Butler County Heritage Center, 119 W. New Castle St., will display two model railroads Sunday afternoons beginning this weekend and continuing through Jan. 4. Hours will be noon until 4 p.m. The museum will also be open from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, the day of Butler's annual Spirit of Christmas Parade downtown. In addition to a small, new train display, the Heritage Center is also home to the Jay Bee Miniature Circus, Austin and Bantam cars as well as the "jeep," which was produced in the city of Butler, and exhibits about Pullman-Standard, steel, oil and glass industries. Museum admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 5 to 17, and free for those younger than 5. Call 724-283-8116.

Lowrie/Shaw House, built in 1828 by Butler's only United States senator, is open through the end of the year on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon until 4 p.m., with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m. It is closed Nov. 28 and Dec. 8 and 24. Admission fees are $3 for adults, $1 for ages 5-17 and free for ages 5 and under. The house museum is located at 123 West Diamond Street, directly behind the Butler County Courthouse, in downtown Butler. Call 724-283-8116 or visit the Web site, www.butlerhistory.com.

Harmony Museum on Mercer Street in Harmony, representing the town founded in 1804 by pacifist German Lutheran Separatists and their Harmony Society, will display the unique Yobp-Eckstein log house village and toy railroad during regular guided tours of the museum through early January. Guided tours are offered from 1 to 4 p.m. daily except Mondays and holidays. Reservations are suggested for weekends and required for groups. Call 724-452-7341 or 888-821-4822, or visit the Web site, www.harmonymuseum.org.

<B>Carnegie Museum of Natural History</B>, 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland, is exhibiting "Born of Fire: The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya" through Jan. 4, 2009. The first-ever East Coast exhibit of the works of this master Pueblo potter features more than 75 pieces, with additional works by her mother and descendants, including rare early works from the Santa Clara Pueblo where she lived. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, $11 for children ages 3 to 18 and full¿time students with ID, and free to children younger than 3 and Carnegie Museum members. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 412-622-3131 or visit the Web site, www.carnegiemnh.org.<B>Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens</B> in Schenley Park is displaying among the plants some Donald M. Robinson photographs of the Chihuly glass that was exhibited at Phipps last year. The photography will be shown through Jan. 22, 2009. Phipps is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays. Admission rates are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors age 62 and older and students with ID, and $7 for children ages 2 to 18. Phipps members and children under 2 are admitted free. Call 412-622-6914 or visit www.phipps.conservatory.org.<B>Carnegie Science Center</B>, One Allegheny Ave. next to Heinz Field on the North Side, hosts the traveling exhibition "Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe," through Jan. 12, 2009. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; closed holidays. Regular admission to the science center is $14 for adults and $10 for senior citizens age 62 and older and children 3 to 18. Parking is $3; people not visiting the science center pay more. Call 412-237-3400 or visit the Web site, www.carnegiesciencecenter.org.<B>National Aviary</B>, 700 Arch St., hosts FliteZone inside for a new show running from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Flamingos have been added to the spectacle. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Christmas Day. Regular admission is $9 for adults; $8 for senior citizens; $7.50 for children ages 2 to 12; and free for children younger than 2. Call 412-323-7235 or visit the Web site, www.aviary.org.

<B>Compass Inn Museum, </B>Route 30 in Laughlintown, will host Candlelight Tours from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 14. Until Thanksgiving, the authentically-restored stagecoach stop is decorated for the harvest season; after Thanksgiving, fresh pine and holly will prevail. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for students and free for children age 5 and younger. Call 724-238-4983 or visit the Web site, www.compassinn.com. Ligonier's Festival of Lights takes place from Dec. 6 to 14 between noon and 7 p.m. daily. Admission to the festival is $4 for adults and $1 for children. Call 724-238-6818 or visit www.ligonierhistoricalsociety.org.<B>Old Economy Village</B>, Route 65, Ambridge, will host Belsnickel, Santa Claus' German helper, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. After a visit with Belsnickel, children can make a craft out of felt, fur and bells to take home. After learning about Christmas preparations made by children in the 1800s at school and at home, all will help decorate a big gingerbread man. Other activities and a snack will be provided. This special holiday program is open to children ages 6 to 12. Registration is $20. Space is limited. Call 724-266-4500, Ext. 101.