Johnstown Flood Museum temporarily closed; Heritage Discovery Center/Johnstown Children's Museum closed 6/22-6/25

Due to the dangerous heat wave hitting our area and a delicate HVAC system, we must CLOSE the Heritage Discovery Center/Johnstown Children’s Museum today (Sunday, June 22) through Wednesday. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this problem in the short- and long-term.

Due to an interior water leak on 1/23/25 caused by extreme cold, the Johnstown Flood Museum ONLY is temporarily closed. Thankfully, nothing of historic significance was affected. The water remediation team concluded their work, which leaves repainting, floor refinishing, and replacement of carpet and soundproofing materials. We are currently waiting for insurance adjustors and approval of quotes, a process we cannot control. In the meantime, we apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to remediate and repair our beloved flagship museum.

In the meantime, we are pleased to present Relic Tales of the Johnstown Floods at the Heritage Discovery Center, which is unaffected and operating normal business hours. This new temporary exhibition includes more than 200 artifacts and photographs, many of which have never been on display before, from the Johnstown flood of 1889 (as well as 1936 and 1977). Welcome!

A new season of Last Fridays begins!

Posted: September 28, 2018 12:34 pm

A popular, long-running JAHA events series has returned — Last Friday at the Ethnic Social Club! The club, which is located on the Heritage Discovery Center’s fourth floor, is furnished with authentic items from Johnstown social clubs that have long since closed, including the West End Polish Citizens Club and the Slovenian Home. The club, which is available for private rental, opens regularly on the last Friday of the month for live music and a casual happy hour. We often have “guest bartenders,” too!

Everyone is welcome at Last Friday, and there is no cover. Doors at 5:00, with music starting around 5:30.

These will be listed in JAHA’s events as they get closer, but for those who like to plan ahead, the 2018-2019 season is as follows:

Sept. 28: Mike Giuffre
Oct. 26: Westside Blues Band
Nov. 30: Walt & Jackie
Dec. 28: Jeff Perigo
Jan. 25, 2019: Justin Giuffre & the Pilgrimage
Feb. 22: Mike & Nudy
Mar. 29: Tree
Apr. 26: Ne’er-Do-Wells
May 17 (one week earlier due to Memorial Day): The Birddoggs

We are Heritage Johnstown!

After months of thought, deliberation and planning, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) is thrilled to be entering a new year with a new name -- Heritage Johnstown -- as our Annual Fund drive kicks off. Visit our latest blog post for more about this change, our recent accomplishments, and goals for 2025.