When it comes to movies, Pittsburgh is no understudy. Since the early 1900s, the city has played a starring role in the film industry. Whether it’s movies about Pittsburgh or movies filmed in the area, Pittsburgh and the movies have a long and storied relationship. First Theater Dedicated to Movies: the Nickelodeon Although movies weren’t invented in Pittsburgh, the city boasts the first theater dedicated
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19th Century 1845: World’s first wire cable suspension aqueduct bridge was built in Pittsburgh over the Allegheny River at 11th Street. 1850s: On Seventh Avenue in Pittsburgh Samuel Kier established the Western Hemispheres first successful petroleum refinery. 1863: William Bullock, of Pittsburgh, received a patent for the first printing press to use roll paper. 1869: Pittsburgh’s George Westinghouse demonstrated the first practical air brake for railroads.
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Strange Pittsburgh Pittsburgh has its fair share of urban legends about different people, places, and events. Each legend has a few conflicting versions, but some are based on truth. Here we present some of the most famous local legends and uncover the truth behind them. Pittsburgh has a rich history and culture, but do you know about the strange side of the Steel City? Westinghouse
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With the rising popularity of zombies in American culture, many cities are fighting over the title of “Zombie Capital of the World”. There may be no settlement to this dispute, but it’s certain that Pittsburgh has strong roots in zombie pop culture history and remains an important part of what makes Pittsburgh unique. Originally, zombies in film were much different from the zombies of today.
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J&L Steel Mill, Southside Steel Mill (SouthSide Works) When you’re walking up through Two Shop You’ll know someone is around If you hear a sort of clanking And a hollow moaning sound. For the ghost of Jim Grabowski Who was killed in ’22 Must forever walk through Two Shop Which I will explain to you. Jim fell into a ladle, And they couldn’t find a
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Pittsburgh has a rich history and culture, but do you know about the strange side of the Steel City? Westinghouse Atom Smasher Forest Hills is home to the nation’s first Van de Graaf nuclear generator, but many know it as the Westinghouse Atom Smasher. It has stood in Forest Hills since 1937, but hasn’t been active since 1958. The structure stands five stories tall and
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Ford, Walmart, Hershey, Kohl’s: these large American corporations are household names. But that wasn’t always the case. Each of them started out as a small or family-owned business. Henry Ford founded The Ford Motor Company when he developed methods for manufacturing automobiles. Sam Walton had one small discount store when he went into business in 1962 in Arkansas. Milton Hershey began selling caramels before he
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If you grew up in the Pittsburgh area before the collapse of the Steel Industry and the city’s industrial base in the 1980’s, there’s a good chance you knew someone who graduated from high school and took a well-paying job in a mill or factory. Or maybe you went to college and had a summer job in one of the area’s factories or mills that
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In the late 1800s, traveling any great distance was expensive, time-consuming, and inconvenient. Television and radio were yet to be invented and the first primitive cars were just coming on the scene. Manned flight was still years away. For the average person, the chance of ever seeing a cactus or a palm tree outside of a book was only a dream. Yet throughout history, perhaps
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The Pittsburgh Penguins, over the past forty-plus years, have turned themselves into one of the most storied franchises in the history of the National Hockey League. Today, led by their young captain, Sidney Crosby, the Penguins have proven year after year to be one of the NHL’s most successful franchises, as well as boasting the title of Stanley Cup Champions in 2009. There has been
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