Pittsburgh opens new welcome center
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Welcome to Pittsburgh! Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
The city opened a new welcome center Thursday, another move to go all out in preparation for a momentous 2026.
Why it matters: Pittsburgh is expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors next year for a slew of large events — including the NFL Draft — and leaders want to put their best foot forward.
Driving the news: Tourism group Visit Pittsburgh opened a welcome center inside the Heinz History Center, complete with an interactive wayfinding station, a selfie station, brochures and other exhibits to inspire trips around the region.
By the numbers: More than 21 million visitors travel to Allegheny County each year, generating $6.9 billion in direct visitor spending, per Visit Pittsburgh.
What they're saying: Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato touted Pittsburgh as one of the best places in 2026, per National Geographic.
- "We hope to welcome people to show how truly special Pittsburgh is," she said.
Zoom in: The visitor center, which is free to access, is located on the first floor of the Heinz History Center in the Strip District.
- The center is undergoing a 90,000-square-foot expansion and when that is complete, the entire first floor will be free to visitors, said its CEO Andy Masich.
What's next: Visit Pittsburgh will open another welcome center in the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal by the end of year, the group tells Axios.