It’s Black History Month and the best way you can celebrate is by educating yourself. For instance, did you know that two of the most famous Negro League Baseball teams had their home in Pittsburgh? Did you know that the LeMoyne House in Washington, PA was active in the Underground Railroad and served as an epicenter of antislavery activity? If you didn’t, or even if you did, you should head out to the various Black History Month exhibitions to learn about the importance of historical Black voices in the city of Pittsburgh. There are plenty of resources just waiting for you to jump in and discover something new this Black History Month.
Black History Month Exhibits in Pittsburgh
Heinz History Center
The Heinz History Center has many permanent displays and event exhibitions to showcase African American history in Pittsburgh and beyond. Firstly, catch a free, virtual screening of The Hero, on February 12, as part of the 2025 From Slavery to Freedom Film Series. Then, explore more than 250 years of African American history from the anti-slavery movement to its impact on modern civil rights in the permanent exhibition, From Slavery to Freedom. You can also find exhibits on historic African American inventors in Pittsburgh and the story of the Negro League Baseball. Plus, if you’re still itching for more, attend the 11th Annual Black History Month Lecture with David Dennis Jr., author of The Movement Made Us on February 20.
Pittsburgh Parks Conservatory
Continue your discoveries at the Heinz History Center’s From Slavery to Freedom exhibit with the Frick Environmental Center’s From Slavery to Freedom Garden. Walk the garden which features plants found in woodlands and fields that were used for food and medicinal purposes along the journey to freedom, as well as vegetables used in home gardens at the time. After you’re done, head up to the Hill District for gorgeous views of the city while visiting August Wilson Park. Here, the landscape features an installation of vintage photographs from Pittsburgh native Charles “Teenie” Harris and the Oliver M. Kaufmann Photograph Collection as well as quotations from Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
The main exhbition at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center will take you through the mind of one of Pittsburgh’s great Black artists. August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape guides visitors through three “stops” in the famous playwright’s life, The Coffee Shop, The Office, and The Street. The Coffee Shop takes inspiration from Eddie’s, a local eatery in the Hill District, where you could often find the young August Wilson. The Office is a replica of Wilson’s home office that shows off his working environment and some of his favorite items. Then, The Street focuses on Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood as a whole throughout his lifetime. Check out an interactive map of the neighborhood while perusing memorabilia from some of his finest works.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Kids have a chance at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to explore local artists while learning the city’s history through the Black History Month Art Crawl. All around the first floor of the museum, travel through contemporary artist stations honoring Pittsburgh’s Black heroes. Some of this year’s subjects include Pittsburgh’s Freedom Corner, Dr. Vernell Lillie (founder of Kuntu Repertory Theater), Robert Lee Vann (publisher and editor of the Pittsburgh Courier), baseball player Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords, performer and civil rights activist Lena Horne, multimedia professional Emmai Alaquiva, Hill Dance Academy Theater, and Dr. Harry Clark (founder of Pittsburgh CAPA).
The Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center
The Miniature Railroad and Village at The Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center features some of the iconic African American figures and landmarks in Pittsburgh history. Spot the buildings of the Pittsburgh Courier, the LeMoyne House, Crawford Grill, and Ebenezer Baptist Church. You might just also see some miniature famous faces like that of suffragist Daisy Lampkin. While you’re at the museum, attend Story Time Under the Stars in the Buhl Planetarium for more information about Black STEM professionals alongside science-themed stories under the starry sky.
Carnegie Museum of Art
The Carnegie Museum of Art houses an archive of Charles “Teenie” Harris photographic works that you can view online or on display in person. His work chronicles everyday Black life in 20th-century America, depicting moments ranging from World War II to the Civil Rights movement and much more. Look forward to viewing prints of photographs made by Harris, a timeline that marks major moments in local, national, and international history, digitized photos and videos on constant rotation, oral history, and light boxes featuring original negatives.
The City of Pittsburgh
To celebrate Black History Month, the City of Pittsburgh has created a display in the City County Building honoring the the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC). This was the first African American opera company in 1941. The NNOC broke down racial barriers within the classical music world. It offered a platform for Black opera singers to showcase their talents for more than two decades. You can also find more information such as interviews about the company and its members on the city’s Facebook and Instagram throughout the month of February.
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photo Courtesy of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
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