Smithsonian Affiliate

Senator John Heinz History Center

A red circle that is half of a compass and half of a gear. The words history center are to the right of it in big, bold red capital letters. Above that, it says Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional.

The Senator John Heinz History Center is devoted to the history and heritage of Western Pennsylvania, and is the largest history museum in the state. Its mission is to present the most compelling stories from American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection. The History Center's "museum system" includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, the Fort Pitt Museum, and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village (the oldest site of human habitation in North America). As the Smithsonian's home in Pittsburgh, the History Center displays important artifacts from Smithsonian collections, including a prototype Jeep and George Washington's calumet pipe stem, and integrates Smithsonian objects into its traveling exhibitions. The History Center regularly collaborates closely with the Smithsonian to bring scholars and innovative programs to Pittsburgh.