Heinz History Center is Renaming Its Sport Museum After This Steelers Great
The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum will be known as the Franco Harris Sports Museum in honor of the late Hall of Famer.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER
Late Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris already is a local icon — and now his name is set to be further immortalized.
On Dec. 23 — the 53rd anniversary of the Immaculate Reception — Pittsburgh’s Senator John Heinz History Center announced the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum will be renamed as the Franco Harris Sports Museum.
“Franco touched and inspired so many of us, not only with his achievements on the gridiron, but with his kindness, generosity, and leadership,” says Andy Masich, president and CEO of the history center, in a statement. “His influence has gone well beyond Western Pennsylvania and will continue to inspire future generations. It is altogether fitting that the Sports Museum should bear Franco’s name.”
A longtime supporter of the history center, Franco’s leadership played a pivotal role in the development of the Sports Museum, which opened in 2004, according to the history center.
His family remains in leadership roles there today, with his wife, Dana Dokmanovich Harrison, on its board of trustees and as a member of the Sports Museum’s Champions Committee; his son, Dok Harris, is the co-chair of the History Uncorked event committee.
“Franco represented decency, charity, kindness, love and humility. His goal was to make the world a better place for us all,” says Dana in a statement. “Our family is honored that the Heinz History Center will continue to share his legacy with future generations.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER
The Sports Museum is the “home of the Immaculate Reception,” which features a lifelike figure of Harris making the famous catch that helped defeat the Oakland Raiders and secure the Steelers’ first-ever playoff victory. Harris also participated in the team’s four Super Bowl championships during the 1970s.
Harris’s cleats from the play, the Three Rivers Stadium field turf where it happened and other Steelers artifacts from the ’70s are also on display at the museum.
Sports Museum Director Anne Madarasz says Harris, who died Dec. 20, 2022 — just days before the Steelers were set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception — exemplified many of the characteristics associated with this region, such as hard work, integrity, perseverance and a commitment to his team and the community.
“Franco’s actions always spoke louder than his words,” she says in a statement. “A true man of the people, his generous spirit, his approachability and his unfailing humility made him one of the city’s most beloved and admired citizens.”
The renaming of the museum will take place some time in 2026; specific plans for the ceremony have yet to be announced.
