Pittsburgh Celebrates 5 Museums Earning National Recognition

City leaders honor local institutions ranked among the best in the country by USA Today readers.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:19pm

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Five of Pittsburgh's museums, including the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Heinz History Center, Kamin Science Center, Moonshot Museum, and August Wilson African American Cultural Center, have been recognized as top attractions in the country by USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. City leaders say the accolades come at an opportune time as Pittsburgh prepares to host the 2026 NFL Draft, highlighting the city's thriving arts, culture, and educational offerings.

Why it matters

The national recognition of these Pittsburgh museums underscores the city's growing reputation as a hub for art, history, science, and culture, which local officials hope will boost tourism and economic impact, especially around major events like the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

The details

According to the USA Today rankings, the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and Heinz History Center took the top spots in their respective categories, while the Kamin Science Center, Moonshot Museum, and August Wilson African American Cultural Center also made the top 10 list. Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor officially proclaimed this week as Museum Week to celebrate the achievements of these local institutions, which he says "punch way above [their] weight class" in terms of their national significance.

  • The USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards were announced in March 2026.
  • Pittsburgh is preparing to host the 2026 NFL Draft in the coming weeks.

The players

Corey O'Connor

The mayor of Pittsburgh who officially proclaimed this week as Museum Week to honor the city's nationally recognized cultural institutions.

Andy Masich

The president and CEO of the Heinz History Center, one of the top-ranked museums in the USA Today awards.

Jimyse Brown

The executive director of the Moonshot Museum, which was ranked 9th best museum in the country by USA Today readers.

Katie O'Connor

The first lady of Pittsburgh who highlighted the city's diverse array of museums catering to various interests.

Jared Bachar

A representative from VisitPittsburgh who noted the city's depth of character, history, and collaboration as factors contributing to its cultural appeal.

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What they’re saying

“Pittsburgh punches way above its weight class when it comes to art and culture, as evidenced by my colleague here.”

— Andy Masich, President and CEO, Heinz History Center (cbsnews.com)

“I think it's very telling where we're moving ahead as a city, gong from a blue-collar place, where we're known for steel, and how we're pushing into education and now we're in this Ed tech forefront, and to be able to be a manifestation of that is something we don't take for granted.”

— Jimyse Brown, Executive Director, Moonshot Museum (cbsnews.com)

“If you're interested in history, we have a museum for that. Space, we have a museum for that. Science, we have a museum for that. Whatevr your interest is, we have something to meet it, and that's really special.”

— Katie O'Connor, First Lady of Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The city plans to highlight the recognized museums during the 2026 NFL Draft, which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Pittsburgh in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Pittsburgh's thriving arts, culture, and educational institutions, as evidenced by the national recognition of its top museums, demonstrate the city's transformation from its industrial roots to a hub of innovation, creativity, and community pride.