Heinz History Center facts for kids
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1879 Current location: 1996 |
|---|---|
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Type | History Museum |
The Senator John Heinz History Center is a big history museum in Pennsylvania, USA. It's connected to 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 the Strip District of Pittsburgh.
It's a huge place, about 275,000 square feet! The museum helps people learn about the past, understand the present, and plan for the future. It focuses on the history of Western Pennsylvania and how it connects to the wider American story.
Contents
The History Center's Story
The museum's journey began in 1879. Back then, it was a club called "Old Residents of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania." In 1884, its name changed to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (HSWP). This group has been running ever since, making it Pittsburgh's oldest cultural organization.
HSWP started sharing public history in 1911. They helped celebrate 100 years of steamboat travel in Pittsburgh. In 1955, they led the city's 200th birthday party. In its early days, HSWP met in homes and churches. But in 1893, they got space for their old records at the new Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. This library is in the Oakland neighborhood.
By 1914, HSWP had its own building nearby. It stayed there until 1996. That's when its new, bigger home opened in Pittsburgh's Strip District. This new museum was once an old warehouse. The Society celebrated the opening with a big party on April 26, 1996.
The History Center also has the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. It includes a library and archives too. There are six floors of exhibits that tell the story of Western Pennsylvania. The museum is named for H. John Heinz III, a U.S. Senator who passed away in 1991.
Cool Things to See and Do
The museum building itself is interesting! It used to be the Chautauqua Lake Ice Company building. It was updated by a company called Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The inside was designed to show off the building's old features. It also created lots of space for exhibits.
The History Center has many permanent exhibits, including:
- Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation: This exhibit shows 250 years of cool inventions and ideas 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 Senator Heinz. He was a beloved leader and helper in Pittsburgh.
- Glass: Shattering Notions: Pittsburgh was once known as "America's glass city." This exhibit shows the history of the region's first big industry.
- Heinz: Learn all about the history of the H.J. Heinz Company, famous for its ketchup and other foods.
- Special Collections Gallery: This area holds over 3,000 items. They show the rich history of different cultures and companies in Pittsburgh. In 2017, many items from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood were added here. They are still there today!
Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
Inside the Senator John Heinz History Center, you'll find the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. It covers 20,000 square feet over two floors. This "museum within a museum" shows how Pittsburgh became a sports leader. It covers over a century of sports, from amateur to professional.
The Sports Museum shares amazing stories through hundreds of items. It has over 70 hands-on activities and 20 audio and video programs.
Some cool items you can see include:
- Franco Harris' cleats from the "Immaculate Reception" 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 champion belt.
- Arnold Palmer's sweater and golf bag.
- Chip Ganassi's 2000 Indy 500-winning race car.
- 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 History Center also has the Detre Library & Archives. This is a huge collection of resources. It helps people learn about 250 years of life in Western Pennsylvania. The collection includes books, old papers, photos, maps, newspapers, films, and recordings.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village
The History Center also runs Meadowcroft Rockshelter. This is a famous archaeological site south of Pittsburgh. It's near Washington County's Avella community.
The Rockshelter is the oldest place where humans lived in North America. People have lived there for almost 16,000 years! This site was named a National Historic Landmark in 2005.
Next to the Rockshelter is a historic village. The History Center runs this as a living museum. People dress up and show 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 has two floors and covers 12,000 square feet. It tells the story of Western Pennsylvania's important role. This includes its part in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. It also shares how Pittsburgh began.
