Heritage Discovery Center - Johnstown, Pennsylvania - Interactive Immigrant Museum

The Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center is part of the Johnstown Discovery Network and is managed by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association. It is located in the Cambria City National Historic District at 201 Sixth Avenue in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

The building that houses the Heritage Discovery Center was originally part of the Germania Brewery Company. It is a five-floor building made out of brick. It was purchased in 1993 by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association and renovated. The Museum opened in 2001. Since 2003, the statue "Man of Steel'' is placed outside the Heritage Discovery Center.

On the first floor of the Heritage Discovery Center is the America: through Immigrant Eyes exhibit. It explores the life of immigrants mainly from Eastern and Southern Europe arriving to Johnstown during the turn of the century, between 1880 and 1914, and the ethnic areas in which they lived. The Museum employs interactive media to enable visitors to experience first-hand the life of these immigrants. Visitors have the chance to live the daily life of an immigrant by experiencing the sounds, sights, and smells.

Upon entering the exhibit, the visitor chooses an immigrant character out of 8. These characters are fictional, but based on historical facts. Based on the choice of the character, the visitor gets to experience and live the daily life of the character. Once the visitor approaches a display, he or she inserts the card of his or her character and the display reacts to the visitor as if he or she is the immigrant character.

The exhibit starts by introducing the different countries and conditions the immigrants were leaving. Then visitors experience what the immigrants went through when they arrived at Ellis Island and later joining their friends and families. The visitors then proceed to "The Neighborhood of 1907'' exhibit, which presents a number of the main discussion topics prevalent at the time amongst the immigrants. There are also audio-visual displays of cultural rituals, such as Ukrainian wedding, Italian funeral, and bar mitzvahs. This exhibit also depicts examples of some of the shops and stores at the time.

Other interactive exhibits provide the visitors with examples of work processes and conditions for the immigrant workers. In addition to the interactive exhibits and video displays is the Generations Theater which presents interviews with the Johnstown immigrants' children and grandchildren. Visitors are also able to share their stories in the History Jukebox, which is archived for future reference and incorporated in Johnstown's history.

The galleries on the second floor showcase temporary changing exhibits. The facilities on the second floor are also available for rent to host private parties, weddings, workshops, and special events.

The Iron and Steel Gallery is an amazing three-floor gallery that is dedicated to the steel industry.

Currently, the third, fourth, and fifth floor are being renovated. It is foreseen that the third floor will house the Johnstown Children's Museum and it is expected to open late spring 2009. Besides the Iron and Steel Gallery opened in 2008, other facilities on the remaining floors are still undergoing renovation.

The Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5pm. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum has extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 7pm. The Museum is open daily and throughout the year except on Easter, 4th July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. The admission charge for adults is $6, $5 for seniors, and $4 for students. Group rates are available. The Museum can be reached by calling 814-539-1889.