3 Pittsburgh museums will offer free August admission to celebrate USA Today honors

Scott Tady, Beaver County Times
Updated ·3 min read

PITTSBURGH ― Three Pittsburgh museums will offer free admission in August.

This special "3 for Free" deal takes place at The Andy Warhol Museum, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Heinz History Center.

Visitors get in free of charge every operating day throughout the month as all three museums celebrate recently winning honors from USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards as some of the finest in the country.

Online voters recognized The Warhol as fourth in Best Art Museums, History Center as second in Best History Museums and Children’s Museum as second in Best Children’s Museums. Pittsburgh was the only city to see three different museums honored in the top five, and all are supported by annual operating grants from RAD – theAllegheny County Regional Asset District.

Entrance to the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.
Entrance to the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

“We are extremely fortunate to have such great cultural institutions in this city, county and region, and thanks to the USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Awards, we know that many outside of this area agree,” county Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. “Just as important as the national honors are the support that we receive from those who call this community home. Kudos to RAD as well as The Andy Warhol Museum, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and the Heinz History Center for providing this opportunity for our residents to enjoy each of these world-class institutions for free during August.”

Visitors seeking free tickets during the ‘3 For Free’ month are encouraged to book online at each museum’s website – the best way to guarantee admission on what are expected to be busy days.

The new offer will be in addition to the annual free-admission RAD Days, which will begin in September at more assets throughout Allegheny County.August is an important month for The Andy Warhol Museum, as it recognizes the iconic artist’s Aug. 6 birthday. With more than 10,000 works in its collection, The Warhol is the largest single-artist museum in North America.

“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate this national recognition − and Andy Warhol’s birthday − than to welcome even more visitors to The Andy Warhol Museum during the month of August,” Steven Knapp, president and CEO of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, said.

A locally commissioned tribute to Andy Warhol's mother graces the exterior of the groundbreaking Pop Artist's namesake museum in Pittsburgh.
A locally commissioned tribute to Andy Warhol's mother graces the exterior of the groundbreaking Pop Artist's namesake museum in Pittsburgh.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is in the middle of its own birthday celebration hallmarking 40 years of sharing joy, creativity, curiosity and kindness with all learners at its home on the North Side of Pittsburgh.

The Andy Warhol Museum hosts Final Friday after-work parties monthly with deejays, a Latin food truck and beer in this alley outside the North Side of Pittsburgh structure.
The Andy Warhol Museum hosts Final Friday after-work parties monthly with deejays, a Latin food truck and beer in this alley outside the North Side of Pittsburgh structure.
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is fun for all ages.
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is fun for all ages.

The free offering also serves as an opportunity to explore MuseumLab, where kids 10 and older can have cutting-edge experiences in art, tech and making.

"Making hands-on, innovative learning experiences accessible to all children and families is vitally important to the Children's Museum," Jane Werner, executive director of Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, said. "It's even more meaningful that the '3 For Free' program is happening as we celebrate our 40th birthday, and in conjunction with two wonderful Pittsburgh neighbors and cultural assets."

Over in the bustling Strip District, the Heinz History Center has partnered with the Smithsonian to offer The Negro Motorist Green Book exhibition through Aug. 13, providing visitors an immersive look at how African Americans traveled mid-century America, including a unique look at Pittsburgh businesses listed in the Green Book.

The Heinz History Center explores the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America as part of its ongoing Smithsonian exhibition, "The Negro Motorist Green Book."
The Heinz History Center explores the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America as part of its ongoing Smithsonian exhibition, "The Negro Motorist Green Book."

“The Heinz History Center is honored to be voted as one of the nation’s best history museums, and this initiative is the perfect way to thank our visitors and supporters this summer,” Andy Masich, president and CEO of the Sen. John Heinz History Center, said.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: 3 Pittsburgh museums will offer free admission in August