The ten-block district known as the Golden
Triangle, lies at the heart of downtown Pittsburgh at the confluence of the
picturesque Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers. Once
bitterly fought over as the gateway to the West, Pittsburgh today is one of
America's most attractive and most livable cities.
Each
of Pittsburgh's close-knit neighborhoods: the South Side and Mount
Washington (across the Monongahela River from the Golden Triangle);
the North Side, across the Allegheny River; and Oakland, the university area
in the east, attests in its own way to the city's history and its
resurgence. Easily accessible to each other, they retain individual
identities, and each adds a unique element to the whole.
Industry
in Pittsburgh began with the development of iron foundries in the early
1800s, and by the time of the Civil War, Pittsburgh was producing half of
the iron and one third of the glass in the US. Soon after, the city became
the world's leading producer of steel, thanks to the vigorous expansion
programs of Andrew Carnegie, who, by 1870, was the richest man in the world.
Present-day Pittsburgh is dotted with his cultural bequests, along with
those of other wealthy benefactors who were Carnegie’s contemporaries.
These include the Mellon bankers, the Frick coal merchants, and the Heinz
food producers.
A
face-lift in recent years has involved large-scale demolition of abandoned
steel mills and freed up much of the downtown waterfront for development and
the surrounding areas for gentrification and preservation of historical
treasures. For shopping, fine dining and just enjoying the scenery,
plan a visit to the Waterfront. Located along the Monongahela River,
the Waterfront is now a 360-acre landmark retail development that offers 1.8
million square feet of entertainment, retail shops and much more, making it
a must see during any stay.
The
popular Andy Warhol Museum, which opened in 1994, bolstered Pittsburgh's
image as a destination city, and an enormous new Convention Center brings in
major conferences. The city is easily accessible via numerous
interstate highways.
During
football season, Pittsburghers lovingly cheer on the hometown football team,
the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the game, if someone offers to buy you
an “iron”, it doesn't mean your clothes are rumpled. The local brand of
beer in Pittsburgh is Iron City, popularly known as Iron. There are
many other interesting local expressions that have become part of
Pittsburgh’s culture and history. For example, “city chicken” is
not poultry but breaded pork and veal skewered and grilled. “Jumbo” does
not refer to size but to bologna, and soft drinks are simply “pop.”
For a spectacular view of the city, take a ride on the Duquesne Incline.
Visitors can admire the view from a century-old cable car traveling between
West Carson Street and the many fine restaurants of Grandview Avenue.
For a historical day trip, visit the Bushy Run Battlefield. It is
Pennsylvania’s only recognized Native American battlefield.
A
day at the Zoo and Aquarium is always fun for a change of pace. As
home to more than 2,000 animals, including a variety of endangered species,
it’s a perfect all day outing. Summer is a perfect time to visit nearby
Kennywood Park for a fun filled day with the entire family. Kennywood
is one of America’s finest traditional amusement parks.
History,
attractions, fine dining, weather for all seasons; whatever the interest,
the folks from the “burg” will warmly welcome you.
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