The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is set to develop new exhibits highlighting the legacy of Fred Rogers, thanks to a $2.49 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.'s "Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums" initiative.

The museum will collaborate with Fred Rogers Productions, a local children’s media producer, to create multiple exhibits, including one permanent feature, showcasing the influence of Rogers' work and programs like "Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood."

The funding places the museum among 15 children’s museums nationwide selected for the Lilly Endowment program. Jane Werner, Executive Director of the museum, noted the initiative’s potential to provide valuable insights into early childhood development.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this national initiative and embark on work that fosters character development through informal learning,” Jane Werner, executive director of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, said in a release. “It naturally builds on work the museum has done over the last two decades to build empathy and kindness in children, and we anticipate that it will provide key insights into the vital work of understanding early childhood development.”

Fred Rogers' contributions have been a longstanding fixture at the museum, with past exhibits featuring mementos, photographs, and series like "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," a spinoff of the original show. The new exhibits, which will also include a traveling component, are expected to open to the public by mid-to-late 2026.