Heritage Discovery Center facts for kids
| Established | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Location | 201 Sixth Avenue Johnstown, Pennsylvania |
| Type | Artifacts and Local History |
The Heritage Discovery Center is a fun place to learn about history and culture. It's officially called the "Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center". This center is run by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Here, you can explore many exhibits. They show you the history and culture of the local area. The building also has the Johnstown Children's Museum. Plus, there's a cafe and a social club for visitors.
When you buy a ticket, you can visit all the exhibits. This includes the Johnstown Children's Museum. Your ticket also lets you visit other JAHA museums. These are part of the Johnstown Discovery Network. They include the Johnstown Flood Museum and the Wagner–Ritter House & Garden. The Wagner–Ritter House is open during certain seasons.
Contents
Discovering History: Exciting Exhibits
The Heritage Discovery Center has amazing exhibits. They help you explore the past. You can learn about different people and how they lived.
America: Through Immigrant Eyes
This is a special exhibit that stays all the time. It tells the stories of immigrants. These people came to the area between 1880 and 1914. Most of them came from Eastern and Southern Europe. They created new neighborhoods here.
The displays use sights, sounds, and even smells. This helps you feel like you are there. You can experience a person's daily life. It starts from their home country and their journey. Then, it shows their new life in Johnstown. A theater plays videos of interviews. You can hear from the children and grandchildren of these immigrants.
Iron & Steel Gallery: Johnstown's Industry
This gallery focuses on the local steel industry. Steel was very important to Johnstown. You can see old photographs here. There are also videos and presentations. They show how steel was made. You learn about the people who worked in the mills.
Changing Exhibits: New Stories to Explore
The Heritage Discovery Center also has two other galleries. These galleries feature changing exhibits. This means there's always something new to see! They show different parts of local history and culture.
Johnstown Children's Museum: Play and Learn
The Johnstown Children's Museum is on the third floor. It's a great place for younger kids. They can learn about Johnstown in a fun way.
The museum has many interactive displays. Children can play games and explore. They learn about Johnstown's geography and history. They also discover its culture and industries. It's a hands-on way to understand the city.
History of the Center: From Brewery to Museum
The building itself has an interesting past. It was built in 1907. Back then, it was a large brewery. It belonged to the Germania Brewery Company. This was a local Johnstown company.
Later, the building was changed. In 2008 and 2009, more work was done. The third, fourth, and fifth floors were renovated. This led to new parts of the center opening. The Johnstown Children's Museum opened then. Also, the Ethnic Social Club, Galliker's Cafe, and the Iron & Steel Gallery opened.
