Children's Museum of Pittsburgh - Meet the Puppets

Stop on Mister Rogers, a free self-guided tour.

A short hop north brings you to a museum built for exactly the audience Fred Rogers spent his life serving. The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh has worked with his legacy for decades: in 1998 it partnered with Rogers and his production company, Family Communications, on an exhibit about his program that welcomed visitors for nearly ten years.

Today its Fred Rogers display brings you face to face with original puppets from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, including King Friday XIII, Queen Sarah Saturday and Henrietta Pussycat. You can also see a pair of his blue canvas sneakers and a sweater knitted by his mother, plus a re-creation of the familiar living room where young visitors can try on a cardigan of their own.

The rest of the museum is hands-on play from top to bottom, very much in the spirit of the man who believed play was serious work for children.

Getting here: Drive about 1 mile north into Allegheny Center, or walk it in roughly 20 minutes. The museum is on Children's Way next to Allegheny Square.

Did you know?: The puppets you see here were made to be handled and performed, not just displayed. Rogers voiced most of the Make-Believe characters himself.

Photo op: The living room re-creation is the classic shot: have someone sit in the chair or try on the cardigan.

For kids: Can they name the king and queen? Then ask which puppet they would want to talk to, and what they would tell it.

Hours and cost: Admission charged. Hours vary by season, so check the museum's website before you go.