Local treasures: Check out this national attention for the Children’s Museum and Heinz History Center

You may have heard that Pittsburgh’s favorite food festival, Picklesburgh, has been named to USAToday’s 10Best list several times. For the past three years running, Picklesburgh has won the title of Best Specialty Food Festival in America – and you can vote for it again this year.

But our local celebration of all things pickle-related (kicking off this summer on Friday, July 19, and running through Sunday, July 21) isn’t the only Pittsburgh favorite that’s earned a spot on the publication’s 10Best list.

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has just earned the #2 spot on USAToday’s 2024 list of the 10 best children’s museums in the country.

This is the fifth consecutive year for Children’s Museum to be honored in the 10Best Reader’s Choice Contest. The Museum maintained its high ranking after placing second last year and their team tells us they’re grateful to be acknowledged again for their innovative and inclusive work.

“We’re so honored and grateful to have support from our members, visitors, funders, and community, who recognize that we are a top destination for kids and families to explore play and hands on learning,” said Max Pipman, Senior Director of Communications for Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. “Our entire team is focused on putting together exhibits, programs, workshops, and more that have a positive impact on kids and families.”

Among their efforts to welcome as many local families as possible: The Children’s Museum offers several free admission days every year, as well as a handful of standing discounts, and they participate in the RAD Pass program. This week they announced free admission for first responders throughout the month of March.

Current exhibits include the super-fun Rube Goldberg experience, open through May 5.

Another local winner of national nod from USAToday: The Heinz History Museum tops the latest list of the 10 best history museums in the nation.

This Pittsburgh family favorite ranked number one amid an impressive field of nominees that included three Smithsonian museums (the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of African American History and National Museum of the American Indian), as well as Ellis Island, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution.

Upcoming events at the History Museum include “A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh,” opening in March.

What are your favorite events, museums and local treasures in the Pittsburgh region? E-mail us your thoughts right here or message us on Facebook or Instagram.