We’re halfway through June, which means a string of patriotic holidays and anniversaries are upon us, from Flag Day on Friday to Independence Day on the Fourth of July.
At the Heinz History Center and more than 400 museums and cultural institutions across the country, the period is known as “Civic Season.”
Now in its fourth year, Civic Season is a busy time packed with fun and enriching programming, as the Heinz History Center, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and History Made By Us, plans to educate and educate western Pennsylvania residents about the history of civic engagement in America.
“We’re really excited because there’s a lot to do in Pittsburgh,” said Brady Smith, chief communications officer for the Heinz History Center.
The multi-week event is aimed at all ages, but Smith said it is primarily aimed at people in the 18-30 age group.
“All of this was also developed in partnership with this generation. We’ve worked closely with Gen Z advisers,” he said. “We communicated with younger people, this very diverse group of people.”
That’s 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 is also about recognizing the breadth of the American experience.
“Most people think of hot dogs and fireworks, and that’s great,” Smith said, “but Civic Season was formed to recognize that these holidays mean different things to different people.”
This year’s season kicks off in Pittsburgh on Friday with a flag-raising ceremony at the Heinz History Center at 11:30 a.m. The evening will feature a “Slices of History” happy hour, where attendees can enjoy free pizza while learning about various community-giving organizations, including the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project and the League of Women Voters.
“These are happy hours that are actually happening all across the country,” Smith said.
The kickoff event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will also include after-hours access to the “A Woman’s Place” exhibit.
On June 20, the history center will work with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to host a naturalization ceremony for the new U.S. citizens, which Smith said will be “very moving and powerful to witness.”
That same day, attendees can immerse themselves from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in “Cocktails and Conversation: Empire and the War of Freedom,” an event examining the little-known impact of western Pennsylvania on the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War, featuring speakers Andy Massick, president and CEO of the History Center, and Michael Burke, associate director of the Fort Pitt Museum.
Smith is excited about “Keystone Stories: Unearthing the Legacy of Pennsylvania Women,” which will take place June 30 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The event will feature a panel that will include authors Kimberly Hess and Eliza Smith Brown.
“This is going to go hand in hand with ‘The Status of Women,’ and we’re going to talk a little bit about reclaiming the stories of women who have been overlooked in local history, and in national history,” Smith said.The event will discuss the women’s suffrage movement, the fight for women’s rights and the many contributions women have made in shaping the civic history of the United States.
This year’s civic season celebrates two important anniversaries: 70 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education, desegregating public schools. July 2 marks the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act, landmark legislation in the fight against discrimination. On July 2, from 6-8 p.m., the History Center will host a conversation with community members, including teachers, students and activists, about the impact of these important legal advances.
“As part of this, we are asking high school students to submit presentations on topics related to these landmark decisions and bills,” Smith said.
And as a grand finale, a Fourth of July celebration called “4th at the Fort” will be held at Fort Pitt Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We’ll be raising a 36-foot American flag,” Smith said, “a great way to kick off Independence Day.”
This year’s event will be even more special with the display of a replica war tent used by George Washington, on loan from the American Revolutionary War Museum in Philadelphia.
For those who can’t attend in-person programs, a variety of virtual programs are available at TheCivicSeason.com. The site also offers quizzes and other materials to help participants learn their “civic superpowers.”
“I think this is a great opportunity for all Americans, young and old, to step back and think and learn how they can act in their communities,” Smith said. The Heinz History Center also focuses on the diverse influences that Pittsburgh and its citizens have had on the course of American history, and how it can continue its tradition of strong civic engagement.
Smith said while there’s a focus on different ways to get involved, voting remains the most important thing the public can do to make an impact.
“Ultimately, we hope visitors will relate to the stories we’re sharing in these programs and be inspired to contribute to advancing our democracy,” he said.
For more information about Civic Season programming and to register for individual events, visit heinzhistorycenter.org
Alexis Papalia is a TribLive staff writer and can be reached at apapalia@triblive.com.
