Insider's Guide: Senator John Heinz History Center

Explore Pittsburgh’s Heinz History Center, the #1 History Museum in America

Uncover 250 years of Western Pennsylvania history at the Senator John Heinz History Center, PA's largest history museum. The Smithsonian Affiliate features the original TV set from the iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the world's largest collection of Heinz artifacts, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

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Courtesy of the Heinz History Center

The #1 History Museum in America...Again!

And that's not all the exciting news about this museum. The Heinz History Center has been voted the #1 History Museum in America for 2025 by USA Today as part of its annual Readers' Choice Awards, marking the second year in a row it earned the top spot.

The History Center finished at the top of an impressive list of 20 nationally respected cultural institutions, including three Smithsonian museums and a few National Historic Landmarks, on its way to taking home this well-deserved honor.

Interactive Exhibits

With six floors of exciting exhibits and activities, the Heinz History Center is the perfect place to learn from the past while making unforgettable family memories. Explore the Neighborhood of Make-Believe featuring the original set and puppets from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Design Pop Art, construct bridges, and more in Discovery Place, or slide down the “Liberty Tube” in the museum’s Kidsburgh exhibit. You and your family could even throw a touchdown pass to legendary Steelers and score the winning goal for the Penguins inside the two-floor Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to punch your SmartSteps stamp card on all six floors of the History Center to receive a FREE Heinz pickle pin!

Courtesy of the Heinz History Center

Special Exhibits

Pittsburgh's Hidden History

Through Oct. 5, 2025

Wander through a whimsical world of wonders inside the dynamic new exhibition, Pittsburgh’s Hidden History, featuring a yinzsplosion of rarely and never-before-seen objects that tell stories from Pittsburgh’s past like never before. Explore objects from iconic Pittsburgh institutions like The Original Hot Dog Shop, Primanti Bros., Kaufmann’s, and Kennywood. Inspect the getaway sleigh used in an infamous shootout with the Pittsburgh police and the notorious Biddle brothers following a prison break in 1902 – a story so dramatic that it was later made into a Hollywood film!

Other highlights include:

  • A spooky section on Scary Pittsburgh, featuring creepy dolls, haunting clown masks, and the ghoulishly green Vampiress from Kennywood’s now-shuttered dark ride Le Cachot
  • Some of the oldest objects in the collection, from an 18th century key to Fort Duquesne to an unfinished flint tool unearthed at Meadowcroft Rockshelter that dates back 14,000 years
  • Rare sports treasures like a 1910 Honus Wagner trading card and the Oakmont jacket worn by Eric Springer, the first African American member of Oakmont
  • Couture clothing, like an Alcoa aluminum mini dress by legendary fashion designer Oscar de La Renta, an 1880s pink afternoon dress made by Madame Vignon, and a Gilded Age gown

Plan Your Visit

The Senator John Heinz History Center and its family museums, including The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Fort Pitt Museum and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, are open!

Guests are encouraged to pre-purchase online tickets and reserve a date and time of visit.

Courtesy of the Heinz History Center

Museum Admission:

Adult Admission: $20 ($11 for students)
Child Admission: $11 for ages 6-17. 5 and under are free.
Senior Admission: $18

Showcase your Pittsburgh Pride and enjoy all the benefits of being a member, including free admission to the History Center and its museums, and a membership to the Smithsonian Institution. Learn more about being a History Center Member.

Visit the History Center’s website for more information and to plan your visit.

4 Museums in 3 Locations

The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is a museum-within-a-museum. Located on the second and third floors of the History Center, this sports museum celebrates Pittsburgh’s iconic sports legacy.

Take a stroll to the historic Point State Park and see the Fort Pitt Museum, a two-floor, 12,000 square-foot museum that features the region’s essential role during the French & Indian War and the American Revolution.

Located in Avella, Washington County, Pennsylvania, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village is the oldest site of human habitation in North America. This National Historic Landmark also houses three outdoor areas including a 16th century Indian village, 18th century Frontier Trading Post and 19th century village.

Expand your knowledge of Western PA and plan your next family adventure with a trip to the Heinz History Center - Pennsylvania’s largest history museum!

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