The Children's Museum, located in the historic Old Post Office Building on Pittsburgh's North Side, opened its doors in June 1983. Since then, it has served more than two million people with outstanding hands-on exhibits and programs.
The Children's Museum uses hands-on exhibits(permanent and temporary), artifacts, performances, storytelling, and art activities to help children better understand themselves, others, and the world. Permanent exhibits are multi-disciplinary and designed to meet the needs of diverse ages and learning styles. Extraordinary climbing structures and a musical swing sculpture affirm the importance of gross motor activities and the delight children take in them. Role-playing exhibits help develop and strengthen language arts skills. Health-related exhibits focus on respect for the human body and self-esteem; they foster a sense of personal responsibility for developing good health habits.
Whether in a professionally appointed silkscreen printing studio or using recycled materials to create take-home projects, craft and art activities are essential for self-expression and experimentation. The Children's Museum's remarkable puppet collection introduces performances as an interpretive tool while providing a window for exploring world cultures.
Performances, storytelling, demonstrations by artisans, and temporary exhibits complement permanent exhibits. This complementary programming establishes a strong context for appreciating exhibits and fosters the sense of community and sharing that is central to the Children's Museum's mission.
The idea to bring a children's museum to Pittsburgh began in 1976 when members of the Junior League of Pittsburgh met to determine the need and feasibility of a regional museum for children. Over the next six years, the League received a grant to meet and interview museum professionals across the US, hired a consultant to define their objectives, and undertook a fundraising campaign. Their efforts were rewarded when, on June 12, 1983, the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh opened in the Old Post Office - a historic landmark building - on Pittsburgh's North Side.
By 1987 the Museum had grown significantly, receiving a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to create Mystery, Magic and Mirth, a nationally recognized puppet exhibit based on the collection of local puppeteer Margo Lovelace, moving into all three floors of the building, adding live performances to its repertoire of programs and launching an extensive Outreach program. In June 1991, citing the Children's Museum's "total and positive" association with the building, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation officially deeded The Old Post Office to the Children's Museum.
The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh has grown to become the region's foremost educational resource for young children and their families, serving more than 2 million people with innovative exhibits and programs.
