Skip to content
Byway
Museum · Pennsylvania

Senator John Heinz History Center

Senator John Heinz History Center, a museum in Pennsylvania
Senator John Heinz History Center, a museum in PennsylvaniaDaderot · Public domain
Senator John Heinz History Center, a museum in Pennsylvania
Daderot · Public domain
Senator John Heinz History Center, a museum in Pennsylvania
Daderot · Public domain
Senator John Heinz History Center, a museum in Pennsylvania
Daderot · Public domain
Senator John Heinz History Center, a museum in Pennsylvania
Daderot · Public domain
Senator John Heinz History Center, a museum in Pennsylvania
Daderot · Public domain

More photographs at the Wikimedia Commons category.

Senator John Heinz History Center is a museum in Pennsylvania, at a modelled elevation of 225 m. Big Knob stands 423 m to the north-northwest, 22 miles off. The nearest named place is August Wilson Park, a park 0.3 miles away. Grand View Scenic Byway passes 1.2 miles off.

About

The story

The Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is the largest history museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. Named after U.S. Senator H. John Heinz III (1938–1991) from Pennsylvania, it is located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh. The Heinz History Center is a 275,000-square-foot (25,500 m2) educational institution "that engages and inspires a diverse audience with links to the past, understanding in the present, and guidance for the future by preserving regional history and presenting the American experience with a Western Pennsylvania connection." In 2024, the Heinz History Center was named the best history museum in the United States by readers of USA Today as part of their annual Readers' Choice poll.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Dates from 1996.

Wikidata Q5700701, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

Visiting

What to expect

Fee
Yes
Step-free access
Yes

Official site

Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates40.44650, -79.99233
Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Parks
Historic sites
Artworks
  • Le Magnifique: 0.4 mi
  • Pittsburgh Variations: 0.5 mi
  • Mythic Source: 0.5 mi
  • Mythic Source: 0.6 mi
  • The Forks: 0.6 mi
Peaks
  • Monument Hill: 1.1 mi
  • Herron Hill: 1.9 mi
  • Flagstaff Hill: 2.6 mi
  • Observatory Hill: 2.9 mi
  • Prospect Hill: 3.1 mi
Nature reserves
  • Grandview Overlook Park: 1.3 mi
  • The Saddle: 1.3 mi
  • Oakcliffe Greenway: 1.8 mi
  • Chatham Village Greenspace: 1.9 mi
  • St John's Green: 3.2 mi
Gardens: 55
  • Learning Garden: 0.4 mi
  • Allegheny Commons Community Garden: 0.6 mi
  • UPMC Mercy Physical Therapy Garden: 0.8 mi
  • Welcome to Pittsburgh: 0.9 mi
  • Tustin Street Community Garden: 1.0 mi
Museums: 55
Picnic sites: 22
  • Picnic Place at the Schenley Plaza: 2.1 mi
  • Grove: 8.6 mi
  • Picnic Pavillion: 9.4 mi
  • Picnic Pavillion: 9.4 mi
  • White Pine Grove: 9.5 mi
Attractions: 19
Beaches: 7
  • Thornburg Beach: 4.5 mi
  • Tiger Beach: 5.1 mi
  • Aquatorium Beach Left Side: 17.1 mi
  • Aquatorium Beach Left Side: 17.1 mi
  • Aquatorium Beach Right Side: 17.2 mi
Cliffs: 3
Waterfalls: 3
  • Thompson Run Falls: 8.8 mi
  • Snake Run: 20.8 mi
  • Frankfort Mineral Springs: 23.4 mi
Springs: 2
  • Francis Spring: 13.4 mi
  • Lacock Spring: 22.7 mi
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 21.9 miles of Senator John Heinz History Center. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Big KnobNNW 330°423 m21.9 mi
Hannas KnobSW 215°417 m17.1 mi
Pollocks KnobS 171°407 m13.6 mi
Herron HillENE 72°384 m1.9 mi
Bunker HillNW 307°375 m21.1 mi
Rich HillNE 40°365 m12.3 mi
Mt. SycamoreENE 66°229.2 m7.9 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:2418:5619:32
June solstice05:5120:1320:54
September equinox07:0818:4319:19
December solstice07:4016:1416:57

Local time (America/New_York).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F303240526270757366554435
Precip in3.42.83.23.23.53.53.63.23.22.82.83.0

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Emsworth L/D Ohio RVR, 7 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidataOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element way/363410316

More museums in Pennsylvania

Day trips start here

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Plan a driveMore museums
Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Senator John Heinz History Center.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens