Heinz History Center offers kids free admission in October

Fall is upon us and as the weather cools down and convinces families to seek out indoor activities, the Senator John Heinz History Center has come up with an idea to make visiting the venue more affordable.

The history center is offering free admission for all kids aged 17 and under during the month of October, thanks to a sponsorship by UPMC.

From Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, the free admission covers entry to the history center as well as the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Fort Pitt Museum in Point State Park, and the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella, Washington County.

Exhibitions and interactive learning spaces at the history center include landing a rover on the surface of the Moon inside the Apollo 11 section of “Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation,” and climbing the UPMC SmartSteps — the history center calls it “the world’s only history exhibition in a stairwell.”

There is an opportunity to throw a touchdown pass to legendary Steelers and score the winning goal for the Penguins inside the sports museum.

Other activities include designing pop art and constructing bridges in the interactive Discovery Place exhibition, exploring the Neighborhood of Make-Believe featuring the original set and puppets in the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood exhibition.

Also visitors to the Fort Pitt Museum can learn about historic events that happened in Western Pennsylvania, including an Indian leader’s alliance with George Washington shortly before the beginning of the French & Indian War.

The story is part of the museum’s new exhibition — “Guyasuta: The Life and Legend of a Seneca Chief.”

And visitors to Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Washington County can learn how prehistoric hunters and gatherers, early settlers, and American Indians lived.

The History Center and Fort Pitt Museum are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village is open Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, go to heinzhistorycenter.org.