Round Museum

It’s hanging right there in a little reading area on the 5th floor. Spin it to whatever hemisphere you choose. Where would you like to go?

Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh, PA

07.26.26

This bass drum and mallet set the tempo for the University of Pittsburgh marching band during the football team's 1976 national championship season, a perfect 12-0 record, and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Tony Dorsett. If you were the drummer, pound it with verve and abandon to drive the beat, but… be aware of anyone standing nearby.

Franco Harris Sports Museum
Pittsburgh, PA

07.25.26

The poliovirus causing paralysis in children was first identified in 1908 but a treatment for the disease would take another 40 years to develop. In 1947 a research effort was funded by the March of Dimes to determine the number and types of viruses and the Virus Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh led by Dr. Jonas Salk received one of the grants. The Lab was instrumental in identifying the virus, developing and testing a vaccine in trials, and in April 1955 the treatment was declared safe and effective for use.

This duplicating machine was used to trace the same pattern onto twenty-one pieces of glass...all at the same time! First, "blank" (undecorated) glassware was coated with melted beeswax and each piece was clamped in place along the front of the machine. Next, a plate with the selected pattern was placed on the left side of the machine. When the machine operator traced over the pattern on this plate, the weighted stylus above each piece of glassware removed the wax in the same design. The glassware then was removed from the machine and dipped into an acid bath.

The Heinz exhibition at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh displays the 150 year history of the company’s evolution from Henry John Heinz selling horseradish and pickles from his home to the development of thousands of international product brands, including their iconic tomato ketchup. An exhibition focal point is a nine-foot "tomato waterfall" sculpture featuring a cascade of more than 100 fake tomatoes flowing from a basket into a giant ketchup bottle. Fun fact: it is TOMATO ketchup. Not walnut ketchup or mushroom or anchovy.

07.22.26

The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago had many spectacular attractions, but none held more wonder than the Ferris Wheel, designed by George Ferris, a bridge engineer from Pittsburgh. Ferris traveled to Chicago in 1892 to help brainstorm about what could be built to eclipse the memorable Eiffel Tower from the Paris Exposition of 1889. It was said that Ferris, while having dinner at a "chop house" in Chicago drew up plans for his enormous wheel-ride, down to the finest details, in just twenty minutes.

Henry John Heinz founded the H. J. Heinz Company in January 1869 in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, selling bottled horseradish, pickles and, of course, tomato ketchup. Heinz made the most of every marketing opportunity. The company became known for their elegant delivery wagons in the early 1900s. This wheel is on the Heinz Hitch, which operated from 1986 to 2006. It traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and delighting crowds at parades, country fairs, and festivals across North America.

If you like pickles, then pull out your pickle puns because Pittsburgh has a dill-icious four day all-pickles-all-the-time festival for brine-iacs like YOU! Picklesburgh is being held downtown in July for its 11th year, spanning from the two Sister Bridges (Clemente and Warhol), all along Sixth Street and Market Street from Fort Duquesne Boulevard through Heinz Hall Courtyard, Market Square and PPG Plaza. You may even see a blimp-sized pickle balloon or two if you look. And there is not a food or drink item without a pickle on it or brine in it — Grilled Cheese and Gherkin? Sure!

Voor een typisch Nederlandse maaltijd raden we u aan om dit gerecht te bestellen — een combinatie van ons suddervlees, hachée, stamppot met gekookt aardappeltje, rode kool, appelcompote, spek, rookworst, jus, en rijst.

07.18.26

Are those balls bitter? Well, when in Amsterdam why not find out? This traditional Dutch bar snack is a delicious savory appetizer to accompany your favorite bespoke cocktail infused with bitters. Made with beef, onions, parsley and nutmeg and thickened with roux into a stew, the mixture is chilled and then rolled into balls that are breaded and fried. A little mustard for dippin', and how about another cocktail for sippin'?

07.17.26