Come Sept. 1, children 17 and under — including school groups — will be able to visit the Senator John Heinz History Center and Fort Pitt Museum for free.
The aptly named “Free For Kids” program came about after an $11.5 million donation from Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin. It is the largest individual gift the museum has ever received, writes Andy Masich, president and CEO of the History Center, in a release announcing the gift.
“Learning and understanding our history has never been more critical. We are proud to support the Heinz History Center and its important mission,” Carole Kamin writes in the release. “Dan and I hope this gift helps to eliminate one barrier for families and schools alike, so they can explore our region’s rich heritage and be inspired to make a difference.”
The Kamin’s last sprung into Pittsburgh’s public consciousness in January 2024, when the Carnegie Science Center announced that a $65 million donation from the family would see it renamed the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center. The Science Center’s full rebranding should be complete sometime this year.
The Kamin Family Foundation is built on Daniel’s real estate development business, Kamin Realty, which manages 17 million square feet of properties across 45 states.
Alongside the “Free For Kids” program, the funds will also further the History Center’s plans for expansion. In 2019, it began purchasing the empty buildings behind it at the corner of Penn Avenue and 13th Street. At the April 8, 2025, city planning commission meeting, the History Center earned unanimous approval to demolish those structures and should break ground in the coming weeks.
The four-story, 80,000-square-foot addition will incorporate — among other features — a theater, classrooms and exhibition space. It is expected to open in 2028.
“Dan and Carole have been steadfast supporters of our museum, and this extraordinary gift firmly establishes their legacy as philanthropic leaders in both our city and our nation,” writes Masich in the release. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, we want to remove obstacles that keep young people from learning about their history. Thanks to this transformative gift, we are on our way to realizing that vision.”
This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the afternoon.
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