Take an interactive journey from the 1800s to modern day at the Heinz History Center’s latest exhibit, A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh.
From pioneering investigative journalism to leading their country to Olympic gold, Western Pennsylvania women have made an immeasurable impact in America, but too often, their stories have been overlooked.
This exhibit features the stories of women entrepreneurs and activists, artists and athletes, scientists and inventors, and changemakers and barrier breakers spanning from the early 1800s to modern day. Browse from over 300 artifacts to learn how women have shaped Pittsburgh and the world.
Exhibit Highlights
- Clothing and textiles from the 1830s through today, including the inauguration dress worn by Sophie Masloff – the first and only female mayor of Pittsburgh – and also a costume from the National Negro Opera Company
- Original sketches from Peggy Owens Skillen, who helped to create the modern version of the iconic PBS show “Sesame Street”
- Protest posters, buttons, and other objects that tell the story of women’s suffrage and how Pittsburghers like Lucy Kennedy Miller and Winifred Meek Morris fought for the right to vote
- A special section on athletes featuring the Olympic jersey of basketball legend and McKeesport native Swin Cash and also Suzie McConnell Serio’s WNBA jersey
- Rare artifacts like the small handbag carried around the world in 1889 by legendary journalist Nellie Bly, who traveled the globe in just 72 days
- Stories of “real life” Rosie the Riveters, from the Western Pennsylvanians who worked the mills during World War II and helped inspire the iconic Rosie poster, to the modern day “Girls of Steel” – the all-girls robotics team at Carnegie Mellon University
- A newly-added, rare, game-worn uniform from the inaugural season of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, worn by Betsy Jochum of the South Bend (Ind.) Blue Sox
Guided Tours
Guests are welcome to join guided tours for a deep dive into the exhibition beginning at 11am and 1pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Cost is included with admission. No pre-registration is required, but please check in at the Admissions Desk to confirm availability.
Admission
Purchase tickets at the door, or reserve them in advance here.
Ticket prices:
- Adults (18-64): $20
- Seniors (65+): $18
- Students (with valid ID): $11
- Youth (6-17): $11
- Children (0-5): Free
- Carnegie Museum members: Free
You can also always try to reserve RAD Passes for free or discounted admission, although tickets are limited.
Location + Hours
The Heinz History Center is located in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District at 1212 Smallman St. and is open daily from 10am -5pm.
Extended by popular demand, the exhibit will be on view through January 20th, 2025.
More to See at Heinz History Center
Make a day out of your museum visit! There are six floors and over 15 exhibits currently on display, including 150 years of Heinz innovations, an interactive Kidsburgh section, exclusive artifacts of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” and more.
Also, don’t miss the gift shop on your way out! It’s a great place to grab a souvenir from the museum, such as swag from Heinz 57 to “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” There are lots of classic and quirky gifts to shop from.
Follow Heinz History Center on Facebook and Instagram for more happenings at the museum.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
