97 years ago today, Fred McFeely Rogers was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
To celebrate Mister Rogers’ birthday, you can get into the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh for free today, Thursday, March 20.
“This special day will be a tribute to Mister Rogers, his messages of acceptance, individuality and kindness and his extraordinary contributions to the Children’s Museum, the Pittsburgh community and families across the country,” The museum said in a release.
Visitors can check out “the Kindness Gallery” see original puppets from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and the interactive portrait exhibit “Mister Rogers: Just The Way You Are.”
“We were truly fortunate to call Fred Rogers not just a friend, but a cherished partner to the Museum,” says Jane Werner, Executive Director of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. “His incredible legacy continues through Fred Rogers Productions and we’re proud to maintain that meaningful connection.”
For more information visit the Children’s Museum website.
The museum is open until 5 p.m.
He welcomed us into his neighborhood to teach children around the world how to understand emotions and challenges to come in life.
Mister Roger’s Neighborhood ran between 1968 to 2001 with 895 episodes in that time.
He originally started his career as a TV assistant and floor manager for music programs in New York City, before moving back to Pittsburgh to help found WQED, the first community-supported educational television station.
The host would share the screen with an array special guests as well as the 15 puppets he would puppeteer in his magical Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Mister Rogers was so much more than just a TV host though.
He was also ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963 with a charge to serve children and families through television. Not only that, but he served as a chairman of a White House forum on child development and the mass media in 1968.