Old Economy Village will host a Civil War Day of activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 16. Admission will be $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 11, and free for children younger than 3. Call 724-266-4500 or visit www.oldeconomyvillage.org.

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, 401 Meadowcroft Road in Avella, Washington County, will be the site of an “Independence Day Celebration” from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visitors can experience rural American life while enjoying old-fashioned summer games, open hearth cooking demonstrations, and a pie-eating contest. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, $5 for children ages 6 to 16, and free for children younger than 6. Call 724-587-3412.

<B>Carnegie Science Center, </B>North Side, will host a “Fireworks Blowout” starting at 6 p.m. Monday. Attendees can learn about the science of fireworks with live demonstrations, see an Omnimax movie and patriotic laser show, and watch the Pittsburgh fireworks. Cost is $35 per person. “Fireworks Blowout” attendees are welcome to spend the day as well as the evening exploring hundreds of hands-on exhibits, including Highmark SportsWorks. All exhibits, Omnimax movies, laser shows and demonstrations will shut down for the fireworks show, scheduled to begin around 9:30 p.m. One final fireworks demonstration, laser show and Omnimax movie will run at 10:30 p.m. following the fireworks. Reservations are available. Walk-up admission will be available until capacity is reached. Call 412-237-3400 or visit www.carnegiescience center.org.<B>Fort Pitt Museum</B> in Point State Park will celebrate “Fourth at the Fort” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Visitors can explore Pittsburgh’s role during America’s founding through activities such as a re-enactors encampment along the walls of the fort, daily musket demonstrations, colonial games, and the opportunity to drill with wooden muskets. Inside, the Fort Pitt Museum will feature guided tours and daily readings of the Declaration of Independence. Admission is $5. Visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org.<B>Heinz History Center</B>, 1212 Smallman St., continues to host the exhibit “Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World,” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through July 31 and featuring more than 150 artifacts and nearly 30 hands-on activities. The history center is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens age 62 and older, $5 for students with ID and for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children 3 and younger. Call 412-454-6000 or visit the website www.heinzhistorycenter.org.<B>Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens</B> from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays through the last week of October hosts local farmers featuring certified organic foods. The “Summer Flower Show: Living Harmoniously with Nature” continues through Sept. 27. The conservatory at One Schenley Park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours until 10 p.m. Fridays. Admission is $12 for adults; $11 for senior citizens age 62 and older and students with valid ID; $9 for children ages 2 to 18; and free for children younger than 2. Call 412-622-6914 or visit www.phipps.conservatory.org.<B>National Aviary</B>, 700 Arch St., will host a “Night in the Tropics” from 7 to 11 p.m. July 16. The evening will feature selections from restaurants, dancing to the music of The Freedom Band, bird encounters, and a chance to win a Caribbean cruise. Tickets are $50; VIP tickets, which include valet parking, a VIP reception, and access to VIP-only bars and restaurants in the hospitality tent, are $100. For tickets, call 412-258-9444 or visit the website www.aviary.org. The new Sky Deck is open, giving guests an up close view of falconry with shows daily at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., weather permitting.<B>Children’s Museum</B>, 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, presents “Dora the Explorer Live! Dora’s Pirate Adventure” through Sept. 4. “Endangered Species Silkscreens” is planned for 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through July 7. The museum will be closed for the Fourth of July. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Effective Friday, admission is $12 for adults, $11 for children ages 2 to 18 and senior citizens, and free for children younger than 2. Parking is $5 for nonmembers. Call 412-322-5058 or visit www.pittsburghkids.org.<B>Carnegie Museum of Natural History, </B>4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, invites visitors to “Explore Evolution” through July 24. Museum 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. Additional hours are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays from July Fourth through Labor Day. Admission, which includes the Carnegie Museum of Art, is $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, and $11 for students with ID and children ages 3 to 18, and free for members and children younger than 3. Call 412-622-3131 or visit www.carnegiemnh.org.<B>ToonSeum</B>, Pittsburgh’s Museum of Cartoon Art, 945 Liberty Ave., is showing original comic art featuring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other iconic heroes through July 31. Tickets are available at http://iconsandorigins.eventbrite.com. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays; closed holidays. Regular admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 17; children younger than 5 are admitted free. Visit www.toonseum.org or call 412-232-0199.