These ceramics are part of the "Pots by the River: Treasures from the Waynesburg University Collection" being shown at the Heinz History Center through Sunday.

PITTSBURGH — Continuing through Sunday at the Senator John Heinz History Center is a new three-in-one exhibition of ceramic collections celebrating historic traditions.

"Formed and Fired: Three Ceramic Traditions" on display in the History Center's first floor McGuinn Gallery includes one local exhibit featuring 19th century pottery and two national exhibits that show the various ways in which artists draw from historical traditions to create new works.

"Pots by the River: Treasures from the Waynesburg University Collection" displays a selection of 65 pieces from Waynesburg's premier collection of functional salt-glazed ceramic pots made in Southwestern Pennsylvania from the 1830s to 1890s.

This exhibit highlights 19th century pottery jars, jugs, milk pans, pitchers and crocks. The exhibit also includes historical information about the importance of the early stoneware industry in the region, how the pots were produced and fired, and what role the rivers played in distributing the stoneware to a national market.

"Seven Potters Follow Ohr" shows the works of seven national potters whose work is directly influenced by the pottery tradition of George Ohr, a radical 19th century artist known as "The Mad Potter of Biloxi." Ohr utilized wild shapes and forms that broke the mold of traditional pottery.

"Women with Wood — Three Generations" is an eclectic exhibition displaying the work of 17 female clay artists from throughout the United States. Each artist created their works using wood-firing kilns — typically a male-dominated firing method — that can take as long as 10 days.

The Senator John Heinz History Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania and includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

The History Center and Sports Museum are at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District and are open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Regular admission, which includes both the History Center and Sports Museum, is $9 for adults, $7 for senior citizens over age 61, $5 for students with ID and children ages 6 to 18, and free for children under 6 and museum members.

For more information, call 413-454-6000 or visit the Web site, www.pghhistory.org.