Experience Kits

Become a tourist in your own city with the Allegheny County Library Association’s​

About the program

Thanks to a partnership with the Heinz Center Affiliates Program, Allegheny County libraries are offering FREE ADMISSION for two adults and six children to a number of museums and historical sites around Pittsburgh! Each pass can be checked out for up to one week at a time. Plus, each pass comes with virtual access to educational information, itinerary ideas, and other fun content.  

The Experience Kit program is being coordinated through the Heinz History Center’s Affiliates Program (HCAP), which includes more than 125 regional historical societies and organizations dedicated to preserving local history.  The Affiliate Program members include history, genealogy, and library organizations located primarily within the counties of Western Pennsylvania. 

2025 Participating Museums & Historic Sites: Heinz History Center • Fort Pitt Museum • Meadowcroft Rock Shelter & Historic Village • Bushy Run Battlefield • Depreciation Lands • Duncan & Miller Glass Museum • Gibson House Manor • Historic Fort Steuben • Historic Harmony • William Vicary Mansion

See all available Experience Kits on the online library catalog

Museums & Historic Sites to Visit

LOCATION: 1212 Smallman Street (Strip District), Pittsburgh, PA 15222

HOURS: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. The History Center is open 361 days a year and closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to their calendar of events or programs, please check their website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE: www.heinzhistorycenter.org

CONTACT: 412-454-6000 or info@heinzhistorycenter.org

ADMISSION: Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week and per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION: America’s #1 History Museum. The Heinz History Center was recently voted the #1 History Museum in America by USA Today as part of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Established in 1879, it is one of Pittsburgh’s oldest cultural organizations and Pennsylvania’s largest history museum. The History Center is a proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and also works with more than 200 historical organizations throughout the tri-state area.

Devoted to the history and heritage of Western Pennsylvania, the museum features six floors of long-term and changing exhibitions with hands-on activities, events, and programs. The museum system includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and the Detre Library & Archives.

In addition, the Heinz History Center operates the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella, PA, and the Fort Pitt Museum at Point State Park in Pittsburgh.

As Pittsburgh’s “people museum,” the History Center preserves and interprets the region’s story through immersive exhibitions featuring iconic artifacts like the set from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and the world’s oldest jeep. The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is located on the second and third floors of the History Center.

LOCATION: 401 Meadowcroft Road, Avella, PA 15312

HOURS:

  • May: Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Memorial Day to Labor Day: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Labor Day and October: Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to their calendar of events or programs, please check the website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE: www.heinzhistorycenter.org/visit/meadowcroft

CONTACT: 724-587-3412 or meadowcroftinfo@heinzhistorycenter.org

ADMISSION: Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week and per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION: Take a day-long adventure at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, located in Avella, Washington County, PA. Meadowcroft was created by Albert and Delvin Miller to preserve the rural history of Western Pennsylvania while developing a place where youth groups could camp, learn about history, and explore the natural environment.

A variety of tours and educational experiences are offered at Meadowcroft. Visitors can:

  • Investigate archaeology and the prehistoric people who lived in the area under a massive rock overhang 19,000 years ago;
  • Travel 400 years into the past to explore a re-created 16th-century Indian village;
  • Explore an 18th-century frontier trading post;
  • Visit a 19th-century rural village containing a one-room schoolhouse, an 1870s log church, and a blacksmith forge, while learning from re-enactors dressed in period costumes and living history demonstrations.

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village is a National Historic Landmark.

At Meadowcroft’s interpretive villages, visitors can step back in time to encounter rural life over the past 500 years. Explore a wigwam and test your aim with a spear thrower at the 16th-century Eastern Woodland Indian Village, experience an 18th-century log cabin and open-sided trading post, and watch a blacksmith forge red-hot iron or take a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse at the site’s 19th-century Historic Village.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, Meadowcroft helps visitors learn about ancient history and experience rural life in Washington County over the past 500 years.

LOCATION: 601 Commonwealth Place, Point State Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

HOURS: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily.

The museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to their calendar of events or programs, please check the website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE: www.heinzhistorycenter.org/visit/fort-pitt

CONTACT: 412-281-9284 or fortpittinfo@heinzhistorycenter.org

ADMISSION: Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week and per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION: Discover the world-shaping events that occurred in Pittsburgh at the Fort Pitt Museum, located within Point State Park. The museum tells the story of Western Pennsylvania’s vital role during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. It was also the birthplace of the city of Pittsburgh. The museum opened in 1969 in a reconstructed bastion at the forks of the Ohio River — a location that was strategic and significant in American history.

Through interactive exhibits, lifelike historical figures, and authentic artifacts, visitors can explore the important role the region played in shaping the nation. Guests can also learn about daily life of 18th-century residents and experience the sights and sounds of a frontier fort during Living History events.

During the summer months, visitors can witness living history in Point State Park as colonial reenactors demonstrate how life was lived during the 1700s.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the Fort Pitt Museum helps visitors discover the importance of Western Pennsylvania to our country’s history and learn about frontier life in 18th-century America.

LOCATION: 1253 Bushy Run Road, Jeannette, PA 15644

HOURS:

May through October

  • Wednesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, Noon – 5:00 p.m.
  • Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

November through April

  • Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, Noon – 5:00 p.m.
  • Closed Monday through Thursday

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to their calendar of events or programs, please check the website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE: www.bushyrunbattlefield.com

CONTACT: 724-527-5584

ADMISSION: Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week and per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION: Pennsylvania’s only recognized Native American battlefield. In July 1763, Colonel Henry Bouquet and approximately 400 British soldiers left Carlisle to relieve the besieged Fort Pitt and end a series of frontier attacks. The decisive victory over Native American forces at the Battle of Bushy Run on August 5th and 6th, 1763, opened western Pennsylvania to settlement.

Highlights of the site include the interpretive exhibit, “The March to Bushy Run”, located in the visitor center, along with guided and self-guided tours, special events, and educational programs.

Founded in 1950, the museum houses a collection of local Americana and memorabilia that provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the Bushy Run Battle. Tours, trails, and interpretive programs enhance the experience, and historical reproductions with lifelike figurines and artifacts depict 18th-century colonial and Native American culture.

Events at Bushy Run Battlefield include “History Speaks” programs, nature walks, the Kids’ Living Wax Museum, interpretive programs, school tours, scout opportunities, Astronomy Nights, a Spring Tea, Market Days, Living History Day Camp, an annual reenactment, Halloween events, Colonial Cocktail Hour, a Children’s Christmas Party, and a Christmas Tea.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, Bushy Run Battlefield shares the story of its important role in American history.

LOCATION:
1235 3rd Avenue, Freedom, PA 15042

HOURS:
Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Please use the 4th Avenue entrance.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to the calendar of events or programs, please check the website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE:
www.bchrlf.org

CONTACT:
724-775-1848
bchrlf@bchrlf.org

ADMISSION:
Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week, per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION:

The Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation, located in the 1826 Captain William Vicary Mansion, is recognized as Beaver County’s official historical society. The Foundation exists to research, collect, and archive local history and artifacts; recognize Beaver County landmarks; and educate local and national audiences through instructional programs, reference materials, publications, referrals, and special events.

The Vicary House was built overlooking the Ohio River in 1829 by Captain William Vicary, a retired Philadelphia merchant sea captain and land speculator. Over the years, additional changes were made to the buildings and grounds. Several unique adaptations allow visitors to observe early 19th-century architecture within the home.

The house is now owned by Beaver County and is occupied by the Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation. In 1974, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance.

The Vicary House offers many educational, informative, and entertaining programs. Major annual events include Apple Butter Fest, Hauntings and Ghost Tales, Celebrate America, Spring Tea, Beaver County History Weekend, and Christmas Open House. On Vicary Day, historically authentic classes teach traditional crafts such as weaving, spinning, lacemaking, quilting, woodcutting, and gardening.

A wide selection of archival materials and historic objects are housed at the Vicary House, including diaries, letters, newspapers, photographs, textiles, and records from more than 50 boroughs and townships throughout Beaver County.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the Vicary House continues to serve as a vibrant hub of historical preservation and community engagement. Please check the website for updates on upcoming programs and events.

LOCATION:
4743 S. Pioneer Road, Allison Park, PA 15101

HOURS:
Sundays, May through October, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to the calendar of events or programs, please check the website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE:
www.dlmuseum.org

CONTACT:
412-486-0563
dlm@dlmuseum.org

ADMISSION:
Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week, per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION:

The Depreciation Lands Museum and Park was created by Hampton Township in 1973. Its mission is to preserve and interpret the early years of European settlement in the Depreciation Lands, areas set aside by the government to compensate soldiers for their service in the Revolutionary War.

This colonial-era living history settlement stands in an area known by 1805 as Talley Cavey. All buildings are staffed by knowledgeable, costumed interpreters. The grounds include the original Pine Creek Covenanter Church and cemetery, an authentic log house, and numerous reproduction buildings such as a schoolhouse, smokehouse, bake oven, blacksmith shop, and barn housing a Conestoga-style wagon, mercantile, and workshop.

The site also features a research library with a collection of books on 18th-century history, daily life, and period skills, along with genealogical data, photographs, and maps available for research. Historic buildings are open every Sunday during the summer season. The cemetery grounds, furnished with picnic tables, are open daily from sunrise to sunset year-round.

Annual special events include Friendship Day, Beggars’ Day, an Adult Tea, Lantern Tours, Threads of Heritage, and various history lectures.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the Depreciation Lands Museum offers visitors an immersive step back into colonial village life.

LOCATION:
100 Ridge Avenue, Washington, PA 15301

HOURS:
Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to the calendar of events or programs, please check the website and/or call before you visit.

WEBSITE:
www.duncan-miller.org

CONTACT:
724-225-9950
docent@duncan-miller.org

ADMISSION:
Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week, per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION:

Before the Pittsburgh area became known for steel, it was recognized as the glass manufacturing center of the United States. Glass manufacturing in Western Pennsylvania began in 1797. By the second half of the 19th century, the majority of glass manufactured in the U.S. was produced in this region due to its location, availability of raw materials, and access to transportation. As the first “Gateway to the West,” Pittsburgh supplied essential glass items for the nation’s westward expansion.

George Duncan, who had a background in glassworks, became the owner of D. C. Ripley & Co. Glass Works in Pittsburgh’s Southside, later renaming the company George Duncan & Sons. He was joined by John Miller, and the company relocated to Washington, Pennsylvania, for improved access to transportation and raw materials. The new Washington plant opened in 1893 and operated until 1955.

For the first thirty years, the plant produced only clear glass. Later, colored and patterned glass were introduced. Although other companies in the tri-state area manufactured glass, the Duncan & Miller Glass Company became renowned for the skill of its workers, the artistry of its designs, and the beauty of its glass colors. Production ended in 1955 due to mechanization and foreign imports, which made fine handmade glass too costly to produce.

The National Duncan Glass Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of these glass companies, study their economic impact on the region, and celebrate the men and women who made the industry possible.

The museum is dedicated to sharing the legacy of the Duncan & Miller Glass Co. of Washington, Pennsylvania, and the region’s industrial heritage. Visitors can experience the art, science, and craftsmanship of the handmade glass industry from 1865 to the present.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the Duncan Miller Glass Museum honors the importance of the glass industry to Western Pennsylvania and celebrates the rich history and collection of genuine Duncan & Miller glass.

LOCATION:
210 Liberty Street, Jamestown, PA 16134 (Mercer County)

HOURS:
Monday – Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. tour, and 12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. tour
Saturday Tours: 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m.

* Starting March 15, 2025, the Manor is hosting tours every day.
** Tours have limited space; we strongly advise scheduling your tour in advance.
*** For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to events or programs, please check the website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE:
www.friendsofthemanor.org

CONTACT:
724-456-4983
gibsonhousemanor@allfacilities.com (to make a reservation)

ADMISSION:
Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under the age of eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week, per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION:

Gibson House is a historic site that exemplifies “small town USA.” Built in 1855 by Dr. William Gibson, it served as both his family home and office. It was also a “safe house” for slaves, as Jamestown was an important crossroad for the Underground Railroad. The Manor contains secret design elements and hiding places to protect runaways. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, featuring Greek Revival, Italianate, and Georgian architectural styles.

The Manor was frequently visited by Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, the American writer, journalist, humorist, and riverboat pilot. Twain often stayed at the Manor when in the area.

Special events include Candlelight Ghost Tours, Victorian Christmas Around the World Tour, and “Sundays at the Manor.” Additional offerings include a Scavenger Hunt tour, Mark Twain–led tours, Underground Railroad tours, Civil War quilt code tours, and an October paranormal tour. Check the events calendar for details.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Gibson House Manor (The Mark Twain Manor) actively promotes and honors the people, history, and events of Jamestown, PA.

LOCATION:
120 South 3rd Street, Steubenville, Ohio 43952

HOURS:
Open from May through October:
Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Historic Fort Steuben Visitor Center and Museum Shop is open year-round, Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., except Christmas, New Year’s, and other holidays.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to their calendar of events or programs, please check their website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE:
www.oldfortsteuben.com

CONTACT:
740-283-1787
info@oldfortsteuben.com

ADMISSION:
Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week, per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION:

Historic Fort Steuben was built in 1787 and named after Friedrich Wilhelm Steuben, a Prussian officer who served as George Washington’s drillmaster in the Revolutionary War. Visitors can tour the reconstructed fort to see soldiers’ quarters, guardhouse, hospital, and commissary, depicting daily life for the men who helped open the territories to settlement.

On the grounds, the Exhibit Hall provides displays on Ohio’s history, and the Federal Land Office — the first west of the Alleghenies — displays artifacts and documents illustrating early 19th-century life. The Visitors’ Center is part of the Ohio River Scenic Byway and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, offering maps, brochures, and information on local attractions, including 25 larger-than-life murals throughout downtown Steubenville and souvenirs of native son Dean Martin. There is also an herb garden containing herbs commonly used in the 18th century.

Throughout the year, Historic Fort Steuben and nearby Fort Steuben Park and the Berkman Amphitheater host events such as Ohio Valley Frontier Days, The Joys of Quilts show, summer concerts, youth education programs, Constitution Day, Brigade of the American Revolution, Light Up Night, Christmas at the Fort, and the Steubenville Nutcracker Village.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, Historic Fort Steuben’s exhibits, tours, and events tell the story of the Ohio Valley during the 18th century while keeping history alive today.

LOCATION:
218 Mercer Street, Harmony, PA 16037

HOURS:
Tuesday – Saturday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Two guided tours are offered each day: one at 1:00 p.m. and the other at 2:30 p.m. Up to ten (10) people can participate per tour, so scheduling in advance is strongly recommended.

*For updated information concerning hours of operation or changes to their calendar of events or programs, please check their website and/or call before your visit.

WEBSITE:
www.harmonymuseum.org

CONTACT:
724-452-7341
hmuseum@zoominternet.net

ADMISSION:
Complimentary — up to two (2) adults and six (6) children under eighteen per visit and per one lending time period (approximately one week, per each library’s procedures).

DESCRIPTION:

Harmony, PA was founded in 1804 by Johann Georg Rapp and his religious community, known as the Harmony Society or Harmonists. Fleeing present-day Germany in search of religious freedom, about 400 Harmonists lived communally, built a strong economy, and later sold the community to Abraham Ziegler before relocating to Indiana.

The Harmony Museum, built in 1809, tells the story of the Harmony Society, the Mennonites who came after them, and others who contributed to the community. The museum also highlights George Washington’s 1753 visit to the area and the Ball collection of 19th-century sporting rifles.

Historic Harmony Inc. also maintains other properties, including an early 1800s Mennonite log cabin, a Mennonite church, and graveyard. Visitors strolling through the village will discover additional historic buildings, some housing current businesses. The Harmony Historic District is Western Pennsylvania’s first National Landmark District.

Monthly events include Harmoniefest, Candlelight Concert, House and Garden Tour, Antique Gun Show, Oktoberfest Dinner, and the museum’s German-style Christmas Market.

An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, Harmony offers a rich experience for visitors to immerse themselves in 250 years of Western Pennsylvania’s history.

Check Out an Experience Kit

Reserve an Experience Kit in Advance

These libraries allow patrons to reserve an Experience Kit for a specific week. Please contact the library directly to put a kit on hold because they are not holdable through the library catalog. Each kit can be borrowed for one week and cannot be renewed. 

Check Out an Experience Kit Today

These libraries circulate Experience Kits on a first-come, first-served basis. You can view which kits are available through the library catalog, but must visit the library in person to check one out. Each kit can be borrowed for one week and cannot be renewed. 

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