CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT, HEINZ HISTORY CENTER CEO ANDY MASICH AND CAROLE L. AND DANIEL G. KAMIN. | PHOTO BY KATHLEEN GIANNI

For generations of Pittsburgh kids and classrooms, history just got a lot more exciting — and a lot more accessible.

Beginning Sept. 1, the Heinz History Center will provide children 17 and under free admission through its new “Free for Kids” initiative. Funded by an $11.5 million gift donation from philanthropists Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin, the program aims to make Pittsburgh’s rich past more welcome to its youngest residents.

“It’s long been a dream of mine for the History Center to be free for kids, and I’m here to tell you that dream is coming true,” says Andy Masich, president and CEO of the history center. “Thanks to Dan and Carole Kamin, kids will be free forever at the history center.”

This is the Kamins’ third major donation to Pittsburgh’s cultural institutions in two years — after $65 million for the Carnegie Science Center in early 2024 (which eventually will lead to a renaming of the science center) and $25 million to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in February of this year to help renovate its dinosaur exhibit and support other initiatives.

The history center offers many interactive displays for children, like the Kidsburgh zone and Discovery Place. With learning stations scattered throughout the museum’s exhibits, both parents and kids can have a meaningful experience at the history center, Masich says.

KIDS EXPLORE THE PITTSBURGH TROLLEY ON DISPLAY AT THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER | PHOTO COURTESY HEINZ HISTORY CENTER

“My main goal is for kids to understand their history and civics so they can be better citizens moving forward,” Masich says. “They’re the building blocks of our community, and if we don’t invest in them now when they’re young in their formative years, well, we’re going to lose them.”

Carole Kamin lauded Masich for his leadership at the center and for helping to “save” the Fort Pitt Museum, a small museum in Point State Park now managed under the umbrella of the history center. “We have a lot of reasons, many reasons why we continue to support the John Heinz History Center,” she says. “It’s really just been a great honor to be a part of a number of things that have happened here, and we certainly are looking forward to what’s going to happen in the future with the additions.”

The Kamins’ donation to the history center also will support its expansion, which is set to begin this summer with initial demolition work of four buildings behind the museum, according to Masich. Plans include creating in that space a new wing, featuring an auditorium, exhibition space, classrooms and an official welcome center.

AERIAL VIEW OF THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER EXPANSION | ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING BY DESMONE ARCHITECTS

Within the new space, Masich said he hopes to open exhibits that dive deeper into the city’s history, telling the story of how Pittsburgh is connected to the world. He also highlighted the Museum of African American History that is set to open on the history center’s fourth floor once the expansion is completed.

Masich explains that while there will be plenty of new developments over the next two years, the history center will remain open throughout the expansion.

With roots dating back to 1879, the Heinz History Center is the oldest cultural institution in Western Pennsylvania and draws about 350,000 visitors a year. It later became the largest history museum in Pennsylvania with the opening of the Smithsonian wing in 2004. Its family of museums include the Heinz History Center, Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Fort Pitt Museum and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Washington County.

The Heinz History Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased for adults 18 or older online or at the door.