The Benedum Center was built as the Stanley Theater in 1927 at a cost of $3 million. It opened a year later and it was immediately known as 'Pittsburgh's Palace of Amusement' and it became known as a place to seek relief from the difficulties of depression-era America. It changed hands in the 1970s and 80s before H.J. Heinz II committed himself to restoring the old theatre - the first project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Over $40 million dollars was spent restoring it to its former glory and soon after opening as the Benedum Center in 1987 it was registered with the National Register of Historic Palaces. It was renamed the Benedum Center in honour of the Benedum Foundation which made the largest donation to the fund organising its restoration.