- Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
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Children's Museum of Pittsburgh 
The original Children's Museum facility in the former Allegheny Post Office buildingLocation: 10 Children's Way, Allegheny Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 
United StatesCoordinates: 40°27′10″N 80°00′23″W / 40.4529°N 80.0064°WCoordinates: 40°27′10″N 80°00′23″W / 40.4529°N 80.0064°W Pittsburgh Landmark Official name: Pittsburgh Children's Museum Designated: December 26, 1972[1] 
Location of Children's Museum of Pittsburgh in PittsburghThe Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is a children's museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Center neighborhood in Pittsburgh's Northside.
Contents
History
The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh was founded in 1983 in the old Allegheny Post Office, gifted to the museum by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, and is situated on Pittsburgh's North Side, formerly Allegheny City. The neighboring Buhl Planetarium building was vacated by 1991 when it was superseded by the nearby Carnegie Science Center.
New building
In the early 2000s, it was announced the museum would be expanding from the old Beaux Arts-style post office into the neighboring vacant Art Deco Buhl Planetarium. A plan was devised by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc. to connect the two historic structures with a modern glass addition over what was a street called Allegheny Square. The street was vacated and realigned and the addition was built.
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh became the largest Silver LEED certified museum in the country in March 2006. This validates that the Museum’s expansion has been designed and constructed using sustainable practices with particular attention to site development, water conservation, energy management, using recycled materials, waste management, reusing resources, indoor air quality as well as developing new programs for visitors. To offer teaching moments about the new green museum, many of the building’s structural and mechanical systems are left exposed.
New park
In 2010, officials announced plans to rehab a rundown park in front of the museum. The centerpiece of the new park will be a fog sculpture by Ned Kahn. Funds are still being secured. Groundbreaking is set for early-2011.[2]
Programs
The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh presents a wide variety of programs for children in fields ranging from dance and rocket building to quilting and robotics. Visiting artists offer workshops in a host of media, including pottery, Japanese paper cutting, animation and painting. The Museum's extensive outreach program offers performances, workshops, after school programs, artist days and festival programs for schools and groups throughout the year. Educational field trips are offered for local schools, scouts and other groups. The museum has collaborated with a number of regional institutions and programs, such as the University of Pittsburgh and the Create a Comic Project.[3][4]
Awards
The former Buhl Planetarium building is now part of the Children's Museum
The addition has received numerous awards, including a 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Trust for Historic Preservation award, LEED silver certification, and an award from American Institute of Architects.
Children’s Museum Executive Director Jane Werner received the Green Building Alliance[5] 2006 Shades of Green Leadership Award which celebrates leaders who have helped transform the Pittsburgh region into a more sustainable place to live and work. Jane's contributions cited include launching a new program/initiative supporting green-building related activities; raising significant community awareness and outreach of green issues through materials, programs and events; and influencing the adoption of a program/policy through advocacy efforts and implementing green management and operation policies within the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
References
- ^ Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Local Historic Designations
- ^ Bill Zlatos (August 16, 2010). "Children's Museum of Pittsburgh plans meadow-like park with fog sculpture". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_695060.html. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ Rosa, Jamie Lee. "Create a Comic Project." carminemag.com
- ^ Shepherd, Jeremy. "Otakon 2009: Manga, Literacy, and Children." anime.advancedmn.com
- ^ GBAPGH.org
External links
Museums in Pennsylvania Art, History,
and Religion:African American Museum in Philadelphia · Allentown Art Museum · American Jewish Museum · The Andy Warhol Museum · Atwater Kent Museum · Carnegie Museum of Art · Carnegie Museum of Natural History · Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia · Daniel Boone Homestead · Fallingwater · Frick Art & Historical Center · Gettysburg Museum · Heinz History Center · Independence Seaport Museum · Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia · Mattress Factory · Meadowcroft Rockshelter · Miller Gallery at Carnegie Mellon · National Civil War Museum · National Constitution Center · National Museum of American Jewish History · {Nationality Rooms · Philadelphia Museum of Art · Please Touch Museum · Rodin Museum · Rosenbach Museum & Library · University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology · Woodmere Art Museum · Westmoreland Museum of American ArtScience, Technology,
and Industry:Carnegie Science Center · Children's Museum of Pittsburgh · Drake Well Museum · Franklin Institute · Miniature Railroad & Village · Mütter Museum · Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum · Wagner Free Institute of ScienceCategories:- Pennsylvania building and structure stubs
- United States museum stubs
- Museums in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Children's museums in Pennsylvania
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design basic silver certified buildings
- Visitor attractions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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