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PITTSBURGH -- This holiday season, the Heinz History Center, Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and Fort Pitt Museum are offering free admission for kids aged 17 and under, through Dec. 31.
Free admission for kids is supported by community partners UPMC and UPMC Health Plan in November and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in December.
≤ Holiday exhibition returns: Visitors can relive cherished childhood memories and make new ones inside the History Center's A Very Merry Pittsburgh exhibition, which opens on Nov. 18.
The exhibit features a collection of family keepsakes, artifacts, film, and imagery exploring how Western Pennsylvanians have celebrated major winter holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and more.
Nostalgic artifacts from Pittsburgh's popular department stores will be on view, including two recreated holiday windows from Kaufmann's and memorable objects from Kaufmann's Santaland. Visitors will see Santa's original chair and giant Mr. and Mrs. Claus ornaments along with the mailbox where thousands of children mailed their Christmas wish lists to the North Pole.
The exhibition will include a special section featuring vintage toys dating back to the 1840s, along with a hands-on play area for kids and kids-at-heart. It runs through Dec. 31.
Old Saint Nick will appear as part of the exhibition from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 18, 24 and 25 and Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Santa visits are included with regular museum admission and there is no charge to take photos. Saturdays with Santa in December are supported by Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.
≤ The Heinz History Center Museum Shop is a one-stop shop for uniquely Pittsburgh gifts, from Heinz pickle pajamas to Mister Rogers ornaments and more. Shoppers can visit shop.heinzhistorycenter.org or the Museum Shop at 1212 Smallman St. daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No museum admission is required. Purchases directly support the museum's exhibitions and educational programs.