Experience the Murals

Learn about our in-person tours, as well as off-site programs and virtual tour options.

Tour & Program Options

Meet Maxo Vanka: The Public Tour

Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring murals of Croatian artist Maxo Vanka on a guided tour at the historic St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale. Discover how these striking works were painted by Vanka in 1937 and 1941 to reflect the culture and lives of the working-class immigrant congregation.

Learn more about Public Tours →

A couple photographs Vanka's Mural "Croatian Mothers Give Their Sons to War"

These Walls Can Talk: The Immigration Tour

Take a deeper dive into the history and stories of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church’s congregation, why people immigrated to Pittsburgh, and how immigrants built their lives in America while maintaining cultural connections. Rich with detail, including oral histories and archival photos, this 75-minute one-of-a-kind experience interprets a selection of Maxo Vanka’s murals in the context of world events and the cherished recollections of parishioners.

Learn more about The Immigration Tour →

Private Tours

Customize your experience by planning a private tour. Are you interested in history, art, social justice, or better understanding of the rise and role of Pittsburgh and its people in American history? Share your interests and we will create a unique experience for your class, club, congregation, family, or company. An outing to the murals provides opportunities for art lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

Learn more about Private Tours →

School & Youth Field Trips

Join us for a field trip with your students to the murals of Maxo Vanka at St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale! Workshops for teachers and educators are also available.

Learn more about Field Trips →

Off-site Programs

Can’t bring your group to Millvale? Let us bring the Murals to you! Experience the Murals “off the walls” through guided virtual tours or presentations at your site.

Learn more about Off-site Programs →

Virtual Tour

View these thought-provoking murals from anywhere in the world with our virtual tour. Like a visit to St. Nicholas Church, your purchase of a virtual tour helps support our mission to save and share the Vanka Murals for generations to come.

Take a Virtual Tour→

Learn More

Tour FAQs and directions

The answers to general questions, directions, and parking instructions.

A page dedicated to these answers and more →

Events & Activities

Great times. Greater cause. Join us to save Maxo Vanka.

Check out the latest Events & Activities →

The Murals Experience reviews

					  Check the website link for hours.  Usually have tours on Saturday from 10 to 2 on the hour.  They have just installed new lighting and are half way through a 10 year restoration. A lot of emotion as this tells as the murals tell both a Christian and Croatian story.  Afterwards, check out one of the 3 breweries in Millvale.				
Trainhopper
November 18, 2017 

					  I just finished a docent led tour of  St Nicholas Croation Catholic Church in Pittsburgh with its astonishing murals by Maxo Vanka, a 20th century modernist, pacifist, and social critic. They evoke Eastern European church fresco painting and Diego Rivera, but are unique for their interweaving of religious iconography, folk motifs, and very strong social commentary with beautiful painting.  Spectacular and a not-to-miss stop in the city.				
athomas98
December 29, 2016 

					  Excellent experience - Bringing out of town family here was a stroke of genius! They loved the docent tour on Saturday morning. Such beautiful murals and a unique story behind them. You will learn about the artist, the Croatian community in Pittsburgh, and the stories behind some of the most interesting murals I've ever seen in an urban, church setting. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to have a fun and unusual experience in Pittsburgh that is off the "common path" for visitors.				
Road63203755945
September 8, 2024 