approximately 60 minutes. Docents are happy to answer questions during and after the tour.

Tours are $10 per person. Admission fees and merchandise help to conserve and light the murals. They are also essential to our mission to provide access to the murals for the general public. Donations are fully tax deductible. If a donation receipt is desired, we recommend that you make an online donation or pay by a check payable to: SPMMMV.

Yes. Please follow directional signage upon arrival. Parking is available in the convent parking lot across from the church on Maryland Avenue and around the church. If your group is arriving by tour bus, email us for instructions: tours@vankamurals.org.

Please note: Exit from Church-side parking lot is behind the Rectory building with right turn up Maryland Avenue and left turn left on Logan Street or down to Sheridan Avenue.

Caution: The traffic coming down Logan Street (to the right next to the entrance to the church) does not stop and may be making a sharp left onto Maryland.

Other Parking:  

• Sprinkler Fitters Lot (behind their building). (Accessible from Maryland, Sheridan Street off Grant OR Sheridan Street off Stanton)
• Handicap Parking: next to the School. The ramp to the Sanctuary is on the Rectory side of the Church. Spaces are limited. Please let us know in advance if you’ll be needing a space so we can make arrangements if necessary.
• Street Parking in Millvale if lots are full.

Flash photography is not permitted. However, photography for personal use is allowed. Any other photography must be approved by SPMMMV. For more information, please contact Anna Doering, Managing Director, at: adoering@vankamurals.org or leave a message: 412.408.3180.

We request that any posts to publicly accessible websites or blogs include a link back to our website – www.vankamurals.org – to assist us in our ongoing efforts to raise awareness and support for the murals. And if you are sharing to social media, please include hashtag #SaveMaxoVanka. We also welcome submissions for inclusion on our website at: info@vankamurals.org.

The tour is recommended for children who are capable of paying quiet attention to a presentation of up to one hour and can appreciate the solemnity of their setting. Ask your docent or greeter for children’s activities for use during the tour including noticing cards, scavenger hunts and other educational resources. Additionally, visit our tours page to learn more about school visits and field trips.