Heinz History Center

Heinz History Center Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Heinz History Center, History Museum, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA.
(2026)

Voted the #1 History Museum in America, the Heinz History Center preserves and interprets the history of Western Pennsylvanians through six floors of interactive exhibitions. From the pre-revolutionary drama of the French & Indian War to the legendary match-ups of the Super Steelers, discover 250 years of Pittsburgh history at the Senator John Heinz History Center. The History Center presents the

most compelling stories from American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection, all in an interactive environment perfect for visitors of every age! HISTORY CENTER ADMISSION

Adults: $18
Senior Citizens (62+): $15
Retired & Active Duty Military: $2 off admission
Students with a Valid School ID: $9
Children ages 6-17: Free for the month of October, thanks to UPMC! Children ages 5 and Under: Free
History Center Members: Free

All rates include admission to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, the Detre Library & Archives, and all exhibitions at the History Center.

Happy Pride Month! 🌈This photograph captures members of Bet Tikvah Congregation marching in a Pittsburgh Pride parade in...
06/02/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

This photograph captures members of Bet Tikvah Congregation marching in a Pittsburgh Pride parade in 1999. Founded in 1988, Bet Tikvah was created to serve Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ Jewish community and provide a welcoming space where individuals could fully embrace both their faith and identity.

Preserved in the Rauh Jewish Archives, the Bet Tikvah Congregation Records document the growth of a community that helped foster belonging, connection, and visibility in Western Pennsylvania.

📸 Members of Bet Tikvah Congregation march in a Pittsburgh Pride parade, 1999.

Join the African American Program for a free in-person screening of “American Dignity” on Wednesday, June 17.Presented a...
05/31/2026

Join the African American Program for a free in-person screening of “American Dignity” on Wednesday, June 17.

Presented as part of the From Slavery to Freedom Film Series, “American Dignity” follows voting rights organizer Charles Douglas III as he seeks guidance and clarity from civil rights veteran Charles Mauldin, who at just 17 years old was sixth in line during the historic 1965 march across Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge.

The documentary captures conversations with Mauldin and other civil rights activists as they reflect on the lessons learned over 60 years ago and consider how organizers today can carry those lessons to make lasting, democratic change.

Following the screening, Mauldin will discuss the film with Samuel W Black, director of the African American Program. With the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the 1965 Voting Rights Act, this event will reflect on the struggle of Mauldin and others to secure those rights in the 1960s.

Register: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/event/from-slavery-to-freedom-film-series-american-dignity/

in 1969, Meadowcroft opened its doors to the public for the very first time as Meadowcroft Village! Just a year earlie...
05/30/2026

in 1969, Meadowcroft opened its doors to the public for the very first time as Meadowcroft Village!

Just a year earlier, the Meadowcroft Foundation was formed to oversee this exciting new venture. Founders Albert and Delvin Miller generously donated 198 acres of their family farm to make their vision a reality.

The name “Meadowcroft Village” blended two meaningful places: Bancroft Farm, which had been in the Miller family since 1794, and Meadow Lands Farm, the heart of Delvin’s harness racing legacy.

After more than a decade of work, Meadowcroft Village was ready for visitors in 1969, and it’s been bringing the past to life ever since! It’s a beautiful weekend to visit the 200+ acre site, take the family on a road trip and make a day of it!

📷 The forge at Meadowcroft in 1964. Albert Miller Papers and Photographs, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village.

05/29/2026

What is the atlatl? 🎯

We were excited to see footage from featured on last night!
For the $2,000 clue in the category “Words from Native Americans,” contestants were asked:

“From the language of the Aztecs, this device to increase spear velocity and range has been compared to a dog ball thrower.”

Check out footage of one of our interpreters demonstrating how to use the ancient spear thrower, then plan your visit to Meadowcroft Rockshelter this weekend to try throwing an atlatl yourself!

The general store Sun Quong Yuen was a defining fixture in the life of Lydia Lee Ott and her family. Owned by Lydia’s fa...
05/27/2026

The general store Sun Quong Yuen was a defining fixture in the life of Lydia Lee Ott and her family. Owned by Lydia’s father Lee Git, the store served Chinese families and businessmen from its location on Third Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Chinatown.

For local Chinese families, Sun Quong Yuen offered items to meet daily needs and to mark special occasions. Products such as shark’s fin, dried squid, sea cucumber, and incense were purchased by families to celebrate anniversaries and to commemorate ancestors.

The store also offered a highly valued suite of products: comfort food. On Sundays, Lydia’s mother prepared homemade dumplings and sweet cakes from regional Chinese recipes and sold them in the store — offering customers a comforting taste of home.

📸 Sun Quong Yuen decorated for Christmas, 1960s.

Discover new pathways into your family history at the African American Genealogy Workshop this Saturday, May 30!Join fam...
05/26/2026

Discover new pathways into your family history at the African American Genealogy Workshop this Saturday, May 30!

Join family historian David Anthony Taylor as he shares insights from his work leading the nonprofit Black Pearls of Genealogy. Through innovative research methods and accessible digital resources, Taylor will highlight ways individuals and communities can reconnect with their past and restore stories that have been overlooked.

Presented in partnership with the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society of Pittsburgh, this workshop is designed for both beginners and experienced researchers looking to deepen their understanding of African American genealogy.

Register now: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/event/african-american-genealogy-workshop/

📷 A group portrait of members of the Rex Racquet Club, a tennis and social club. The members are posed on a court at the Hill District YMCA. Michael Dorsey, James A. Dorsey's brother, was president of the club.

This summer, we’re proud to participate in Blue Star Museums and offer free admission to active-duty military personnel ...
05/25/2026

This summer, we’re proud to participate in Blue Star Museums and offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families through Labor Day!

Eligible guests can enjoy free admission to the Heinz History Center, Franco Harris Sports Museum, Fort Pitt Museum, and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village as part of this nationwide initiative led by the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and thousands of museums across the country.

Free admission is available to currently serving members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard and Reserves, and up to five family members.

Thank you to those who serve, we look forward to welcoming you to Smithsonian's home in Pittsburgh!

📸 Post 68 VFW Women’s Auxiliary, c. May 30, 1931. F. Theodore Wagner Photographs, Detre Library & Archives at the Heinz History Center.

Hot dogs and fancy hats – what more could one need for a summer picnic in the 1930s? These stylish ladies are pictured t...
05/24/2026

Hot dogs and fancy hats – what more could one need for a summer picnic in the 1930s?

These stylish ladies are pictured taking a break on the lawn at Kennywood Park and proving that summer traditions, like a picnic at Kennywood, never go out of style!

On this day in 1906, West View Park officially opened for its very first season! 🎡 Located just north of Pittsburgh, the...
05/23/2026

On this day in 1906, West View Park officially opened for its very first season! 🎡

Located just north of Pittsburgh, the park quickly became a favorite destination for generations of Pittsburghers. Founder T.M. Harton kept the excitement rolling with iconic attractions like the Ferris Wheel, The Dips, and the Speed-O-Plane after his original business partner left to help develop Kennywood.

By the 1930s, the park’s famous ballroom became the place to be, and after reopening as Danceland in 1945, it hosted legendary acts including The Rolling Stones.

After 71 seasons, West View Park closed in 1977, but for many Pittsburghers, the memories ride on.

📸 Riders on West View Park’s Racing Whippet, c. 1950s-60s.

Yuen Yee (1926–2008) arrived in Pittsburgh during the Great Depression and became a beloved figure in the city’s Chinese...
05/22/2026

Yuen Yee (1926–2008) arrived in Pittsburgh during the Great Depression and became a beloved figure in the city’s Chinese American community.

As a teenager in the 1930s, Yuen worked long hours in a Chinese laundry, one of the few industries open to many early Chinese immigrants. After serving in World War II, he spent more than 40 years in Pittsburgh’s restaurant industry and became known as the unofficial “Mayor of Chinatown,” helping newcomers navigate immigration, business, and life in the city.

Following a debilitating stroke later in life, Yuen taught himself to write with his left hand so he could preserve his memories of Army life, Chinatown, and his decades in the restaurant business. Today, thanks to his daughter Shirley, those handwritten stories are preserved in the History Center collection for future generations.

📸 In 1974, Yuen Yee appeared on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to introduce viewers to Chinese cooking and culture.

Address

1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA
15222

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(412) 454-6000

Website

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