Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the #1 children’s museum in the nation (2026 USA Today Readers’ Choice poll), will premiere the new hands-on exhibition, It’s a Beautiful Day to Be You: Inspired by Mister Rogers, Daniel Tiger & Donkey Hodie, in partnership with Fred Rogers Productions (FRP) on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The project is funded through Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums, a Lilly Endowment Inc. initiative designed to help children’s museums develop new or expand existing efforts that explore and encourage the development of positive character traits among children and youth.
The Children’s Museum is excited to once again partner with Fred Rogers Productions, a long-time collaborator and widely respected educational children’s media company with a focus on early childhood development. The new exhibition and accompanying resources draw from three beloved television series rooted in the legacy of Fred Rogers - Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Donkey Hodie and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The two organizations previously worked together to develop the traveling exhibitions Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit and How People Make Things.
It’s a Beautiful Day to Be You helps children build character through not only words, but doing, sharing and reflecting.
The exhibit will be open to visitors from Saturday, October 3, 2026, until Sunday, January 3, 2027.
A North America tour will launch in January 2027 with venues confirmed through 2029. For information about the tour and rental opportunities, visit https://pittsburghkidsdesign.org/contact-us/.
“We are beyond thrilled to have the partnership of Fred Rogers Productions and the support of Lilly Endowment to create a new experience that will debut at our museum this fall before travelling the country,” said Jane Werner, Executive Director of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. “This collaboration has allowed us to build an exhibit that bridges generations and highlights developing character traits that emphasize what it means to be a neighbor.”
Visitors explore beloved locations from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Donkey Hodie and connect with the timeless lessons of Mister Rogers and the PBS KIDS programs that carry forward his legacy. In addition to Daniel Tiger and Donkey Hodie, many beloved characters from both series will be part of the exhibit, including: Miss Elaina, O the Owl, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday, Mom and Dad Tiger, Purple Panda, Bob Dog, Duck Duck and Grampy Hodie.
“We are delighted to continue our long-standing collaboration with Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to bring the worlds of Donkey Hodie, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to life in this new interactive experience,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions. “It’s a Beautiful Day to Be You will provide a playful space where children along with their families can practice essential character traits like kindness, resilience and bravery. Fred Rogers reminded us that 'Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.' This exhibit carries that vital message forward to a new generation."
It’s a Beautiful Day to Be You is included with admission to Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. The museum’s fall hours are 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily, with closures on select Wednesdays.
For more information, visit pittsburghkids.org