These Pittsburgh-area museums awarded USA Today 10BEST votes for 2026

The Steel City has several of the best museums in the nation, according to voting results released Feb. 18 by USA Today 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.

Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania museums earned top 10 rankings in five categories in the 2026 contest and took first place in three: Best Children’s Museum, Best History Museum and Best Small Town Museum.

Best Children’s Museum

Voters put the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in first place for the Best Children’s Museum for its fun and educational exhibits. The museum was ranked in the top 10 among voters in this category for the last eight years, and earned second place in the final voting over the previous three years.

Voters put the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in first place for the Best Children’s Museum for its fun and educational exhibits. Provided by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh via Reuters Connect

“We are thrilled to be acknowledged for our innovative, hands-on exhibits and programs as the leading children’s museum in the country,” said Jane Werner, the museum’s executive director, in a press release about the award.

“This honor is equally shared by our dedicated museum team, who provide joyful learning experiences each day, and the local children and families who bring these experiences to life.”

The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum is located at 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, and it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Sunday. It is closed on certain Wednesdays, so check its monthly calendar to confirm the schedule.

Best History Museum

If you’re interested in learning more about the people who built Pittsburgh, the Heinz History Center is the place where those stories are brought to life.

Voted as the nation’s best history museum for the third consecutive year, the Heinz History Center has six floors of interactive exhibits that give visitors a glimpse into western Pennsylvania history and those who helped create it.

The Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman St. in Pittsburgh’s Strip District and it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Children age 17 and under are admitted free. There is limited on-street parking near the museum, but there are four parking lots nearby (not owned by the museum) where paid parking is available.

Best Free Museum

For a closer look into Black history, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center offers exhibitions in art, music, theater and educational programs that tell the stories of African Americans in western Pennsylvania and beyond the region.

The museum is named for noted Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson and earned 10th place nationally for Best Free Museum by USA Today 10BEST voters.

Most of its exhibits are free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets can be ordered in advance at the center’s website or on arrival at the center’s box office. An exception is the Peju Alatise art exhibition “I Will Belong to Only Me,” which is open until May 31 in the Benedum Gallery and requires paid admission.

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is located at 980 Liberty Ave. in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Its hours are from 3-6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. There is no on-site parking available, but paid parking areas are nearby.

Best Science Museum

Science buffs can plan visits to the Kamin Science Center and the Moonshot Museum, each of which was ranked among the 10BEST in 2026 for the Best Science Museum.

The Kamin Science Center offers five floors of fun and knowledge for all ages, with exhibits covering earth and space science, technology, engineering, physical and sports science.

Science buffs can plan visits to the Kamin Science Center and the Moonshot Museum, each of which was ranked among the 10BEST in 2026 for the Best Science Museum. Provided by Luci Creative via Reuters Connect

It’s also where you can watch “The Football Town,” an NFL Films documentary that opens Feb. 28 and talks about the strong ties that western Pennsylvania has to football. Tickets to this film are sold separately at the Rangos Giant Cinema, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

The Kamin Science Center is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, and it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesdays (closed). Closures may also occur for major events at Acrisure Stadium, so visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance of their visit.

The Moonshot Museum takes visitors behind the scenes of spacecraft design and construction to watch actual lunar spacecraft being built and take a simulated mission to the moon, promoting interest in careers related to the space industry.

The Moonshot Museum is located at 1016 N. Lincoln Ave. on the North Shore, and it’s open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday-Sunday. The museum may be closed on certain days due to spacecraft testing or major events at Acrisure Stadium, so purchasing tickets online is recommended. On-site parking is very limited, but there are paid parking areas located nearby.

Best Small Town Museum

Back on land, 10BEST voters picked the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, located a short drive south of Pittsburgh in Washington County, as the nation’s Best Small Town Museum.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum gives visitors a look at this early electric-powered form of mass transportation, offering a nostalgic 4-mile ride on a vintage streetcar, a tour of 54 vintage trolley cars on display and self-guided exhibits.

The museum is located at 1 Electric Way in Washington, about 28 miles south of Pittsburgh. Its open hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on select days of the week, depending on the time of year; see the museum’s website for more details.

General admission tickets may be purchased at the museum, and free on-site parking is available. Online ticket sales are offered only for special museum events.

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Related: 20 free museums in Pennsylvania to visit this summer