*this article was written in 2016 so some of the exhibits/dates may have changed.

Sometimes, a special person comes along, and just the mention of his or her name elicits a feeling of warmth, caring and genuine goodness. Fred Rogers, affectionately known as Mister Rogers, was such a person to generations of children and their parents.

His sets and puppets might not look like it, but Mister Rogers was far ahead of his time. He dealt with issues that were not commonly addressed on television at the time. Race, body image, bullying and people with disabilities were just a few of the topics that Mister Rogers discussed with his warm and gentle tone.

Fred Rogers was born on March 20, 1928. in Latrobe, Pa., to James and Nancy Rogers. He was an only child until age 11, when his parents adopted a baby girl.

In 1951, Rogers graduated magna cum laude from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., with a degree in music composition. At Rollins, Rogers met Sara Joanne Byrd, whom he married in 1952. He took his first job in television in 1953 with WQED in Pittsburgh, and it was there that Rogers introduced the community to his love of puppetry with the show “The Children’s Corner.”

His devotion to his faith and his desire to help children came together in 1962. Upon earning his divinity degree, Rogers was commissioned by the Presbyterian Church to serve children and families through his work on television.

The following year “Mister Rogers” made his first appearance on the Canadian Broadcast System on a show dubbed “Misterogers.” Though Rogers loved what he was doing, he wanted his family, which now included two young sons, to live near his beloved hometown, so they moved back to the Pittsburgh area.

“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was launched in 1966 at WQED. The show aired on PBS and was seen throughout the United States in 1968. For the next 33 years, Fred Rogers spoke to his young audience with thoughtfulness and respect. Familiar characters like Mr. McFeely, King Friday, X the Owl and Daniel Striped Tiger helped to illustrate lessons and encourage children to use their imaginations. Even Mister Rogers’ signature sweater and sneakers remained nearly unchanged throughout the show’s run.

One change did occur early on according to Bill Schlageter, director of marketing for the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum. “Fred Rogers’ mother knitted all the sweaters he wore on the show. On one of the first episodes, Fred accidentally buttoned it wrong, so from then on, all the sweaters had a zipper,” Schlageter said.
The last episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood aired in August 2001, but his spirit lives on in the hearts of children who are now parents and parents who are now grandparents.

The Fred Rogers Company has kept his legacy going strong by creating resources for educators, families and children. The company is responsible for three popular children’s programs, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat and Odd Squad. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is based on characters and themes from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The Fred Rogers Company was founded as Family Communications, Inc., by Fred Rogers in 1971 to produce “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” the longest-running program on public television.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

Although the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has no actual Fred Rogers exhibit, one of the sweaters worn by Mister Rogers on the show is on display in the MAKESHOP. The sweater was one of two that were part of a traveling exhibit. At the end of its tour, the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” exhibit was donated to the Louisiana Children’s Museum after Hurricane Katrina devastated the facility in 2005.

Each year on March 20, the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum celebrates Rogers’ birthday by offering free admission. Mr. McFeely, everyone’s favorite deliveryman, is often in attendance on Mister Rogers’ Day.
In partnership with the Fred Rogers Company, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has created an exhibit called “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit.” The interactive exhibit based on the award-winning PBS KIDS television series will welcome visitors into 4-year-old Daniel Tiger’s world.

Visitors will explore the neighborhood with Daniel Tiger and his friends while working together to solve problems. In step with Fred Rogers’ teaching, the experience will help children better understand everyday emotions and encourage them to use their imaginations.
“Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Exhibit” will run from Saturday, June 11, 2016, to Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
10 Children’s Way
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
www.pittsburghkids.org
412-322-5058

Senator John Heinz History Center

Thanks to the Senator John Heinz History Center, families can see the largest collection of original items from the set of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

Exhibited inside the History Center’s Special Collections Gallery on the fourth floor are the entryway and living room set that Mister Rogers walked through to begin each show; King Friday XIII’s Castle; Great Oak Tree, the residence of Henrietta Pussycat and X The Owl; Mr. McFeely’s “Speedy Delivery” tricycle; the bench that Mister Rogers sat on during each show; and so much more.

The exhibit, which launched last year, is included in the regular admission to the History Center. The center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily.

Senator John Heinz History Center
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
www.heinzhistorycenter.org/exhibits/mister-rogers-neighborhood
412-454-6000

Fred M. Rogers Center

It is no secret that Fred Rogers was proud of his small-town upbringing and remained firmly rooted in the community his entire life. Saint Vincent College in Latrobe was particularly fortunate in its relationship with Rogers, and it is fitting that the home of Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media is there. Before he passed in 2003, Rogers donated his archives to the college. These priceless archives formed the cornerstone of the Fred Rogers Center. The center works in close collaboration with the Fred Rogers Company to stay true to the vision and life’s work of Fred Rogers.

The Fred Rogers exhibit at the center offers a comprehensive window into his life, both on screen and off. We learn how his core values never wavered in his roles as media pioneer, minister, musician, environmentalist and advocate for the well being of children.

The exhibit includes artifacts from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, including the Neighborhood Trolley, puppets from the show, Daniel’s clock and Rogers’ iconic sweaters and sneakers. Visitors will find a “Speedy Delivery” letter-writing station, informative wall panels and four video screens with programs about or featuring Rogers.

The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fred M. Rogers Center
Saint Vincent College
300 Fraser Purchase Road
Latrobe, PA 15650
www.fredrogerscenter.org
724-805-2750

Idlewild and SoakZone

From 1989 to 2013, Idlewild and SoakZone Park in Ligonier welcomed families to take a trolley ride through Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood of Make-Believe. In 2015, the amusement park reintroduced Fred Rogers’ imaginative world to a new generation of children who can now take the trolley through Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

In addition to the trolley ride, “Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Day” stage show is a delight as audiences are invited sing along to familiar songs from the television show, dance and make believe with Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat. After each performance, audiences have the opportunity to meet Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat.

For five days every summer, Idlewild hosts “Neighborhood Days,” where children have the opportunity to meet all the main characters from the PBS show, including Miss Alaina, O the Owl and Prince Wednesday, as well as Daniel and Katerina. This year’s event is tentatively scheduled for Monday through Friday, Aug. 1 to 5. Check the website for up-to-date information.

Idlewild and SoakZone have so many family-friendly rides and attractions that it’s not a surprise that they have been awarded the coveted Golden Ticket Award for Best Children’s Park, six years running!

Idlewild and SoakZone
Route 30 East
Ligonier, PA 15658
www.idlewild.com
724-238-3666

One thing was a constant with anyone who knew Fred Rogers – he was genuinely kind. The Mister Rogers you saw on TV was the Fred Rogers at home, in the community and on the set. He once said, “The greatest gift you can ever give is your honest self.”

Fred Rogers truly believed that technology could and should be used for the good of humanity. With all of his groundbreaking success, it was still about the child on the other side of the camera.

“I’m not that interested in ‘mass’ communications. I’m much more interested in what happens between this person and the one person watching. The space between the television set and that person who’s watching is very holy ground,” Rogers once said.

Since all of these locations are relatively close in proximity, a Fred Rogers road trip would be a great idea for any family, especially with young children or grandchildren. If you take a Fred Rogers road trip or visit any of the places mentioned in this article, email photos to wroyal@whereandwhen.com, and we may use them in a future issue or online.