The Heinz History Center – America’s #1 History Museum and the Smithsonian’s home in Pittsburgh – is having special exhibitions and activities during the 2026 NFL Draft.
From special pop-up exhibitions from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Pittsburgh Steelers to iconic artifacts within the Franco Harris Sports Museum, the History Center is a must-see attraction for the more than 500,000 fans in town during NFL Draft Week.
…And since kids ages 17 and under always receive free admission to the History Center (thanks to the museum’s Kamin “Free for Kids” Initiative), it should easily make a visit to the History Center your #1 overall pick!
Limited-Time Pro Football Hall of Fame Exhibition
Did you know that nearly 50 professional quarterbacks are from Western PA? In partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, visitors can see game-worn jerseys from George Blanda, Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino as part of this special pop-up exhibition in the History Center’s first floor Great Hall.
On view from April 17-27, the Franco Harris Sports Museum will also feature 27 original NFL Draft cards from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round picks from 1997-2025, on loan from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Limited-Time NFL Draft Exhibition
Uncover the stories that connect the region’s rich football legacy to the 2026 NFL Draft in this limited-time exhibition, developed in partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Explore Pittsburgh’s role in the origins of the NFL Draft, which dates to the 1935 NFL owners meeting downtown at the Fort Pitt Hotel, and follow the evolution of the Steeler’s draft philosophy, from a team that mortgaged the future by trading draft picks to one that built a Super Bowl champion dynasty.
Family-Friendly Draft Week Fan Zone
From April 23-25 check out family-friendly activities in the Draft Week Fan Zone, featuring tailgate-style games, sports-themed scavenger hunts, and gameday food throughout each day.
Explore the Franco Harris Sports Museum
The Franco Harris Sports Museum (recently renamed in honor of the late Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back) features 20,000 square feet of interpretive galleries and more than 50 interactive experiences that showcase the unforgettable and almost forgotten stories of athletes who transformed Pittsburgh into the “City of Champions.”
Within the museum, you’ll find a lifelike figure of Franco making the “Immaculate Reception” catch, his cleats from the play, the Three Rivers Stadium field turf where it happened, and other iconic artifacts from the 1970s Steelers.
Official NFL Draft Merch at the Museum Shop
The History Center Museum Shop will offer official NFL Draft merchandise alongside items from hometown favorites like Mister Rogers and Heinz.
For more information and updates on NFL Draft Week offerings at the History Center and Sports Museum, visit heinzhistorycenter.org/draft.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
