Full-scale figures of George Washington, being sworn in as President of the United States and as an auburn-haired young man, are part of the "Discover the Real George Washington" exhibit opening Friday at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH — For the first time in almost 250 years, George Washington is returning to Pittsburgh.

Beginning Friday, the Senator John Heinz History Center will serve as one of the venues on a nine-city national tour of "Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon," an exhibition from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens.

The exhibition features highlights from Mount Vernon's collection and provides a new perspective on Washington, his achievements and legacies, his family, and his intellectual pursuits and entrepreneurial ventures.

Visitors can view nearly 100 objects, including full-scale figures of Washington, architectural models, decorative and fine art items, maps, manuscripts and paintings.

Highlights of the exhibit include:

• The only complete set of Washington's dentures, made of ivory, human teeth and animal teeth;

• Several original works of art, including Gilbert Stuart's classic Washington portrait;

• Three full-size, lifelike figures of Washington based on the latest forensic research showing him as a teenaged, auburn-haired surveyor from Virginia just prior to the French & Indian War, as a Revolutionary War hero atop his horse named Blueskin in a snow-covered forest at Valley Forge and during his official presidential inauguration ceremony at Federal Hall in New York City;

• A lock of young Washington's auburn hair;

• Decorative arts from the Washington family, including china and wine glasses along with a set of pewter plates;

• Surveying equipment, including a compass used by Washington and 18th century firearms, such as a 1720s cannon from Fort Ticonderoga;

• The Washington family Bible and four other rare books from Washington's personal library, complete with his signature of ownership, that cover such topics as farming, botanical plants, and gristmills;

• Original pieces of Martha Washington's jewelry.

The exhibition also features several interactive activities that will allow visitors to:• Sit in a full-size replica of the Washington family pew from Pohick Church;• Inspect large-scale, 3-D models of Fort Necessity and the Mount Vernon estate;• Watch eight new videos, one of which helps to uncover the latest forensic research on Washington, much of which took place at the University of Pittsburgh."Discover the Real George Washington" was organized by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and presented in Pittsburgh by PPG Industries.The History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Regular admission, which includes both the History Center exhibits and Sports Museum, is $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens older than 61, $5 for students with ID and children ages 4 to 17, and free to members and children younger than 3.Call 412-454-6000 or visit the Web site, www.heinzhistorycenter.org.

An original set of George Washington's dentures are made of ivory and both human and animal teeth.