Pittsburgh: City of Bridges
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| The Point: Downtown Pittsburgh1 |
ORIENTATION
Pittsburgh is located in Pennsylvania, a state in the northeastern United States west of New Jersey, south of New York and Lake Erie, east of Ohio and north of West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. With a location in the southeast of the state, Pittsburgh is closer to cities in other states than most of those in Pennsylvania.
The closest major center to Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania is Erie, 127 mi (204 km) to the north, followed by Scranton, 297 mi (478 km) away, and then Philadelphia, 492 mi (792 km) to the far southeast of the state.
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| Pittsburgh
Distance Table (*Estimated driving time) |
Speculation over Pittsburgh's early history is that the Iroquois lived on the land for many years prior to the appearance of European traders and settlers. A strategic point on the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, the land that is now downtown Pittsburgh was jostled between the British and French, each constructing forts that were soon destroyed. In 1758, the British took control of the area and founded a settlement named for William Pitt, the British Secretary of War.
Soon after this settlement began, coal was discovered and mining in the region began. With a rich seam of coal, Pittsburgh grew into an industrial center. And, with a location on the Ohio, Allegheny and Monogahela Rivers, goods could easily be transported. In the 1840s, Pittsburgh supplied iron for Union army armor plate and warships.
Until the 1980s, Pittsburgh was a major industrial and manufacturing center, producing steel, iron and glass; however, along with finished products, an environmental nightmare was produced. The rivers were polluted brown-green with effluent and the skies were darkened with smoke.
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| Climate
data from the Northeast Regional Climate Center |
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CLIMATE
Four distinct seasons can be enjoyed in Pittsburgh. The warmest months are in the summer, with an average maximum temperature of 83°F (28°C), while the coldest months are January and February in the middle of winter. The city receives precipitation year round, with the possibility of snow falling in the winter months.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting to Pittsburgh is easy via air, road and rail. The Pittsburgh International Airport is one of the most modern airports in the United States with wireless Internet access and other high-tech conveniences. Over twenty major airlines stop at this airport, collectively offering more than 100 non-stop flights to locations around the world. The airport is located west of metropolitan Pittsburgh.
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| Map of the Pittsburgh Area |
Amtrak services Pittsburgh with train lines from Philadelphia, Cleveland and Washington, DC.
Limousine and taxi services are available throughout the city, as are rental car agencies. Public transportation, provided by the Port Authority of Allegheny County, provides bus service and a light rail transit system called The T. Access to major downtown destinations are made easier on public transit as there is a free fare zone where The T is free all day, every day, and the bus is free from 4am until 7pm.
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| The Grand Staircase at the Carnegie Museum of Art2 |
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Pittsburgh's Industrialists
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919)
Born into poverty in Scotland,
Andrew Carnegie exemplified the American Dream, immigrating to Pennsylvania
when he was three and working his way to become the richest man in the
world when he retired at age 66. With the sale of his Carnegie Steel Company
to J.P. Morgan for $480 million, Carnegie set his sights on philanthropy.
By the time of his death, Carnegie had given away more than 90 percent
of his fortune to a range of socially responsible causes, such as the
arts, educational institutions and the construction of over 3000 libraries
around the world (1600 in the United States).
In Pittsburgh, Carnegie's name is found on numerous attractions. The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh include: the Andy Warhol Museum (while not named after Carnegie, funded by his fortune), featuring an extensive collection of contemporary artwork; the Carnegie Museum of Art, with exhibits including French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings and American art from the late 19th century; the Carnegie Museum of Natural History with exhibits on the earth sciences, anthropology and the life sciences, including one of the world's best paleontological exhibits; and the Carnegie Science Center, a hands-on educational experience for children and adults alike.
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| Clayton at the Frick Art & Historical Center3 |
Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919)
A millionaire before he was 30 years old, Henry Clay Frick gained his
fortune in the coal industry. With his resources, Henry Frick was able
to purchase a large collection of fine and decorative artwork. His former
property is now The
Frick Art & Historical Center, a five-acre (two-hectare) attraction
of lawns, gardens, museums and historical buildings, including his home,
Clayton, that introduces visitors to the life of Frick and the artwork
that he collected.
Henry Phipps (1839-1930)
A business associate of Andrew Carnegie, Henry Phipps was a multi-millionaire
as a result of his stock holdings in the Carnegie Steel Company and other
ventures. Following Carnegie's philanthropic lead, Phipps wanted to provide
the people of Pittsburgh with a legacy that would educate as well as provide
pleasure. On December 7, 1893, the Phipps
Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Schenley
Park was opened. Today, visitors are intrigued by butterflies,
seasonal flower shows, a collection of tropical plants, a Japanese garden,
aquatic gardens and much more in one of the largest Victorian glasshouses
in the United States.
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| Phipps
Pond at the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens4 |
A native of Pittsburgh, Andrew Mellon was one of the wealthiest men in the United States in the late 19th century. After amassing his wealth in construction, shipbuilding, oil and steel, Mellon joined the Cabinet of President Warren G. Harding.
Pittsburgh attractions related to Andrew Mellon include Carnegie Mellon University and Mellon Arena, formerly the Civic Arena but renamed due to a sponsorship deal with Mellon Bank.
Howard John Heinz (1844-1919)
Founder of the international food and condiment giant H. J. Heinz Co.,
Howard John Heinz is most recognized by the products that carry his name.
While in Pittsburgh, visitors will see that a number of attractions carry
his moniker as well.
Located in Pittsburgh's cultural center, Heinz Hall was originally constructed as Loew's Penn Theater in 1927. Renamed as Heinz Hall in 1971 after a four-year renovation project, the hall offers an impressive collection of chandeliers, sculpted marble and gold trims in a French Court style. Heinz Hall is the home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and numerous traveling performers throughout the year. Guided tours of this historical Pittsburgh venue are available by appointment.
Located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, the Heinz Memorial Chapel was a gift from H. J. Heinz upon his death in 1919. Meant initially to honor his mother, the chapel was constructed by Heinz's three children to honor both their grandmother and father. Designed in the neo-Gothic style, the chapel features stained glass windows, wrought iron railings, candlesticks and lanterns, oak entrance doors, stalls and pews, a pipe organ and limestone walls that are carved in the Gothic tradition.
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| The Cathedral of Learning5 |
The University of Pittsburgh is situated on a 132-acre (53-hectare) campus in the neighborhood of Oakland. Founded in 1787 as a private school, the University has a long history and a reputation as one of the country's best research schools. The campus itself is a Pittsburgh attraction, displaying unique architecture, presenting historic artifacts and hosting sporting and cultural events.
Part of the University of Pittsburgh, the Cathedral of Learning is a city landmark. One of the tallest education buildings in the world (at 42 stories tall), the Cathedral of Learning was designed in the Gothic style. While this building houses administrative and department offices, a computer center and a restaurant, the most interesting rooms are the Nationality Classrooms, working classrooms designed in the styles of different nationalities and containing museum-quality artifacts. Tours of these classrooms are offered for a small fee.
Named after its benefactors, John and Gertrude Petersen, who donated $10 million to the facility, The Petersen Events Center hosts convocation ceremonies, concerts and Division I games by both the men's and women's Panther basketball teams.
Dedicated to servicemen and women, Soldiers & Sailors National Military Museum & Memorial presents exhibits from the Civil War to present day.
Pittsburgh's Professional Sports Teams
One of the perks about Pittsburgh is that it is home to three major professional sports
teams. From March through October, the Pittsburgh
Pirates play baseball in the Major League. Home games are played
at PNC
Park.
As summer begins to wane, the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers' season begins, running from September through January. Home games for the Steeleres are played at Heinz Field. In the 1970s, the Steelers were a sports dynasty, winning four Super Bowl championships.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, playing in the National Hockey League, brought two Stanley Cup Championships to Pittsburgh in the 1990s. The Penguins' season starts in October and runs through to April, with home games played at Mellon Arena.
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| The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts6 |
Downtown Pittsburgh is known as the Golden Triangle, where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet. At the Point, where the two rivers meet, the early history of Pittsburgh is revealed at Fort Pitt Museum at the recreated Monongahela Bastion at Point State Park. Here, visitors can take in exhibits and tours aimed at broadening understanding of the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the cultural influences that shaped the region.
Along the Allegheny River, Pittsburgh's Cultural District is located east of the Golden Triangle and just west of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, one of the largest environmentally smart buildings in the world. The Cultural District includes a number of galleries, over 100 restaurants and retail shops, eight public parks and performing arts venues such as Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, Heinz Hall, Cabaret at Theater Square, the Pittsburgh Opera, the O'Reilly Theater, the Byham Theater and the Harris Theater.
The Strip District is located northeast of downtown Pittsburgh. Formerly a shantytown that housed industrial mills and the workers who toiled in them, The Strip is now a lively neighborhood offering museums, restaurants, bars, theaters and shops.
Southeast of the Golden Triangle, across the Monongahela River, the South Side District is another region that attracts those in search of shopping, dining and live entertainment.
Animal fans of all ages enjoy visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a 77-acre (31-hectare) facility that is home to hundreds of animal species.
PHOTO COURTESY OF:
- Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau; The Point: Downtown Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Carnegie Museum of Art; The Grand Staircase at the Carnegie Museum of Art; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Frick Art & Historical Center; c/o Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau; Clayton at the Frick Art & Historical Center; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau; Phipps Pond at the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau; The Cathedral of Learning; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; c/o Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau; The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
