Heinz History Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1879 Current location: 1996 |
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| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Type | History Museum |
The Senator John Heinz History Center is a really cool history museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's the biggest history museum in Pennsylvania! It's connected with the famous Smithsonian Institution. The museum is named after H. John Heinz III, who was a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. You can find it in an area of Pittsburgh called the Strip District.
The Heinz History Center is a huge place, about 275,000 square feet. It's an educational spot that helps people learn about the past. It connects regional history with the bigger story of America. The goal is to help us understand the past, make sense of the present, and guide us for the future.
In 2024, readers of USA Today voted the Heinz History Center as the best history museum in the United States!
Contents
Exploring the Heinz History Center
The museum started way back in 1879 as a club. It was called the Old Residents of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. In 1884, its name changed to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (HSWP). This group has been around ever since, making it Pittsburgh's oldest cultural organization.
The HSWP began sharing public history in 1911. They helped celebrate 100 years of steamboat travel in Pittsburgh. In 1955, they led the city's 200th birthday celebration. At first, the HSWP met in homes and churches. But in 1893, they got space for their historical records at the new Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
By 1914, the HSWP had its own building. They stayed there until 1996. That's when their new, bigger home in the Strip District was ready. This new museum was once an old warehouse. They celebrated the opening with a big party on April 26, 1996. In 2004, a new part called the Smithsonian wing opened. This added more galleries, an education center, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
The History Center is named after John Heinz. He was a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. He sadly passed away in a plane crash in 1991.
Building Design and Features
The museum building itself is pretty cool! It used to be the Chautauqua Lake Ice Company building. It's over 100 years old. An architecture firm from Pittsburgh, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, redesigned it. They made sure the building's original features were still visible. They also created new spaces for exhibits and other museum needs. So, the building is like an exhibit all on its own!
What You Can See Inside
The History Center has lots to explore. It includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and the Detre Library & Archives. There are six floors of exhibits that tell the story of Western Pennsylvania. Some exhibits stay all the time, and some change.
Here are some of the permanent exhibits you can find:
- Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation - This exhibit celebrates 250 years of amazing things from Western Pennsylvania. You can learn about Dr. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine and even the invention of the Big Mac!
- Senator John Heinz: A Western Pennsylvania Legacy - This exhibit tells the story of John Heinz. He was a beloved politician and helped many people in Pittsburgh.
- Clash of Empires: The British, French, & Indian War, 1754-1763 - Learn about the French and Indian War. This was a big global conflict that started in this region.
- From Slavery to Freedom - This exhibit explores over 250 years of African American history. It goes from the 1700s in Africa to the 2000s in Western Pennsylvania.
- Rediscovering Lewis & Clark: A Journey with the Rooney Family - Follow the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. Their journey actually started in Pittsburgh!
- Glass: Shattering Notions - Discover why Pittsburgh was known as America's "glass city." See the history of glassmaking, which was the region's first industry.
- Heinz - Learn all about the history of the H.J. Heinz Company. Yes, the ketchup company!
- Visible Storage - This is a special area where you can see over 1,200 objects from the museum's collection. It's like a peek behind the scenes!
- Special Collections Gallery - This gallery shows artifacts about the many different cultures and businesses in Pittsburgh. You can also see original set pieces and props from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which was filmed in Pittsburgh!
Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is inside the Heinz History Center. It's like a museum within a museum! It covers 20,000 square feet over two floors. This museum shows how the Pittsburgh area became a leader in sports. It covers over a century of sports, from amateur to professional. You'll see stories of Pittsburgh sports through hundreds of items. There are also over 70 hands-on exhibits and 20 audio and video programs.
Some cool items you can see include:
- Franco Harris' cleats from the "Immaculate Reception" football play.
- Mario Lemieux's hockey skates.
- Satchel Paige's baseball glove.
- The pitching rubber from the 1960 World Series.
- Billy Conn's boxing gloves and championship belt.
- Arnold Palmer's sweater and golf bag.
- Chip Ganassi's race car that won the Indy 500 in 2000.
- The "Ultimate Steelers Fan's Car."
- Homestead women swimmers' Olympic medals from the 1920s and 1930s.
- Hundreds of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cards.
Detre Library & Archives
The Detre Library & Archives at the History Center is a huge collection of historical resources. It helps people learn about 250 years of life in Western Pennsylvania. The collection includes books, old papers, photographs, maps, newspapers, films, and recordings.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village
The History Center also manages another amazing place called Meadowcroft Rockshelter. It's an important archaeological site south of Pittsburgh. It's near Avella in Washington County.
The Rockshelter is the oldest place where humans lived in North America. There's proof that people lived there for almost 19,000 years! It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2005.
At this site, you can also see a recreated 16th-century Monongahela Indian Village. There's also a 1770s Frontier Trading Post. Next to the Rockshelter is a historic village with 19th-century buildings. The History Center runs this as a living museum. People dressed in old clothes act out what rural life was like in the 1800s.
Fort Pitt Museum
Since 2010, the History Center has also managed the Fort Pitt Museum. This museum is 12,000 square feet and has two floors. It's located at Point State Park. The museum tells the story of Western Pennsylvania's important role during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. It also shares how Pittsburgh began in this very spot.
