Senator John Heinz History Center

Very nice museum. Lots to see (6 floors!), I do recommend blocking out a couple hours as you could easily spend a good portion of the day here. Something for everyone sports, Mister Rodgers, science, Medicine, trains (one exhibit I saw, part of it pictured), and more.

Wonderful place to learn about the history of Pittsburgh and many other aspects of American culture. The museum beautifully covers Pittsburgh’s industrial past, sports history, art, culture, and everyday life. I especially enjoyed the exhibits on glass, vases, and decorative arts—they are well curated and very informative. The sports section is a highlight, especially for Pittsburgh fans. The museum is well organized, engaging, and suitable for all age groups. It’s a great place to spend a few hours if you want to understand how Pittsburgh shaped American history and culture. Highly recommended for both locals and visitors.

The Heinz History Center was really cool. There are so many floors and so many diverse things to see and learn about. If you're into sports, especially Pittsburgh teams, the sports section of the museum seemed really extensive from an outsider. There were also exhibits on the Heinz brand, Nasa, History etc that were all nice, and plenty of things for the little ones as well. For me personally though, as a man in my forties who grew up watch Mister Rogers Neighborhood, the exhibits on Fred Rogers, which were spread amongst 3 different floors of the building were why I wanted to go in the first place and didn't disappoint. Replicas of sets from the show, puppets, and Mr. Rogers' own donated sweaters and whatnot really took me back to my childhood and made me wish the kids growing up now had someone like him making educational programming nowadays to keep the young ones away from the iPad screens and brain rot I watch my nephews get into, where they could learn something while being entertained by a man who genuinely cared. Awesome experience as a whole, but if you also grew up with Mister Rogers Neighborhood and it means something to you, the Heinz History Center is a must visit while you're in Pittsburgh.

I love the Heinz History Center. If you plan to visit, be prepared — there are six floors and so much to read and explore. It can feel a bit long for kids, but there are small play areas throughout that help them burn off some energy. I’ve truly enjoyed every visit. The industrial feel of the building, the thoughtfully curated exhibits, and the depth of Pittsburgh history on display are all incredible. This place is simply amazing.

A Great Day at the Senator John Heinz History Center From the moment I stepped through the doors, I knew this was going to be a special visit. The building itself, a beautifully restored warehouse in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, felt like the perfect backdrop for the incredible stories inside. Six floors of exhibits stretched out before me—each one drawing me deeper into Western Pennsylvania’s rich history. The Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood exhibit was a personal highlight. Standing in front of the original set pieces—King Friday’s castle, X the Owl’s tree—I felt a rush of nostalgia and a genuine smile I couldn’t hide. Just steps away, I wandered into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, where I found Franco Harris’ cleats from the “Immaculate Reception” and Mario Lemieux’s skates. Even as a casual sports fan, the pride and excitement in that space were infectious. I loved how interactive everything was—touchscreens, hands-on displays, and even a chance to peek behind the scenes in the Visible Storage area, which was like discovering a secret treasure trove of artifacts. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic, eager to share extra stories that brought the exhibits to life. By the time I left, hours had flown by, and I still hadn’t seen everything. Luckily, my ticket was good for two days—because one visit simply isn’t enough. The Senator John Heinz History Center isn’t just a museum—it’s an experience that makes you feel connected to the past while celebrating the spirit of Pittsburgh today.

First time here in my many Pitt visits. The special exhibit was a lot of curious and interesting items pulled from the archives. One floor was dedicated to Pittsburgh sports. It was great seeing all the memorabilia, especially the Penguins items with Fleury's retirement game being held that weekend. They had a very nice section on glass produced in PA, the timeline of Heinz itself, and Mr Roger's Neighborhood and other interesting antiques. I spent a few hours wandering the 5 floors.

Great museum that focuses on local history. Loved my time spent inside. Could have spent all day there. It will definitely be worth a second trip

This was my second Candlelight show and it was great! The set up was so pretty; perfect for a sweet date night. I've only watched a few anime but recognized a lot of the songs. The quartet was very engaging and took the time for questions and photos after the show. I'll be going back for two new shows next month!

I think this Museum deserves 5 stars. Its really a "History of Pittsburgh" Museum and they have exhibits ranging from contributions of Pittsburgh people and industries (such as to WWII, the Moon landing), cultural exhibits (Mr Rodgers Neighborhood), Pittsburgh history including a focus on the French and Indian Wars, and of course, an exhibit to the Heinz company itself. The exhibits are well titled and display, the trolly is really cool. There is a kids area and an interactive play area. I have visited this Museum twice, once before we had kids, and once after and it really is a different experience each time, something for people of all ages! Also kids are FREE! If you visit Pittsburgh and have time for only one Museum, this is it. My only complaint is the cafe is underwhelming, and the gift shop is prohibitively expensive. Finally, if you enjoyed the exhibit on the French and Indian wars be sure to check out the Fort Pitt Museum, which has lots of collections from the era!

I don't know what I expected but it wasn't this during my first trip to Pittsburgh. This museum was a cluster of random stuff that did not go together. It reminded me of a yard sale but museum. It is big; six floors. If you take your time, you'll be here for hours but for us as tourist, we walked through a lot of it. The best section for me the was Slavery to Freedom section which showed Pittsburgh role in slavery and abolition movement. The employees were nonexistent. I have never been to a museum and there weren't employees on every floor to answer questions. I was there early in the day so at some points I was the only person in the museum and it was creepy. Overall, it was cool. This was about a 12 minute walk away from the Westin hotel. This is one of those things you only need to do once.

This is the best museum my spouse and I have ever visited. Admission gives you two days to tour the most honest, progressive, interesting, and inclusive presentation of the local and state history and people we've seen yet in this country. No white-washing or justifying the past is found here, which prompted feelings of relief, respect, and admiration. The strength and pride of this community of people, intent on making life better, is transparently displayed in thoughtful, creative, and interactive presentations. What a wonderful testament to Pittsburgh (with an 'h')! Wish we had more time to spend in this welcoming place.

If you want to know anything to everything about Pittsburgh, there is no argument that this is the place to go. I was expecting a flea market-style hodgepodge of artifacts on display, but it was more organized given the breadth of exhibits shown. Housed in a century-old red brick building, the museum is presented in discrete sections across six floors. Right after entering, I could tell the space was oriented more toward families with vintage vehicles, a twisting tube slide, and a set of rockers for young parents. There are several permanent exhibits focusing primarily on local history and sports. Specific sections are devoted to the British, French & Indian wars of 1754-1763; the African American history in Western Pennsylvania; and Pittsburgh's contributions to the world for the past 250 years. The most popular exhibit was unsurprisingly the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum highlighting the city's rich sports heritage with particular attention on the Steelers, the Pirates, the Panthers, and the Penguins. There are sections spotlighting the history of the H.J. Heinz Company and their influence in popularizing home staples like ketchup (of course), pickles, and baked beans, as well as an extensive timeline of the museum's namesake, Senator John Heinz. Of particular interest to Gen X'ers is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood featuring the regular characters, set pieces and artifacts from the series. Admission is $20 for adults, and I'd guess ninety minutes is enough to allocate for a visit, at least for this Yinz-ignorant Californian. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qN_tq21lnL

I can't say enough about this history center. We took the option of coming in at 1 hour before close to pay 50% of the entry fee. Since our three kids were under 18, they got in free. We spent the first 10 minutes in the gift shop, because my wife is a huge Mr. Rogers fan. We spent some dough and had about 45 minutes to run around. We went straight to see the Mr. Roger's exhibit and were transported back into our childhood. The collection of his clothing and the replica sets were wonderful. After about 30 minutes on that floor, we went down to the floor with the innovation space for kids. We loved the exhibit there and it was a great way for our little one to stay engaged. We were definitely not there for long enough. That's why we had to give it 5 stars. There was so much to see and the little part we did visit was excellent. So we will definitely be back and ready to explore more!

All I have to say is this place is WORTH the money. As a tourist, this is a wonderful attraction. There's so much to see and it's carefully curated with a Heinz exhibit, an entire area dedicated to Pittsburgh sports and a large section for Mr. Rogers. Parking across the street starts at $5 for 0-4 hours. Admission to the history center is only $20 and you can tour each floor at your own pace. We spent 5 hours inside. Definitely participate in the Smart Steps passport and get a stamp on each floor. You can redeem it for a Heinz pickle pin when you're finished. The gift shop has a lot to offer. I enjoyed the John Heinz History Center very much and I'm glad I decided to check it out.

Huge place with lots to see and take in. You can easily spend a day here looking and reading through the exhibits or a few hours if you're only interested in particular areas. The museum is curated very well and is extremely interactive. I participated in the stair challenge and got my little pickle pin at the end which was pretty cute. Definitely worth the visit. Parking out front is ample and $10 for the day.

Went to the museum and toured all 6 floors with my family. We were there for 3.5 hrs. There is so much to see and enjoy! Parking at a pay lot across the street!

This is an interesting place full of super cool things. We aren't from the area and thought it would focus mostly on Heinz products and productions- WRONG! Such a terrific and eclectic venue with great educational content that is very engaging and enjoyable. Each floor has a different theme or collection of such a varied experience and range of displays. It would be difficult to not find something that you would be interested in. There's a ton of PA sports installations. There's also lots of other stuff. Don't skip the Mr. Roger's Neighborhood stuff!!! This is a very interactive experience with tons of opportunities for kids to do hands on activities to keep them engaged and entertained. They also have seating areas for resting when needed. There's a great gift shop as well. It's only $20 for adults and that's a terrific value for what you get! You could spend all day here. We walked from our hotel, but it seemed like there was paid parking available directly next to the building. There's also a cafe inside for drinks and small snacks. Great place to explore!!

Six floors of amazing exhibits that you can spend a full day looking at - the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Heinz Ketchup exhibits were two of our favorites but we spent a lot more time exploring all the different exhibits than we had originally planned to. There's really something for everyone here - whether you're a history buff, sports fan, pop culture enthusiast, medical maven, or engineering guru. Plus, fitness minded visitors can get their steps in at the Smart Stairs and earn a cute little prize after stamping their "passport" on each of the floors. Well worth the price of admission!

What a great museum! This was my second visit here and I truly enjoyed it. Love the variety of the collection, the thoughtfulness and creativity of the displays, and the reality that there is something for everyone. My favorites are the Heinz items and the Mister Rogers items, but there is so much more. Highly recommend this for people of all ages and there's a great gift shop, too.

Got to come here for a special NAAEE event. This place is huge! They had appetizers, drinks, and heavy snacks for us upstairs. The group I went with had trouble finding the food upstairs and how to get there. It would have been great to have better sinage for how to get there and where the food would be at, as we missed most of it. The museum itself is terrific. I spent some time, post-November election, in the "A Woman's Place" exhibit, and it brought me to tears. This exhibit is so well put together and has impactful pieces, interactive spots, and places for you to write down about your thoughts. I recommend taking your time through this exhibit and really feeling the impact of those before us and our current political climate with Women's rights.

--- -Keep your receipt! Your admission today includes FREE admission tomorrow at the History Center, the FORT PITT MUSEUM (located in Point Stare Park), or Meadow croft Rock shelter historic village in Avella, Washington County PA. MUST BE USED ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS; HOURS VARY BY SEASON. Ask visitor service for more information! -----Dont forget ask about free membership. Go to the admission desk or museum shop. --- -- heinzhistorycenter.org/join Discover the rich history of Western Pennsylvania at the Smithsonian's home in Pittsburgh! heinzhistorycenter.org The Heinz History Center, located in Pittsburgh's Strip District, offers six floors of exhibits and artifacts, including the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, which highlights the region's most memorable sports moments. Recognized as the best history museum in the nation, it provides an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Voted "Pittsburgh's Best Museum" in 2022, the Senator John Heinz History Center is the largest history museum in Pennsylvania, featuring Smithsonian artifacts across six captivating floors. Explore the "Neighborhood of Make Believe" in the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood exhibit, complete with the original living room set, puppets, and iconic pieces from the beloved show. Don't forget to snap a selfie with an 11-foot Heinz ketchup bottle while learning about the H.J. Heinz Company's 150-year legacy. The museum's flagship exhibit, Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, invites visitors to channel Rosie the Riveter, explore the city's role in the Apollo 11 mission, and discover how Pittsburgh transformed from an industrial steel hub to a global leader in technology, medicine, and education. For history buffs, the From Slavery to Freedom exhibit reveals the compelling story of Black freedom seekers and Pittsburgh's significant role in the Underground Railroad. Sports fans will also enjoy the two-floor Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, which celebrates the region's legendary athletes and unforgettable moments from the City of Champions.

If there's one thing I have a ridiculous amount of useless knowledge on, it's the origins of the Heinz company. So I absolutely was not going to pass up an opportunity to visit a museum with a Heinz connection. This museum is not solely about Heinz, it is really a Pittsburgh history museum so there's something for everyone. I didn't get a chance to check out the sports exhibit and didn't have any interest in the kids areas, but this really is a museum for everyone. And if you want to see everything but need more time, keep your receipt because you can come back the next day for free! I spent some time in a couple of the other exhibits, but I was really there for the Heinz exhibit. Did I learn anything new about Heinz? Not really, but I've literally read books (plural) about Henry Heinz so I wasn't anticipating gaining a whole lot of new information. Anyone who hasn't read books about Heinz would take away a lot of new info here. They do a great job of curating pieces and information. And I loved seeing things I read about in person. What I did get to see that made me so ecstatic was the pickle pins! The pickle pins are my favorite piece of marketing history so getting to see a collection of them and buying one was such a cool experience for me. One missed opportunity that the museum could definitely capitalize on is mentioning how Henry sank a ship full of glass bottles in the Allegheny River so his competitors making low quality products couldn't buy them. They literally have a whole section dedicated to glass too. Just saying.

We visited this Pittsburgh history museum for the Mr. Rogers exhibit, and it was really fun to see some of the set pieces and his clothes. I wish they had more of the puppets, a trolley, and that the signage was better getting to that part of the museum (especially since that's the main draw for many visitors). We also enjoyed the discovery center, Heinz section, and glass area- I had no idea that Western PA was such a hotbed for glass production! Some of the other exhibits around Mr. Rogers seem kind of random and not cohesive, but it was still interesting to walk through and browse. Admission is still good for the next day!

Such a nicely designed space. Visually appealing building space along with the exhibits. It has its own paid parking lot right across the street, clean restrooms, a cafe for grab n go items with a microwave, as well. I chose an Arnold Palmer tea and lemonade and a snack box with fruit, cheese, and crackers. Seating is at tables amongst the exhibits on the first floor right outside the Cafe. I concentrated this visit on the large exhibit of Women across the country, but more specifically, Pittsburgh in politics, economics, society. Very well done visually. Then I went to the fourth floor via elevator to visit Mr. Rogers neighborhood. It is a small but worthy exhibit space. The interesting and beforehand unbeknownst to me was the admission is good for 2 consecutive days not only here but Ft. Pitt Museum and Meadowcroft Rockshelter, as well. Good to know!

I can't remember the last time I went to the Heinz History Center. My husband saw there was a new exhibit "Hidden History" and really wanted us to go. I explained, I'm a Pittsburgher... I bleed black and gold...Primanti is my comfort food...my roots run deep here. I'm sure I know everything about the Burg and I'm going to be bored. I was wrong... he was right. This museum is packed with interactive and interesting displays from Lewis and Clark thru present day innovations in sports, medicine and technology. There is a lot to do. I was told my museum entrance fee only $20 lets you return the following day. Very cool!!!

This is not just a ketchup and pickle museum! (Though I loved that part!) This is a GEM. A 6-story Pittsburgh-yellow diamond. I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon the place because it was a few blocks from my hotel and it was still a few hours until the Pirates game. This is a destination-worthy attraction, and I'm excited to bring my whole family next visit. It's beautiful, amazingly curated, fun to explore, varied and fascinating. I was moved by the Mr. Rogers collection, loved the sports floor. I'm from Kansas City, so they're not even my first-favorite teams, but I left with a deeper appreciation for Mario Lemieux and got a little emotional being that close to Franco Harris's shoes. I mean, most of us have seen the statue at the airport, but here were his real shoes! And just steps away from Fred Rogers' own footwear. I had just over an hour to explore, and really blazed through a lot of it. I'd love to linger a little longer in the cultural section, and enjoy the special exhibits. Definitely a destination, in a city full of fantastic museums.

We weren't able to visit the last time we were in Pittsburgh, so we made sure to plan for the visit this trip. This is one of the nicest history centers I have ever been to. They have so much on display. Each floor is filled with so much stuff. You will easily spend a few hours walking around looking at everything. If you have time I would highly recommend adding this place to your list of things to do.

This place was so interesting. They had exhibits on women in history, the Heinz brand, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and much more. There is a separate section for little ones to play, a snack bar and a really nice gift store with lots of cool items. Your admission is good for the next day also and there is a convenient pay parking lot right next door. Put this on your list for a fun afternoon activity.

Okay, so a few reason why Heinz only got 4-stars is because... 1. As a DMV born and raised baby, I'm used to not paying for zoos/museums so the price did slightly throw me off (only $20 but... still wanted to mention). 2. I read a review earlier comparing this center to Hershey Park in PA and similar to that reviewer, I agree that I too, was expecting more of a detailed "how" behind tomato to ketchup making rather than just overall ketchup displays. If that makes sense. If you've been to either, then you may be more familiar with my explanation. 3. I have also been spoiled in the exhibit department, used to typically having 15-20-minute shows that are available to watch throughout the particular center, or something similar, and I don't recall this history center having anything similar. Interactive exhibits indeed (like who knew throwing a football as a QB to a receiver that doesn't move.. can really be difficult?... I'll give less lip to Dak Prescot lmao)... but anyway.... Other than that, I truly did enjoy this museum. Mostly for the football/Steelers history throughout the NFL. There is some good, hidden history throughout Pittsburgh & this place is a good location to read about all of those things, from women in history, glass making, football, ALL sports history, and even of course...ketchup lol. Each floor has a multiple sitting spots too, if older or tired parties comes. There's something here indeed, for all ages!

This is a very interesting place! We went to see Mr Roger's exhibit. Fond memories but needs a trolley in front of the castle. Interesting new exhibit on women. There is a glass exhibit showing the many uses and where glass factories are in the area. The history of Heinz was surprising as it all started with horseradish! There is a lot of history and sports, but the kids section is very worthwhile for even the fun-loving adults. 2nd day admission is free.

The Senator John Heinz History Center is a must visit if you like history as this museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian; therefore, expect informative yet exceptional exhibits. This is very much the case here. I was glad to have visited during my visit to Pittsburgh. Senator John Heinz History Center is located on the border of the Strip District and downtown Pittsburgh. The museum is located in an old warehouse, with the layout being very easy to navigate, moving on from one exhibit to the next. There are six floors here of exhibits and many are interactive. The main floor even has exhibits, as well as a gift shop. For resting, there were plenty of places to sit on each floor and there's an elevator. My favorite exhibit here was the Mr. Rogers exhibit, seeing the stage set and puppets from the show. I love Mr. Rogers, so this was such a treat for me. However, I really enjoyed the many other exhibits here, which gave me a better understanding of western Pennsylvania's history. It's easy to spend hours here if you want to thoroughly go through all the exhibits. For anyone visiting Pittsburgh who wants to learn more about the region and enjoys history, I can't recommend checking out the Senator John Heinz History Center enough.

Highly recommend this awesome one-stop shopping for what Pittsburgh was, is and forever will be. Philanthropy is alive and well in this wonderful city so rich with history. Absolutely beautiful inside, plenty of signage and Docents to help you along the way and completely worth the modest admission to witness six floors creatively packed with rich history that reflects Pittsburgh's contribution to the United States and beyond!

This is such a fun place to go with kids, if you're visiting Pittsburgh, or just want something to do. There are 6 floors, yes 6! Of interactive exhibits and walk-through areas. If you are a big sport buff especially all things pittsburgh (penguins, steelers, and pirates) then the hall of fame showcase is spectacular. All the superbowl trophies are on exhibit as well as the rings won associated with them. The penguins have a hugeeeeeee display and even showcases the penguin pennies (womans hockey team) which I didn't even know pittsburgh had. It was such a neat experience to go through all of pittsburgh history. I truly did enjoy this and it is well worth it. Also if you have and government assistance your ticket is only $1!!! Take advantage of that!

Good place for primarily Pittsburgh history. Several floors of items. A little confusing at times to figure out where to walk. Worth a visit though.

Great museum, and it's really an all day things. Several floors with just so much cool information from sports memorabilia to a Mr. Rogers exhibit to a giant ketchup bottle made of ketchup bottles. It's fun for kids but also really fun and engaging for adults. It should have been busier than it was, but maybe it's off season when I went. It's recommended to start at the first floor (with a cool streetcar you can enter and watch of the history of streetcars in Pittsburgh) but all the exhibits are great. Make sure to check the map to see that you hit every exhibit you wanted to see per floor, because it's so big it's possible to miss them. You can also see a nice view of the river from the area between exhibits. There's also a cafe if you get hungry and a pretty good gift shop. Save the receipt if you want to visit Fort Pitt the same or next day for a discount!

The Heinz History Center focuses on the history of Western Pennsylvania. It is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and is the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. Over the past decade, I have visited this museum multiple times. Most recently, in December 2023, I purchased two tickets online for $20 per adult. At the front entrance, an employee scanned my emailed tickets. (Please note that tickets may be used for *two consecutive days* for the History Center as well as the Fort Pitt Museum or the Meadowcroft Rockshelter!) My husband and I spent ~1.5 hours touring the Heinz History Museum. The museum consists of six floors--five floors of exhibits and one floor for a library and archives. We saw exhibits about vintage vehicles, local sports teams, the H.J. Heinz Company's products, local glass manufacturers, the French and Indian War, African Americans' slavery and freedom, etcetera. At the end of our tour, we stopped in the gift shop on the first floor. The gift shop offered merchandise such as books, t-shirts, and stuffed animals. I purchased a pack of greeting cards, and the cashier said a friendly hello and thank you and accurately processed my transaction. The first floor also has a cafe, but my husband and I did not eat there.

The museum sells itself as the best history museum in the country. It very much failed to live up to this lofty title. The Heinz History Center is disorganized, lacks a coherent story and explanation for the exhibits, and has all the appeal of someone's junk closet emptied out into a museum space. For example, you'd think that the story of Heinz would be prominently explored so that visitors would leave with a good sense of how their most famous products were developed and evolved over time. Nope, there was a big stack of Heinz ketchup bottles, and some randomly placed items, like a hairnet employees wore in the factory. The Mr. Rogers exhibit was similar. Some sweaters and objects from his neighborhood.

--Location/Parking-- Located near the waterfront, close to the convention center. I am sure how safe the neighborhood is, but I recommend Ubering or driving there since there is a lot of construction going on. --Ambience-- This very interactive museum with display you can view out of an amusement park. The creativity of each historical display of Pittsburgh jumps right out of a textbook. It is not a child museum but explains Pittsburgh history simply through interesting and creative ways. There are 5 floors to the museum. --Service/Staff-- There were various staff such as the museum shop to the museum café. Friendly guides around the museum help point out where the stamp machines were which is a fun "hunt" throughout the museum and forces you to traverse each floor of the museum. --Food/Products-- The museum shoppe had various touristy items that represent Pittsburgh and the Heinz legacy. I highly recommend shopping to get a feel of what Pittsburgh is known for. --Capacity-- Plenty of space since the museum is five stories. --Overall-- I would come back if brought along family and friends who have never been to the museum. I have to wait until there is unveiling of a new exhibit for me to attend again.

Great convenient location with plenty of parking across the street Admission is ok. The male employee at the check in desk had a major major attitude!!! Everyone noticed! Yikes This museum is extremely interesting and informative! Great displays and easy to navigate! Definitely recommend

This museum was voted as one of the three best in the country. As part of their regonization, in Readers Digest, this was one of three places that offered free admission for August. Thanks to my friend Colleen O, checked this place out this past Wednesday August 30, 2023 Five floors filled with stuff for kids, Pittsburgh history, cool Mr Rodgers exhibit and Heinz history... dating back to 1847 . Fun fact Pittsburgh has a pickle festival, and as part of there step challenge, you pick up a card and at the end get a prize, a little pickle pin. Well worth checking out for a raining day, or if your passing through Pittsburgh. Be sure to check out the Pittsburgh Strip district, full of vendors, bakeries and the famous PA Macaroni Company, dating back to 1902.

Three floors full of Pittsburgh history! If you're from Pittsburgh, it gives you a great sense of nostalgia. If you're visiting, this is the best museum to learn about the city's history, in my opinion. Check online before you go for any events or special exhibits that may be happening! Key attractions: History of Heinz, Mr Roger's Neighborhood, Pittsburgh Specific Innovations, Pittsburgh Spots, western PA cultural collections Admission: $20 adults, $18 seniors, students $11 and kids free Street parking is available and paid parking lots are also near museum.

Fascinating and at times interactive. Good for kids too Give yourself at least two hours Loved the Mr Roger's exhibit. Pittsburgh sports Pittsburgh communities. Excellent exhibit about slavery. Will be back

Great place to learn about Pittsburgh! There are a total of 6 floors and you can visit the library on the 6th floor for free, though you get a different admission sticker vs. what you get from purchasing museum admission. Purchasing museum admission for a day grants you extra admission for the next day. I spent the most time on the 2nd floor which has a exhibit that details innovation through a historical path. The path goes from the 18th Century (if I'm remebering correctly) to modern day. That same floor has another exhibit about sports in Pittsburgh, but we came a bit late and ran out of time to see it. The 3rd floor mostly had interactive activities for kids and a small section about Lewis and Clark. The main highlight of the 4th floor was the museum's Heinz gallery and its iconic Heinz ketchup bottle made of 400 ketchup bottles. Each floor also has a SmartSteps stamp you can collect to get a cute pickle pin. The stamps are part of a partnership with UPMC to encourage walking and taking the stairs. The stairs are decorated with information, so you'll be entertained as you walk up or go down to the next floor. You could spend a good 4-5 hours or more here if you looked at things in detail. Before my visit, I read reviews saying you only need about 2-3 hours, but 3 hours definitely wasn't enough since I enjoy taking my time to look at the exhibits and reading through them. I hope to come back the next time I'm in Pittsburgh and go through any exhibits I missed.

Wow! I grew up in Pittsburgh and left after college. Going to the Heinz History Center brought back so many wonderful memories!! The center contains five floors of exhibits. You'll find Pittsburgh military history, exhibits on glass making in and around the city, two floors with sports exhibits, medical care and innovations, Heinz products history, displays from the various ethnic groups that make a Pittsburgh so special, and sets from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood! And more!! The center also includes a cafe and gift shop. Parking is all around--across the street and one block down ($10). We went to the center in August when it's open at no charge. This attracted more crowds, but we had timed entry tickets. If you love Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh nostalgia--you definitely should visit the Heinz History Center!

We stopped in our recent visit to the area and what a fun afternoon! We were lured in by the giant ketchup bottle outside and were pleasantly surprised to see how many varied exhibits there are. We especially enjoyed the exhibit on Mr. Rogers and the glassmaking. There was so much to see and we didn't plan enough time for all of it. Hopefully we can make it back. It's a fun museum.

A large and eclectic museum. Jumps around a lot in tone - one minute, you're learning about Western PA sports to Lewis and Clark, or Andrew Carnegie to the history of glass, or Mister Rodgers to North American slavery. It can be a bit jarring, but there's a lot on display here, even if it does not feel organized or form a cohesive narrative through-line. Probably the most interesting sections are the Visible Storage or Special Collections. There's dozens of grouped items that really show off what they have inside their archives. Also enjoyed the Heinz gallery, which comes off as tribute to marketing ingenuity. Missed opportunity to sample some ketchup as part of the exhibit. All together, it's a decent package that throws a lot at you. I can understand why tickets were "good for two days," as there is a ton to see and read up on inside the building. We didn't take advantage of this, but paid admission is also good at the Fort Pitt Museum, too. A must for any first-timer to Pittsburgh.

John Heinz history museum is a place to visit. The staff is friendly. It is a relaxed environment with lots of history. It has six floors with various amounts of history. It ranged from the Heinz legacy, Women in History, Slavery to Freedom, Mr. Roger's neighborhood and a glass section. My hubby and I enjoyed each area. They have a walking challenge for people who can take the stairs. They also offer an elevator. You will receive free admission to the Ford Putt museum if you attend on consecutive days. Don't miss this treasure.

I did not know what to expect when I was planning to visit this museum. I was throughly impressed by this place. It was amazing. My family and I loved it. There are limited lots available near the museum, but they are not controlled by the museum and cost. I was able to procure a free spot on the street. It was normally a metered spot, but it was free that day. The museum is running a special for kids, where kids under 17 are admitted free, with a paid adult. The museum is deceptively large and just when you thought you reached the end, it keeps going and going. This is easily the top attraction in Pennsylvania. With you admission you get access to not only this museum, but to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum as well. The museum consists of 5 floors and is packed. The first floor has the museum store, am interactive bus, a kids play area with a spiral slide, a cannon and classic cars/trucks. They also had Santa Claus taking free pictures, while I was there as well. My kids really liked the play area. Up stairs had a dairy/ ice cream shop where kids could slide down from. On the ground level was a monitor of the upper room where parents could watch what their kids were doing without having to go up there. You will find the sports museum on the second floor. There are tons of exhibits many of which are interactive such as the golf, football, bocce ball, and hockey exhibits. You can also make a medal here. As a Ravens fan I almost threw up my lunch when I walked past the few Steelers exhibits, but I held it down. On the other side of the second floor you will find exhibits on Pittsburg history and you can see that the museum made a conscious effort to include Black History in the exhibits. There is also a space exhibit on this level with an interactive game. You will see a spiral staircase off of the space exhibit that leads to the 3rd level (kids area). The third floor has a kids fun zone. You will find huge blue building blocks, a small wind tunnel, and other fun activities for kids to do. They also have staff led crafts during certain times. They were making time capsules with clay when I was there. The 4th floor is home to the Mr Rogers set and props. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. There is also a large Heinz exhibit. You can think Pittsburg without Heinz. They have a couple or real picturesque displays in that area. The catsup bottle display is photographed a lot and I will it, is very nice. You will find other artifacts in this area and historic items on this level, but I was burned out at this point to really care and all my kids wanted to do was play on the third floor. I never made it to the 5th floor, but That is where the WWI exhibit and Clash of Empires exhibits are located. The 6th floor is where you will find the museum's library and archives. This is one of the few museum's that you do not have to walk through teh gift shop to exit. You do have to walk past it though. But it was easy to slip my spoiled kids past. The museum has ample amount of restrooms and we did not have to wait long for an elevator. It is definitely a diamond in the rough. If you are in the burg this is the place to see. You must check it out. The museum is well laid out and found a way to fit 10 pounds in a 5 pound bag and make it work. Great job.

Just an overall very boring experience. A lot of memorabilia from random high schools in the early 2000s nothing exciting here especially for a museum. You might think its more interesting if youre REALLY into Pittsburgh sports

This place was amazing. We especially loved the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh and "how women shaped Pittsburgh" exhibits. The Heinz company exhibit was also really cool. Highly recommend making a stop.

What a fantastic museum for both history buffs and non-history buffs. I heard it was voted as one of the best in the country and I can definitely see why. About 6 floors of detailed history on almost everything Pittsburgh/PA related. Located at The Strip District, there's street parking (paid meters) as well as a pretty decent size parking lot (also paid). As of this review, $20 admission for adults. Like many others have said, admission is good for up to two days. There's so much to see here, if you have the time definitely take advantage of both days. If not, give yourself about 3-4 hours here. It's a shame we were here 2.5 hours before closing and we had to prioritize what we wanted to see first and unfortunately had to skip a few floors. Highlights were definitely the Mister Rogers Neighborhood section. Although it was a bit smaller than I expected. Also, like somebody had mentioned...where's trolley??? Come on now, trolley was one of the key characters of the show! The history of Heinz was also super interesting too. I learned Heinz originally was all about pickles (not ketchup). They also made other preservatives too like jam. Both of these exhibits were located on the 3rd floor. The history of slavery was both interesting and disheartening. Wish we were able to check out the children's section (as I saw it's pretty hands-on) and the sports section. There's an option to take the stairs and if you take all six flights of stairs, you'll get a cute little souvenir pickle pin at the first level gift shop. My sis and I enjoy taking the stairs anyways but with an incentive in place...it made it that much better. Honestly, the cute green pickle pin was one of the highlights of my day! =) So thank you for this little treat. This museum is only opened until 5pm so once again, plan accordingly. I would suggest making a day out of The Strip District. Come check out the souvenir stores, grab a bite to eat (Primanti Bros is here), go to this museum and finish your night off with Puttshack, a super cool interactive mini golf spot.

So much to see here!! Lots of levels with sports. Mr. Rodgers, history, Heinz, two kids play areas. A cute store. It was a fun outing! There's snacks at the store as well and a gift shop. $9 parking across the street. Both our kids were free which was nice. It was clean and well maintained. You get admission to the fort museum as well if you go within the next day. I wish we took advantage of that. Definitely recommend! We went early on a Monday morning and had the place to ourselves almost! It was nice.

Excellent museum for the whole family! All is accessible, fun for all... We spent about 3 hours and didn't read everything, but saw it all. This is a satellite museum of Smithsonian quality... creative use of space and educational without being boring. We appreciated the use of various mediums to tell the stories. Parking during week was reduced cost ($5) in lot across the street from entrance. Gift shop & bookstore is worth visiting too! Thanks!

Nice experience with much to see here. Notable is the Mr Rogers exhibit and the entire level dedicated to Pittsburgh sports.

It was free all August so I'm guessing it was more crowded than usual and it was still awesome. The first few floors were the best for kids. So much for kids to do and just a super cool layout. Most everyone was very friendly. You will have to pay for parking though so that's always a bummer but more of a heads up.

This is a really incredible museum that contains so much to explore. I came here primarily for the Mr. Rogers memorabilia, but was happily surprised to find and learn so much more. It really has something for everyone and I found it a unique place to visit. It has a great gift shop also which reflects many of its popular exhibits.

Even though I am local, I have never had the chance to visit this museum and I visited during August in which they granted everyone free admission, which was super cool. We took our family from Chicago and adults and kids alike enjoyed the entire museum. The sports museum is connected and is an entire museum in itself & is included in your admission. There is something here for everyone. I think we spent more time in the sports museum and then we actually spent in the history part because the kids enjoyed playing all of the interactive games-you could golf, you could play hockey, you could throw footballs. It was pretty neat. Recommend!