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 Dec. 8 and 24. Admission fees are $3 for adults, $1 for ages 5 to 17, and free for those under 5. The house museum is located at 123 W. Diamond St., 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, hosts its annual Candelight Christmas with dinner on Dec. 14. The evening begins with hors d'oeuvres at 5 p.m. and dinner at 5:30. The $25 cost per person for the annual event includes admission to three museum buildings between 1 and 4:30 p.m. to view exhibit rooms that have been decorated for the Christmas season. The annual Yobp-Eckstein log house village and toy railroad display is a special seasonal attraction in the Wagner House museum annex. Prepaid dinner reservations must be confirmed no later than Tuesday. Call 724-452-7341.

<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. The first 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. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with additional hours until 8 p.m. Thursdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. Admission, which includes the Carnegie Museum of Art, is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, and $11 for students and children age 3 and older, and free for members and children younger than 3. Call 412-622-3131 or visit the Web site, www.carnegiemnh.org.<B>Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens</B> in Schenley Park is displaying some Donald M. Robinson photographs of the Chihuly glass that was exhibited at Phipps last year. The photography will be shown through Jan. 22. 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, is offering all visitors the child rate of admission of $10 Mondays through Fridays through Dec. 24, with the opportunity to add an Omnimax movie or matinee laser show for $5. The traveling exhibition "Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe," continues through Jan. 12. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 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>'Innovative' feature 11-26</B>Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., features its new exhibit, "Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation," tracing Western Pennsylvania's imprint on the United States and the world. From the Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella, 16,000 years ago to the roads, planes and houses of today, the long-term exhibition features people's stories. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except holidays. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for senior citizens older than 61, $5 for students with ID and for children ages 6 to 18, and free for children younger than 6. Call 412-454-6000.

<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.