HARRISBURG -- The Senator John Heinz History Center is the apparent winner of the battle to operate the Fort Pitt Museum.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission voted yesterday to negotiate terms of a management agreement with the history center. The agreement assures that the landmark museum in Point State Park will remain open after June 30, the end of the state's fiscal year.

The Fort Pitt Museum was one of six state-run historical sites recommended for closure in a museum commission staff report. Along with many other state agencies, the commission is facing drastic cuts as Pennsylvania struggles to close a $3.2 billion budget deficit.

Two groups, the history center and the Friends of the Fort Pitt Museum, presented rescue plans to keep the museum open.

"We've gotten to an important first step," Andrew Masich, president of the history center, said after the commission's vote. "We're confident that we will end up with a bigger and better Fort Pitt Museum."

The commission must approve a final agreement. The history center estimates that it can operate the museum for half of the current $500,000 cost next year and further reduce the amount of state aid over the next decade.

The history center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, says its management plan will give the Fort Pitt Museum access to curatorial, preservation, marketing and financial expertise.

Commission member Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, said the public-private partnership deal should improve the museum's visibility, prominence and attendance.

While the commission turned down a plan presented by the Friends of the Fort Pitt Museum, Mr. Ferlo said he saw a continuing leadership role for the 700-member booster organization.

"I don't think it's appropriate or productive to dismiss the positive energy and resources that the Friends contribute to this facility," he said. "In the agreement, we'll need to fine tune and define what role they will continue to play."

Donn Neal, president of the Friends, said he remained worried that the history center could swallow the smaller museum's identity and exclude his 40-year-old organization from its future.

Mr. Masich said he would welcome help from the Friends, but he added that its efforts should be integrated into the history center's existing volunteer organization.

The fate of several other state historical sites, including Bushy Run Battlefield in Westmoreland County, also was decided at yesterday's meeting.

Commission members voted to sign a management agreement with the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society. The state will continue to provide one maintenance employee at the site.

Jean Loughry, president of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society, said members of her group would travel soon to Harrisburg to work out terms for the transfer of responsibilities.

"We will have to get more volunteers," Mrs. Loughry said. The heritage society has more than 300 members, she said, but many more will have to become active if the society is to operate the Bushy Run museum and visitors center successfully.

"We also will need some state assistance until we can get our fundraising going," she said.

Bushy Run was the site of a 1763 battle between Native Americans and British troops sent to break an Indian siege of Fort Pitt. The 246th anniversary of that battle will be marked with a two-day re-enactment Aug. 1 and 2 at the Penn Township site.

Flagship Niagara, docked in Erie, will be managed by the Flagship Niagara League for up to two years.