One of Pittsburgh’s iconic institutions is about to get a lot bigger. The Sen. John Heinz History Center on Thursday, April 30, broke ground on an expansion that will add more than 92,000 square feet of exhibit and event space.
The Smithsonian’s Heinz History Center Expands Its Offerings
The expansion, which is projected to be completed by 2028, will be visible immediately upon entry, as visitors encounter an expanded Great Hall and a new theater for film screenings and events. Another new, interactive exhibition will focus on the life and work of Fred Rogers; added outdoor spaces, including a new dedicated gathering space dubbed Penn Avenue Plaza, will incorporate more of the surrounding area into the History Center’s offerings.
The museum will be expanding existing offerings, including the Franco Harris Sports History Museum and collections focusing on the region’s Italian and Jewish heritage.
A new “museum within a museum” is also opening as part of the expansion. The forthcoming Museum of African American History, located on the fourth floor of the expanded History Center, will the impact and importance of Black communities to the history and culture of both Western Pennsylvania and the nation.
More Room for Kids
The expansion will also add “smart” classrooms to the History Center, part of a stated goal of increasing field trips by 50%.
Admission to the History Center is free for kids 17 years of age and under, the result of a major gift from Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin. That gift allows free admission to young visitors — including school groups — in perpetuity.
A capital campaign has already raised more than 70% of the $80 million targeted for the expansion project.
On Now at the Heinz History Center
The facility will remain open during expansion. Programming and exhibits are scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, including the current exhibit My America: An Illustrated Experience, for which the History Center partnered with the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators; 35 individual artists participated in the vivid display.
Next week, the History Center will host Hidden History Trivia Night, a nighttime competition quizzing guests on Pittsburgh’s crossovers with pop-culture.
The Heinz History Center also has a pair of sister institutions: The nearby Fort Pitt Museum, and the sprawling Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella, Pa.
Story by Sean Collier
Renderings Courtesy of Heinz History Center
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