Meadowcroft to extend free admission for kids through October

October 1, 2020

Kathy Geib,

Pastedimagebase643 — Visitors of all ages can practice throwing tomahawks at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella, Pa., which is offering free admission for kids 17 and under throughout October, presented by Washington Auto Mall.

– The Washington County attraction will conclude its 2020 season on Saturday, Oct. 31 –

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 29 , 2020 – Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, part of the Senator John Heinz History Center’s family of museums, will offer free admission for kids ages 17 and under throughout October, presented by Washington Auto Mall.

Visitors of all ages can throw tomahawks in the site’s 18th-century frontier area, learn to use an atlatl (a prehistoric spear-thrower) in a 16th-century Monongahela Indian Village, and explore the prehistoric Meadowcroft Rockshelter – a National Historic Landmark recognized as the oldest site of human habitation in North America.

Meadowcroft’s 275 acres of outdoor space offer families a safe and unique cultural experience during this unprecedented season.

The Washington County site has offer ed free admission for kids throughout its 2020 season, thanks to the generous support of sponsors including Washington Financial Bank, Alex E. Paris Contracting, UPMC, and Range Resources.

Meadowcroft to Host Fall Finale on Oct. 24

As its 2020 season draws to a close, Meadowcroft will host a Fall Finale event on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors can enjoy special fall-themed activities throughout the day, including outdoor readings of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven,” 19th-century cooking demonstrations, and cornhusk crafting demonstrations.

Fall Finale programming is included with regular admission.

Meadowcroft is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The final day of the 2020 season will be Saturday, Oct. 31.

Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens, $7 for students with a valid ID, and free for Heinz History Center members. No advance tickets are required.

Social distancing is encouraged, and face coverings are required in indoor spaces (including the Visitor Center, Rockshelter enclosure, and restrooms) and when near others. For more information on Meadowcroft’s new health and safety procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org/meadowcroft /visit.

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village operates in association with the Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian and Pennsylvania’s largest history museum. Meadowcroft, a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest site of human habitation in North America and features a massive rock overhang used by the region’s earliest inhabitants for shelter more than 19,000 years ago. The 16th – century Monongahela Indian Village includes wigwams and recreated prehistoric artifacts. Two 18th – century structures help to spotlight the similarities and differences between the everyday lives of European settlers and American Indians in the Upper Ohio Valley. Meadowcroft’s 19th – century village features a covered bridge, one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and church that create a charming country village setting. Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village is located in Avella, Pa., Washington County, within an hour’s drive of Pittsburgh. For more, visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org/ meadowcroft.