This fall, the Heinz History Center’s Museum Conservation Center will host several workshops where visitors can learn museum-quality techniques for preserving their cherished heirlooms, including photographs, silverware, and paintings.
PITTSBURGH– The Senator John Heinz History Center’s new Museum Conservation Center recently earned the prestigious LEED Gold certification for environmental sustainability by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The USGBC lauded the Museum Conservation Center for its energy-saving standards and maintaining the historic integrity of the 55,000-square-foot building, which was built in 1917 as the home of the Marietta Chair Company. The project team consisted of The Design Alliance (architect), Mascaro Construction (contractor), Limbach (HVAC contractor), and Ferry Electric. evolveEA provided LEED and sustainability consulting.
Located behind the History Center at 1221 Penn Ave. in the Strip District, the nine-floor building also houses the History Center’s collection, which includes more than 32,000 artifacts. The new space features Smithsonian-quality lighting, temperature, humidity, pest control, and security. Sustainability features that resulted in the LEED Gold certification include factors such as energy savings over 50% and water savings over 30% versus comparable buildings, reuse of an existing building, diversion of 98% of the project construction waste, and the use of healthy finishes and high filtration levels.
The building’s first floor opened in September 2014 as one of the nation’s first museum facilities to provide professional conservation services directly to the public. The Museum Conservation Center assists visitors with expert advice on how to preserve their treasures, including works of art, photographs, wedding dresses, furniture, and much more. The facility also connects visitors with conservators should their heirlooms require professional repair.
Fall Workshops Showcase Conservation Tips
The Museum Conservation Center will host several workshops this fall, when visitors can learn museum-quality techniques for preserving their cherished heirlooms.
Digitizing Your Family Photographs – Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to noon
Family photographs are among the most precious possessions that help preserve the past for future generations. This workshop will focus on digital photo preservation, including scanning techniques for 2D and 3D objects, examples of object photography, and best file-naming practices. Led by digital image restoration expert and Pittsburgh Filmmakers professor Jim Burke, this hands-on workshop will help orient visitors to the concepts of digital fragility, format selections, metadata, backup systems, and much more. Admission is $35 for regular visitors and $30 for History Center members, and includes one free admission pass to the History Center.
Textile Care Clinic – Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to noon
A grandfather’s World War II uniform. A mother’s wedding dress. An antique quilt purchased at a local flea market. These valued textiles can be properly preserved using the right techniques. Expert conservator Nancy Boomhower will lead this hands-on workshop, which will discuss meticulous sewing techniques, professional storage methods, do-it-yourself cleaning practices, and more. Visitors are invited to bring one fabric item to be examined by the conservator, Admission is $25 for regular visitors and $20 for History Center members.
Home for the Holidays: World War II – Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to noon
Visitors can curl up over complimentary hot cocoa for heartwarming stories as told through actual WWII-era correspondence. Held in conjunction with the History Center’s We Can Do It! WWII exhibition, the workshop will feature archivists who will share firsthand accounts from local family archives that capture emotional holiday sentiments and documented historic events. Conservators will demonstrate how letters and scrapbooks can be properly preserved for future generations. Admission is $35 for regular visitors and $30 for History Center members, and includes one free admission pass to the History Center.
Holiday Heritage Event – Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6–8 p.m.
Each holiday season, Pittsburghers unpack ornate ornaments, elaborate light displays, and treasured keepsakes stored away from the previous year. For those who celebrate the holidays, the annual decorating cycle can be a tedious and sometimes downright frustrating process. Fear not – the Museum Conservation Center is here to help! Visitors can join expert conservators for a spirited holiday-themed workshop demonstrating the best practices for preserving family keepsakes, showcasing holiday décor and storing for safekeeping, and cleaning techniques for ornaments, tablecloths, china, silver, and more. The workshop will be followed by a reception with hot cider. Admission is $35 for regular visitors and $30 for History Center members.
To pre-register (required) for these Museum Conservation Center workshops, please visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org and click on the “Events” tab. Visitors can also RSVP by contacting Barb Antel at 412-454-6450 or bjantel@heinzhistorycenter.org, or Lauren Meals at 412-454-6451 or lameals@heinzhistorycenter.org.
The Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania, presents American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection. The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is a museum within a museum, comprehensively presenting the region’s remarkable sports story through hundreds of artifacts and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. The History Center and Sports Museum are located at 1212 Smallman Street in the city’s Strip District, and are open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The History Center’s museum system includes the Sports Museum; the Fort Pitt Museum in historic Point State Park; and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, a National Historic Landmark located in Avella, Pa. in Washington County. More information is available at www.heinzhistorycenter.org.