Heinz History Center celebrates Civic Season with patriotic programming

Here in the midst of June, we are entering a slew of patriotic holidays and anniversaries, starting on Friday with Flag Day and concluding on the Fourth of July.

At the Sen. John Heinz History Center and more than 400 other museums and cultural institutions around the country, this period has come to be known as Civic Season.

Now in its fourth year, Civic Season is a busy time of fun and enriching programming. Heinz History Center, in partnership with the Smithsonian and History Made By Us, plans to engage and educate Western Pennsylvanians about America’s history of civic action.

“We’re really excited, because there’s a lot to do here in Pittsburgh,” said Brady Smith, chief communications officer at Heinz History Center.

While the events held throughout those few weeks are for all ages, Smith said that they aim primarily to engage people in the 18-30 age demographic.

“All of this was developed, too, in conjunction with this generation of people. We’ve worked closely with Gen Z advisors,” he said. “We communicated with younger folks, this very diverse group of people.”

That is the focus of “History Made By Us,” a coalition committed to preparing the next generation of leaders with information and tools for the future.

Civic Season also is about acknowledging the breadth of the American experience.

“Most people think about hot dogs and fireworks, and that’s great,” Smith said. “But the Civic Season was formed to recognize that these holidays mean a lot of different things to different people.”

This year’s season will kick off in Pittsburgh Friday with a Flag Day folding ceremony at 11:30 a.m. at the Heinz History Center. In the evening is a “Slice of History,” a happy hour where attendees can enjoy free pizza and learn about a range of civic-minded organizations, including the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project and the League of Women Voters.

“These are happy hours that are actually happening around the country,” Smith said.

The kickoff event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. and include after-hours access to the exhibit “A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh.”

On June 20, the History Center will host a naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens, in partnership with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, “a very moving and powerful thing to witness,” Smith said.

The same day, participants can immerse themselves in “Cocktails and Conversation: Wars of Empire and Liberty” from 6 to 7:30 p.m., an event examining the little-known impacts of Western Pennsylvania on the French and Indian War and American Revolution, featuring Andy Masich, history center president and CEO, and Fort Pitt Museum assistant director Michael Burke.

Smith is excited for “Keystone Stories: Uncovering the Legacies of Pennsylvania Women,” scheduled for June 30 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. It will bring together a panel, including authors Kimberly Hess and Eliza Smith Brown.

“It’s done in conjunction with ‘A Woman’s Place.’ We’ll talk a little bit about reclaiming the narratives of some of the overlooked women in our region’s history, and also nationally,” Smith said. The event will involve discussion of the women’s suffrage movement, the struggle for women’s rights and the many contributions women have made to shaping the civic history of the United States.

This year, Civic Season is celebrating two important anniversaries. Seventy years ago saw the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that struck down racial segregation in public schools. July 2 marks the 60th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, a landmark piece of legislation in the fight against discrimination. On July 2 from 6 to 8 p.m., the History Center will hold a conversation with members of the community — including teachers, students and activists — about the impact of those crucial legal strides.

“As part of that, we’re asking for student presentations, for high school students to submit a presentation on topics related to either of those landmark decisions and pieces of legislation,” Smith said.

Then for the grand finale, Independence Day will bring “Fourth at the Fort,” a celebration at the Fort Pitt Block House, owned by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We raise a 36-foot American flag,” Smith said. “It’s a great way to kick off the Fourth of July.”

This year will be even more special because the event will include a replica of a war tent used by George Washington, on loan from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

Even for those who can’t attend any of the programs in person, a wide array of virtual programs can be found on TheCivicSeason.com. It offers a quiz where participants can learn their “civic superpower,” along with other materials.

“I think it’s a great time for all Americans, young and old, to sit back and reflect and learn more about how you can take action in our community,” Smith said. At the Heinz History Center, they are also focused on the myriad ways Pittsburgh and its citizens have impacted the course of American history — and how we can continue that strong tradition of civic engagement.

The focus is on many paths to getting involved, though Smith noted that voting is still the single most important thing the average citizen can do to make an impact.

“At the end of the day, we’re hoping that visitors can connect to the stories we’re sharing in these programs, that they’re inspired to help power our democracy,” he said.

To learn more about Civic Season programming and register for individual events, visit heinzhistorycenter.org.