Heinz History Center

The History Center is an educational institution that engages, informs, and inspires a large and diverse audience through museum, virtual, and outreach programs enabling links to the past, understanding in the present, and guidance for the future while preserving regional history and presenting the American experience with a Western Pennsylvania connection.

The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, founded in 1879, today does business as the Senator John Heinz History Center, which includes the Detre Library & Archives, Fort Pitt Museum, Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. The History Center's work is accomplished in partnership with others through archaeology, artifact collections, broadcast media and the internet, conservation, educational programs, exhibitions, library & archives, museums, performance, publications, products, research, and technical assistance.

The History Center brings Western Pennsylvania's rich heritage to life through interactive and innovative programs for adults, students, and young children - making history relevant in their lives and encouraging them to become good leaders and informed citizens. The History Center offers a variety of educational programs, including: guided tours for students and adults; STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs; Experience Workshops, allowing students to experience history first-hand; Act 48 Teacher Professional Development workshops; National History Day Pittsburgh; Scout Badge Programs; Hop into History, an interactive program designed for children age 2-5; Archives & Library workshops; Museum Conservation Center programming; lectures; and more. Unique public programs also provide exciting opportunities for visitors, including: Vintage Pittsburgh; Hometown Homegrown; NFL Play 60; Pittsburgh's Hidden Treasures; Books in the Burgh; History Uncorked; and more.