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{{Infobox museum
{{Infobox museum
| name =
| name =
| image = Senator John Heinz History Center.svg
| image = Senator John Heinz History Center.svg
| imagesize = 250
| caption =
| map_type = Pennsylvania
| caption =
| map_type = Pennsylvania
| map_caption = Location within Pennsylvania
⚫
| coordinates = {{coord|40.4466|-79.9922|display=inline}}
| map_caption = Location within Pennsylvania
⚫
| established = {{Start date|1879}}<br />Current location: 1996
| map_alt = A map of Pennsylvania showing the location of the Heinz History Center
⚫
| dissolved =
⚫
| coordinates = {{coord|40.4466|-79.9922|display=inline}}
⚫
| location = [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]
⚫
| established = 1879<br />Current location: 1996
⚫
| type = History Museum
⚫
| dissolved =
⚫
| visitors =
⚫
| location = [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]
⚫
| director = [[Andrew E. Masich|Andrew Masich]] (President & CEO)
⚫
| type = History Museum
⚫
| curator = Anne Madarasz (Director Curatorial Division/Chief Historian/Director WPSM)
⚫
| visitors =
⚫
| director = [[Andrew E. Masich|Andrew Masich]] (President & CEO)
⚫
| curator = Anne Madarasz (Museum Division Director)
| publictransit =
| publictransit =
| website = [http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org www.heinzhistorycenter.org]
| website = {{URL|http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org|www.heinzhistorycenter.org}}
}}{{More citations needed|date=March 2022}}
}}
⚫
'''The Senator John Heinz History Center''', an affiliate of the [[Smithsonian Institution]],<ref>{{cite web |title=About |publisher=Heinz History Center |url=http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/about |access-date=January 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231083504/http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/about |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is the largest history [[museum]] in the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]], United States. Named after [[U.S. Senator]] [[H. John Heinz III]] (1938–1991) from Pennsylvania, it is located in the [[Strip District, Pittsburgh|Strip District]] of [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]].


⚫
The Heinz History Center is a {{convert|275000|sqft|m2|adj=on}}<ref name=opening>{{cite news |title=Paying homage to the past\Regional history center opens with pomp and pageantry |newspaper=Post-Gazette |date=April 29, 1996 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADF94116348220&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref> educational institution "that engages and inspires a diverse audience with links to the past, understanding in the present, and guidance for the future by preserving regional history and presenting the American experience with a [[Western Pennsylvania]] connection."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/about/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
'''The Senator John Heinz History Center''', an affiliate of the [[Smithsonian Institution]],<ref>{{cite web |title=About |publisher=Heinz History Center |url=http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/about |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6VG6kl8Vr |archivedate=January 1, 2015}}</ref> is the largest history [[museum]] in the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]], United States. Named after [[U.S. Senator]] [[H. John Heinz III]] (1938–1991) from Pennsylvania, it is located in the [[Strip District]] of [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]].


In 2024, the Heinz History Center was named the best history museum in America by readers of USA Today as part of their annual Readers' Choice poll.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-history-museum-2024/ | title=Best History Museum (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards | date=27 February 2024 }}</ref>
⚫
The Heinz History Center is a {{convert|275000|sqft|m2|adj=on}}<ref name=opening>{{cite news |title=Paying homage to the past\Regional history center opens with pomp and pageantry |newspaper=Post-Gazette |date=April 29, 1996 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADF94116348220&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref> educational institution "that engages and inspires a diverse audience with links to the past, understanding in the present, and guidance for the future by preserving regional history and presenting the American experience with a [[Western Pennsylvania]] connection."


==Senator John Heinz History Center==
==Senator John Heinz History Center==
⚫
This museum's history began in 1879, with the formation of a club called Old Residents of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. In 1884, leaders changed the organization's name to the [[Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania]] (HSWP); it has been operating continuously since then and is the Pittsburgh region's oldest cultural organization.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:HistoryCener from Strip District.JPG|left|thumb|300px|View of the Senator John Heinz History Center from Pittsburgh's Strip District]]The History Center features the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and the Library and Archives, and includes six floors of permanent and changing exhibitions that tell the story of Western Pennsylvania. Though it was originally established in 1879,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/life/seen/2014/11/24/1879-Founders-Dinner-held-at-Heinz-History-Center/stories/201411230222 |title=1879 Founders dinner held at Heinz History Center |newspaper=Post-Gazette |date=November 24, 2014 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6VG75xbuu |archivedate=January 1, 2015}}</ref> the [[Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania]] opened its current location in the historic Strip District along the Allegheny River in 1996. It is named for [[H. John Heinz III]], the late US Senator from Pennsylvania who died in a 1991 plane crash.<ref name=opening/>


⚫
HSWP began the tradition of interpreting public history in 1911, organizing the centennial of [[steamboat]] navigation in Pittsburgh. In 1955, it led the organization of the city's bicentennial celebration. During its early years, HSWP leaders held meetings in homes and churches, but in 1893, were granted space for the organization's archives at the new [[Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]] in the [[Oakland (Pittsburgh)|Oakland]] neighborhood.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
The century-old Chautauqua Lake Ice Company building was renovated and adapted for use as the museum. The interior was designed to show off the building's features, as well as create spaces for exhibits and support space. The museum building is an exhibit in its own right. The History Center also features the following permanent exhibitions:


By 1914, HSWP had its own building on Bigelow Boulevard. It operated there until 1996, when its expanded quarters in the renovated historic warehouse were completed in Pittsburgh's [[Strip District, Pittsburgh|Strip District]].<ref name=":0" /> The Society celebrated the opening of the new museum by hosting an inaugural gala there on April 26, 1996, for 900 guests.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} In 2004, the Smithsonian wing was completed, adding a gallery for changing exhibitions from the [[Smithsonian Institution]], a Special Collections Gallery, an Education Center, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Masich |first=Andrew E. |date=2004-12-01 |title=History Center |url=https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/5250/5033 |journal=Western Pennsylvania History: 1918 - 2023 |language=en |pages=2–3 |issn=1525-4755}}</ref>
⚫
* ''''' Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation ''''' celebrates 250 years of Western Pennsylvania's significant contributions to the world, from Dr. [[Jonas Salk]]'s discovery of the polio vaccine to the invention of the Big Mac.
* '''''Senator John Heinz: A Western Pennsylvania Legacy''''' details the life and legacy of one of Pittsburgh's most beloved philanthropists and politicians.
* Pittsburgh's reign as America's "glass city" is showcased in ''''' Glass: Shattering Notions'''''.
* '''''Heinz 57''''' chronicles the history of the H.J. Heinz Company.
* The ''''' Special Collections''''' Gallery houses more than 3,000 artifacts illustrating the rich ethnic history and corporate fabric of the Pittsburgh region.


[[File:HistoryCener from Strip District.JPG|thumb|right|View of the Senator John Heinz History Center from Pittsburgh's Strip District]]The History Center is named for [[H. John Heinz III]], the late U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania who died in a 1991 plane crash.<ref name=opening/>
⚫
The museum's history began in 1879, with the formation of a club called Old Residents of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. In 1884 it changed its name to the [[Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania]] (HSWP) and has been operating continuously since then. It is the Pittsburgh region's oldest cultural organization.


===Architecture===
⚫
HSWP began the tradition of interpreting public history in 1911, organizing the centennial of [[steamboat]] navigation in Pittsburgh. In 1955 it led the organization of the city's bicentennial celebration. In the early years, HSWP held meetings in homes and churches, but in 1893, it was granted a space for its archives at the new [[Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]] in the [[Oakland (Pittsburgh)|Oakland]] neighborhood. By 1914, it had its own building nearby. It operated there until 1996, when its expanded quarters in the renovated historic warehouse were completed in Pittsburgh's Strip District. The Society celebrated the opening of the new museum by an Inaugural Gala there on April 26, 1996 for 900 guests.
⚫
The century-old Chautauqua Lake Ice Company building was renovated and adapted by the Pittsburgh office of the architecture firm of [[Bohlin Cywinski Jackson]], who did the design and oversaw construction. The interior was designed to show off the building's features, as well as create spaces for exhibits and support space. The museum building is an exhibit in its own right.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thomas |first=Clarke |date=1996-03-01 |title=Building a History Center in Western Pennsylvania |url=https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/4517/58435 |journal=Western Pennsylvania History: 1918 - 2023 |language=en |pages=4–9 |issn=1525-4755}}</ref>


=== Interior and contents ===
⚫
==Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the History Center==
The History Center features the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Detre Library & Archives, and six floors of permanent and changing exhibitions that tell the story of Western Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 24, 2014 |title=1879 Founders dinner held at Heinz History Center |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/life/seen/2014/11/24/1879-Founders-Dinner-held-at-Heinz-History-Center/stories/201411230222 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112212305/http://www.post-gazette.com/life/seen/2014/11/24/1879-Founders-Dinner-held-at-Heinz-History-Center/stories/201411230222 |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |newspaper=Post-Gazette}}</ref>
Located in the Smithsonian wing of the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum spans {{convert|20000|sqft|m2}} of exhibit space over two floors.


The History Center features permanent exhibitions including:
⚫
The "museum within a museum" captures the Pittsburgh region's evolution and influence as a sports leader over more than a century, from amateur to pro and across the spectrum of sports. The Sports Museum captures tales of Pittsburgh sports through hundreds of artifacts, more than 70 hands-on interactive exhibits, and 20 audio-visual programs.


⚫
* ''Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation'' - celebrates 250 years of Western Pennsylvania's significant contributions to the world, from Dr. [[Jonas Salk]]'s discovery of the polio vaccine to the invention of the [[Big Mac]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/pittsburgh-tradition-of-innovation/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
Select artifacts include [[Franco Harris]]' "[[Immaculate Reception]]" shoes; [[Mario Lemieux]]'s hockey skates; [[Satchel Paige]]'s baseball glove; the pitching rubber from the 1960 World Series; [[Billy Conn]]'s gloves and light heavyweight champion belt; [[Arnold Palmer]]'s sweater and golf bag; [[Chip Ganassi]]'s 2000 Indy 500-winning race car; the "Ultimate Steelers Fan's Car;" the [[Homestead, Pennsylvania|Homestead]] women swimmers [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] medals from the 1920s and 1930s; and hundreds of [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] [[baseball cards]].
* ''Senator John Heinz: A Western Pennsylvania Legacy'' - details the life and legacy of one of Pittsburgh's most beloved philanthropists and politicians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senator John Heinz: A Western Pennsylvania Legacy |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/senator-john-heinz-a-western-pennsylvania-legacy/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Clash of Empires: The British, French, & Indian War, 1754-1763'' - explores the origins, development, and aftermath of the global French and Indian War.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clash of Empires: The British, French & Indian War, 1754-1763 |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/clash-of-empires/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
* ''From Slavery to Freedom'' - explores more than 250 years of African American history, from 18th century Africa to 21st century Western Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Slavery to Freedom |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/from-slavery-to-freedom/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Rediscovering Lewis & Clark: A Journey with the Rooney Family'' - traces the path of Lewis and Clark's expedition beginning in Pittsburgh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rediscovering Lewis & Clark: A Journey with the Rooney Family |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/rediscovering-lewis-and-clark/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Glass: Shattering Notions'' - showcases Pittsburgh's reign as America's "glass city" and the history of the region’s first industry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glass: Shattering Notions |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/glass/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Heinz'' - chronicles the history of the H.J. Heinz Company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heinz |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/heinz/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Visible Storage'' - provides a behind-the-scenes look at more than 1,200 objects in the museum's collection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visible Storage |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/visible-storage/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Special Collections'' ''Gallery'' - houses artifacts illustrating the rich ethnic history and corporate fabric of the Pittsburgh region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Special Collections |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/special-collections/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref> The gallery also features original set pieces and props from [[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]], which was filmed in Pittsburgh.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-20 |title=How Mister Rogers' Legacy Lives on at Heinz History Center, and Beyond |url=https://www.wesa.fm/arts-sports-culture/2015-03-20/how-mister-rogers-legacy-lives-on-at-heinz-history-center-and-beyond |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=90.5 WESA |language=en}}</ref>

⚫
==Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the History Center==
⚫
Located in the Smithsonian wing of the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum spans {{convert|20000|sqft|m2}} of exhibit space over two floors. The "museum within a museum" captures the Pittsburgh region's evolution and influence as a sports leader over more than a century, from amateur to pro and across the spectrum of sports. The Sports Museum captures tales of Pittsburgh sports through hundreds of artifacts, more than 70 hands-on interactive exhibits, and 20 audio-visual programs.

⚫
Select artifacts include [[Franco Harris]]' "[[Immaculate Reception]]" cleats; [[Mario Lemieux]]'s hockey skates; [[Satchel Paige]]'s baseball glove; the pitching rubber from the 1960 World Series; [[Billy Conn]]'s boxing gloves and light heavyweight champion belt; [[Arnold Palmer]]'s sweater and golf bag; [[Chip Ganassi]]'s 2000 Indy 500-winning race car; the "Ultimate Steelers Fan's Car;" the [[Homestead, Pennsylvania|Homestead]] women swimmers [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] medals from the 1920s and 1930s; and hundreds of [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] [[baseball cards]].


==Detre Library & Archives at the History Center==
==Detre Library & Archives at the History Center==
The History Center's Detre Library & Archives is an extensive scholarly resource documenting 250 years of life in Western Pennsylvania. The collection includes books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, atlases, newspapers, films, recordings and other memorabilia.
The History Center's Detre Library & Archives is an extensive scholarly resource documenting 250 years of life in Western Pennsylvania. The collection includes books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, atlases, newspapers, films, recordings, and other memorabilia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Detre Library & Archives |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/research/detre-library-archives/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>


==Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village==
==Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village==
The History Center also operates [[Meadowcroft Rockshelter]], a world-renowned [[archaeological]] site south of Pittsburgh near [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington County]]'s [[Avella, Pennsylvania|Avella]] community.
{{Main|Meadowcroft Rockshelter}}
The History Center also operates [[Meadowcroft Rockshelter]], a world-renowned [[archaeological]] site south of Pittsburgh near [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington County]]'s [[Avella, Pennsylvania|Avella]] community.


The Rockshelter is the oldest site of human habitation in North America, with evidence of man living there for nearly 16,000 years. The site was named a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 2005.
The Rockshelter is the oldest site of human habitation in North America, with evidence of humans living there for nearly 19,000 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/visit/meadowcroft/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref> The site was named a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 2005.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=John H. Sprinkle |date=2006 |title=American History: Chapter One: Meadowcroft Rockshelter |url=https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/7664/7437 |journal=Western Pennsylvania History: 1918 - 2023 |language=en |pages=8–9 |issn=1525-4755}}</ref>


Adjacent to the Rockshelter is the historic village. The History Center operates this as a living museum, with re-enactors recreating rural life in the 19th century.
The site also includes a recreated 16th century Monongahela Indian Village and 1770s Frontier Trading Post.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/meadowcroft/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref> Adjacent to the Rockshelter is a historic village featuring 19th century structures relocated to the site. The History Center operates this as a living museum, with re-enactors recreating rural life in the 19th century Upper Ohio Valley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meadowcroft Historic Village |url=https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/meadowcroft/exhibits/historic-village/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Heinz History Center |language=en}}</ref>


==Fort Pitt Museum==
==Fort Pitt Museum==
{{Main|Fort Pitt Museum}}
The History Center also operates the Fort Pitt Museum, a two-floor, {{convert|12000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} museum that tells the story of Western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the [[French and Indian War]], the [[American Revolution]], and as the birthplace of Pittsburgh.
Since 2010, the History Center has operated the [[Fort Pitt Museum]], a two-floor, {{convert|12000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} museum located at [[Point State Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Richard |date=2019-05-13 |title=Pittsburgh Then and Now: Fort Pitt Museum |url=https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/pittsburgh-then-and-now-fort-pitt-museum/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Pittsburgh Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Point State Park |url=https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/PointStatePark/Pages/default.aspx |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources |language=en-US}}</ref> The museum tells the story of Western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the [[French and Indian War]], the [[American Revolution]], and as the birthplace of Pittsburgh.<ref name=":1" />


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}

<references />
*{{cite book | author=Kidney, Walter C. | title=Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture: The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County | location=Pittsburgh | publisher=Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation | year=1997 | isbn=0-916670-18-X}}
*{{cite book | author=Kidney, Walter C. | title=Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture: The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County | location=Pittsburgh | publisher=Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation | year=1997 | isbn=0-916670-18-X}}

{{Portal|Pittsburgh}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{Pittsburgh}}
{{Pittsburgh}}
{{coord|40.4466|-79.9922|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{Coord|40.4466|-79.9922|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title}}


{{Museums in Pennsylvania |state=expanded}}
{{Museums in Pennsylvania |state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Biographical museums in Pennsylvania|Heinz, John]]
[[Category:Biographical museums in Pennsylvania|Heinz, John]]
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[[Category:Sports museums in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Sports museums in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1996]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1996]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Labor History]]

Latest revision as of 15:57, 20 August 2024

Heinz History Center
Heinz History Center is located in Pennsylvania
Heinz History Center
Location within Pennsylvania
Established1879 (1879)
Current location: 1996
LocationPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°26′48″N 79°59′32″W / 40.4466°N 79.9922°W / 40.4466; -79.9922
TypeHistory Museum
DirectorAndrew Masich (President & CEO)
CuratorAnne Madarasz (Director Curatorial Division/Chief Historian/Director WPSM)
Websitewww.heinzhistorycenter.org

The Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution,[1] is the largest history museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. Named after U.S. Senator H. John Heinz III (1938–1991) from Pennsylvania, it is located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh.

The Heinz History Center is a 275,000-square-foot (25,500 m2)[2] educational institution "that engages and inspires a diverse audience with links to the past, understanding in the present, and guidance for the future by preserving regional history and presenting the American experience with a Western Pennsylvania connection."[3]

In 2024, the Heinz History Center was named the best history museum in America by readers of USA Today as part of their annual Readers' Choice poll.[4]

Senator John Heinz History Center

[edit]

This museum's history began in 1879, with the formation of a club called Old Residents of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. In 1884, leaders changed the organization's name to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (HSWP); it has been operating continuously since then and is the Pittsburgh region's oldest cultural organization.[3]

HSWP began the tradition of interpreting public history in 1911, organizing the centennial of steamboat navigation in Pittsburgh. In 1955, it led the organization of the city's bicentennial celebration. During its early years, HSWP leaders held meetings in homes and churches, but in 1893, were granted space for the organization's archives at the new Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in the Oakland neighborhood.[3]

By 1914, HSWP had its own building on Bigelow Boulevard. It operated there until 1996, when its expanded quarters in the renovated historic warehouse were completed in Pittsburgh's Strip District.[3] The Society celebrated the opening of the new museum by hosting an inaugural gala there on April 26, 1996, for 900 guests.[citation needed] In 2004, the Smithsonian wing was completed, adding a gallery for changing exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution, a Special Collections Gallery, an Education Center, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.[5]

View of the Senator John Heinz History Center from Pittsburgh's Strip District

The History Center is named for H. John Heinz III, the late U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania who died in a 1991 plane crash.[2]

Architecture

[edit]

The century-old Chautauqua Lake Ice Company building was renovated and adapted by the Pittsburgh office of the architecture firm of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, who did the design and oversaw construction. The interior was designed to show off the building's features, as well as create spaces for exhibits and support space. The museum building is an exhibit in its own right.[6]

Interior and contents

[edit]

The History Center features the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Detre Library & Archives, and six floors of permanent and changing exhibitions that tell the story of Western Pennsylvania.[7]

The History Center features permanent exhibitions including:

  • Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation - celebrates 250 years of Western Pennsylvania's significant contributions to the world, from Dr. Jonas Salk's discovery of the polio vaccine to the invention of the Big Mac.[8]
  • Senator John Heinz: A Western Pennsylvania Legacy - details the life and legacy of one of Pittsburgh's most beloved philanthropists and politicians.[9]
  • Clash of Empires: The British, French, & Indian War, 1754-1763 - explores the origins, development, and aftermath of the global French and Indian War.[10]
  • From Slavery to Freedom - explores more than 250 years of African American history, from 18th century Africa to 21st century Western Pennsylvania.[11]
  • Rediscovering Lewis & Clark: A Journey with the Rooney Family - traces the path of Lewis and Clark's expedition beginning in Pittsburgh.[12]
  • Glass: Shattering Notions - showcases Pittsburgh's reign as America's "glass city" and the history of the region’s first industry.[13]
  • Heinz - chronicles the history of the H.J. Heinz Company.[14]
  • Visible Storage - provides a behind-the-scenes look at more than 1,200 objects in the museum's collection.[15]
  • Special Collections Gallery - houses artifacts illustrating the rich ethnic history and corporate fabric of the Pittsburgh region.[16] The gallery also features original set pieces and props from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which was filmed in Pittsburgh.[17]

Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the History Center

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Located in the Smithsonian wing of the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum spans 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of exhibit space over two floors. The "museum within a museum" captures the Pittsburgh region's evolution and influence as a sports leader over more than a century, from amateur to pro and across the spectrum of sports. The Sports Museum captures tales of Pittsburgh sports through hundreds of artifacts, more than 70 hands-on interactive exhibits, and 20 audio-visual programs.

Select artifacts include Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception" cleats; Mario Lemieux's hockey skates; Satchel Paige's baseball glove; the pitching rubber from the 1960 World Series; Billy Conn's boxing gloves and light heavyweight champion belt; Arnold Palmer's sweater and golf bag; Chip Ganassi's 2000 Indy 500-winning race car; the "Ultimate Steelers Fan's Car;" the Homestead women swimmers Olympic medals from the 1920s and 1930s; and hundreds of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cards.

Detre Library & Archives at the History Center

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The History Center's Detre Library & Archives is an extensive scholarly resource documenting 250 years of life in Western Pennsylvania. The collection includes books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, atlases, newspapers, films, recordings, and other memorabilia.[18]

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village

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Main article: Meadowcroft Rockshelter

The History Center also operates Meadowcroft Rockshelter, a world-renowned archaeological site south of Pittsburgh near Washington County's Avella community.

The Rockshelter is the oldest site of human habitation in North America, with evidence of humans living there for nearly 19,000 years.[19] The site was named a National Historic Landmark in 2005.[20]

The site also includes a recreated 16th century Monongahela Indian Village and 1770s Frontier Trading Post.[21] Adjacent to the Rockshelter is a historic village featuring 19th century structures relocated to the site. The History Center operates this as a living museum, with re-enactors recreating rural life in the 19th century Upper Ohio Valley.[22]

Fort Pitt Museum

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Main article: Fort Pitt Museum

Since 2010, the History Center has operated the Fort Pitt Museum, a two-floor, 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) museum located at Point State Park.[23][24] The museum tells the story of Western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and as the birthplace of Pittsburgh.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "About". Heinz History Center. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Paying homage to the past\Regional history center opens with pomp and pageantry". Post-Gazette. April 29, 1996.
  3. ^ a b c d "About". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  4. ^ "Best History Museum (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards". 27 February 2024.
  5. ^ Masich, Andrew E. (2004-12-01). "History Center". Western Pennsylvania History: 1918 - 2023: 2–3. ISSN 1525-4755.
  6. ^ Thomas, Clarke (1996-03-01). "Building a History Center in Western Pennsylvania". Western Pennsylvania History: 1918 - 2023: 4–9. ISSN 1525-4755.
  7. ^ "1879 Founders dinner held at Heinz History Center". Post-Gazette. November 24, 2014. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015.
  8. ^ "Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  9. ^ "Senator John Heinz: A Western Pennsylvania Legacy". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  10. ^ "Clash of Empires: The British, French & Indian War, 1754-1763". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  11. ^ "From Slavery to Freedom". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  12. ^ "Rediscovering Lewis & Clark: A Journey with the Rooney Family". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  13. ^ "Glass: Shattering Notions". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  14. ^ "Heinz". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  15. ^ "Visible Storage". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  16. ^ "Special Collections". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  17. ^ "How Mister Rogers' Legacy Lives on at Heinz History Center, and Beyond". 90.5 WESA. 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  18. ^ "Detre Library & Archives". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  19. ^ "Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  20. ^ John H. Sprinkle (2006). "American History: Chapter One: Meadowcroft Rockshelter". Western Pennsylvania History: 1918 - 2023: 8–9. ISSN 1525-4755.
  21. ^ "Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  22. ^ "Meadowcroft Historic Village". Heinz History Center. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  23. ^ Cook, Richard (2019-05-13). "Pittsburgh Then and Now: Fort Pitt Museum". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  24. ^ a b "Point State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  • Kidney, Walter C. (1997). Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture: The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. ISBN 0-916670-18-X.
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