Sports Journey: The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
- Lloyd Brown
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Senator John Heinz History Center is Pennsylvania’s largest history museum. It is in the Strip District of downtown Pittsburgh. The History Center is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.
Two floors of the History Center are devoted to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum . The western region of the Keystone State has a rich legacy of sports at the amateur, collegiate, and professional levels. The sports museum features in-depth exhibits on the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates, while also covering many Western Pennsylvania athletes who have made their mark on the sports world.
The football section of the museum celebrates the Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris at its entrance. It also features salutes to Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Terry Bradshaw. The region has also produced several of football’s top professional quarterbacks, as they include Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, and Dan Marino, who are also recognized in the exhibit.
At the college level, the museum salutes the achievements of the University of Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett, as well as the success of the Nittany Lions at Penn State.
Ice hockey has also played a major role in the sports legacy of the western portion of the state. The Pittsburgh Penguins have won five Stanley Cups. This section of the museum celebrates the exploits of Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Marc-Andre Fleury. The hockey section also pays homage to the Pittsburgh Pennies, who played in the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Hockey League.
Pittsburgh’s ties to baseball go back to the 1870s. There is a two-story mural depicting Forbes Field, the Pirates’ home field from 1909-1970. You’ll see an extensive display on Bill Mazeroski’s dramatic walk-off home run to win the 1960 World Series, along with salutes to Pirate superstars Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, and Willie Stargell. Longtime Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince is also recognized in the exhibit.
Pittsburgh played a dominant role in the Negro League era of baseball, as it was home to both the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. You’ll see Satchel Paige’s glove, as well as a video visit of Greenlee Field, the first black-built and black-owned baseball field in the U.S.
The City of Champions exhibit pays homage pays tribute to some of the region’s lesser-known sports history. One section is devoted to Olympians from the area, while another is devoted to the 1968 Pittsburgh Pipers basketball team, which brought an ABA championship to the Steel City.
Golf has a long legacy in the region, going back to the 1880s. The region’s Oakmont Country Club has been around since 1903 and has hosted many championship tournaments. Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer is truly one of golf’s legends.
The other floors of the Heinz History Center are well worth a visit, as they are included in the admission fee. These floors feature exhibits about the region’s steel industry, the Heinz legacy in the food industry, and a salute to the children’s television pioneer Fred Rogers, or Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood fame. Rogers was from the Pittsburgh area.
The Heinz History Center and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum are open from 10 am-5 pm daily.
Senator John Heinz History Center/ Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
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