PHOTO COURTESY JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER

If a trip to the Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District has been lingering on your family’s to-do list, now is the time to cross it off. 

Children 17 and younger may access the building’s six floors of historical museums for free throughout the month of October. The free offer is presented by Highmark and Allegheny Health Network. 

Those who visit by Oct. 10 can catch the “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith” exhibit, which, developed in partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, showcases the history of political engagement in America. Visitors will also learn about Pittsburgh’s role in shaping American democracy. 

Other museum highlights include the original set and puppets used in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and the opportunity to try on a Super Bowl ring at the “Super Steeler” exhibit. Younger children may explore “Discovery Place,” where they’ll learn about Pittsburgh innovations through creative and hands-on activities. 

The Heinz History Center is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Tickets may be purchased online or at the door.  All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask inside the museum, regardless of vaccination status.