Pittsburgh - Gateway to the Region
by Joe McGrath

Pittsburgh Has It All

Pittsburgh is a city of stunning geography. Lush green hills surround winding valleys and meandering rivers. The rivers played a major part in shaping Pittsburgh’s history. In the mid-1700s, Pittsburgh was America’s first gateway to the west. Today, it remains a city that is easily accessible to many attractions and areas of interest.

Pittsburgh’s rebirth has captivated national attention and inspired neighboring cities to reinvent themselves. Visitors to the region— more than ten million annually — will discover a wealth of attractions, culture, and history.

Pittsburgh has always been an avid sports town, and 2005 brings several major sporting events to Western Pennsylvania. The 66th Annual Senior PGA Championship at Laurel Valley Golf Club, tees off May 23-29; the 2005 Summer National Senior Games brings worldclass senior athletes to town June 3-18; the 35th CITGO Bassmaster Classic reels in champion anglers from around the world July 26-30; and the 84 Lumber Classic of Pennsylvania takes place September 23-26.

Another pinnacle event in Pittsburgh is the 250th Anniversary of the French & Indian War, a conflict that began in Western Pennsylvania at the “Forks of the Ohio,” known today as “The Point.” A variety of exhibits, public events, and films are scheduled to commemorate the event.

Pittsburgh’s three sparkling rivers and gracefully arcing bridges provide the perfect backdrop for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, completed in 2003 and designed by worldrenowned architect Rafael Vinoly. The $367-million Convention Center’s natural lighting, ventilation, and other energy-saving features make it the first certified “Green” convention center in the world. The Convention Center earned accolades nationwide and was touted as having “Best City View” from TradeshowWeek magazine. The Center is within an easy walk of hotels, retail stores, restaurants, the Cultural District, and the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.

Right across the river are PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, and Heinz Field, where the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers football teams play. Both riverfront stadiums open to dramatic views of the Pittsburgh skyline.

Pittsburgh’s Diverse Culture and History

Pittsburgh is a cultural mecca. The city’s thriving Cultural District encompasses five theaters, including the new Cabaret at Theater Square, the city’s first live Cabaret Theater, featuring an intimate, 253-seat setting and year-round programming. Pittsburgh’s vibrant performing arts scene offers film, ballet, theater, opera, Broadway, symphony, and contemporary dance performances. Pittsburgh has a plethora of museums and galleries for visitors to enjoy. Named “one of the top 25 arts destinations in the nation” by American

Arts magazine, Pittsburgh offers traditional and contemporary art in a variety of settings. In Oakland, the Carnegie Museum of Art offers a distinguished collection of contemporary art that includes film and video works. The 2004 Carnegie International, the most prestigious international survey of contemporary art in North America, runs through March 20, 2005.

Pop art can be found on the North Shore at The Andy Warhol Museum, a seven-story museum featuring the work of Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol. The Museum features extensive permanent collections of art and archives on one of the most influential American artists of the twentieth century.

The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art you can get into—room-sized environments created by in-residence artists. The Mattress Factory is one of few museums of its kind anywhere. Art lovers will enjoy Wood Street Galleries, which features multi-disciplinary artists from all over the world. Society for Contemporary Craft presents high quality exhibitions and educational programs showcasing work by nationally and internationally known artists working in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and found materials.

History buffs can learn more about the rich heritage of the Pittsburgh region at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, which houses six floors of permanent and changing exhibits, including artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution. The new Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, located in the new wing of the History Center, celebrates the region’s rich sports tradition and captures the story of Pittsburgh sports through artifacts, hands-on interactive exhibits and audiovisual programs. Artifacts include Satchel Paige’s baseball glove, Arnold Palmer’s sweater and golf bag, and the shoes Franco Harris wore when he caught the “Immaculate Reception.”

In the downtown area, the Fort Pitt Museum, located on the original site of Fort Pitt in Point State Park, contains a collection of artifacts and interpretive exhibits. The Museum interprets the strategic importance of the “Forks of the Ohio” during the French and Indian War period and during the subsequent founding and development of the city of Pittsburgh.

A Shopper’s Paradise

Pittsburgh’s 88 distinct neighborhoods offer unique treasures and experiences. The Strip District is a bustling open-air market by day and a pulsing club scene at night. Shoppers can buy fresh produce, homemade pastries, and an endless variety of cheeses, then dine alfresco at a coffee shop or café.

Pittsburgh’s compact, walkable downtown makes it easy to shop. Visitors will find major department stores clustered within a few blocks and a variety of specialty centers including the Clark Building, Fifth Avenue Place Arcade Shops, PPG Place, and the Shops of One Oxford Centre.

Some of the city’s best restaurants and nightlife can be found in the South Side. East Carson Street, the “Great American Main Street,” is renowned for its 15 blocks of historic Victorian architecture and an endless source of entertainment.

The area has a mix of unique shops, restaurants, art galleries, theater, and live music venues. Movie buffs will love the South Side Works Cinema, a 10-screen complex with stadium seating. Further along the Monongahela River is The Waterfront in Homestead, a former steel mill that contains a myriad of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment options, including a large waterfront theater. Dinner and a movie all in one spot.

Another popular hub for shopping, dining, and nightlife is Station Square, a restored 19thcentury railroad building that houses more than 40 specialty shops and more than a dozen outstanding restaurants.

A Family Town

Pittsburgh is “Kidsburgh,” a fun, affordable city packed with family entertainment. The recent expansion of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has transformed it into one of the most innovative museums in the country. More fun awaits visitors to the Carnegie Science Center, which offers UPMC Sportsworks, a World War II submarine, a planetarium, and the OMNIMAX Theater. Unique encounters with feathered friends and new interactive adventures can be found at the National Aviary, featuring more than 600 exotic birds. The entire family will enjoy The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, ranked fourth best zoo in the United States by Family Fun magazine.

In Oakland, visitors to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History can see an abundance of world-class minerals and gems and a dinosaur collection of mammoth proportions. Just a short walk across the street are the Nationality Rooms, located in the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus. These 26 classrooms represent Pittsburgh’s diverse ethnic heritage. Right across the way is the Stephen Foster Memorial Museum, which houses one of Pittsburgh native Stephen Foster’s pianos, copies of his 200 musical compositions, and various memorabilia. In the same block is Heinz Memorial Chapel, which contains some of the world’s tallest stained-glass windows. The nearby Soldiers & Sailors National Military Museum & Memorial features exhibits beginning with the Civil War and continues to present-day conflicts. Whatever the season, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers visitors lavish gardens, beautiful flowers, and special exhibits. Further east is Clayton, the home of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, located on the grounds of the Frick Art & Historical Center. The Frick includes The Frick Art Museum; The Car and Carriage Museum; the Greenhouse and an award-winning Café.

Located several miles upriver along the Allegheny River in Springdale is the Rachel Carson Homestead. This five-room farmhouse is the birthplace and childhood home of Rachel Carson, whose 1962 best-seller, Silent Spring, launched the modern environmental movement. Tours and outreach programs are available.

Getting Around

Visitors can traverse Pittsburgh’s hilly terrain by various modes of transportation. A ride on the Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines, the two remaining funiculars in the city, take people up a 300-ft. bluff to scenic Mount Washington, a neighborhood with plenty of restaurants and observation decks affording spectacular city views. The city can be seen from a different vantage point from the water. Passengers can board a riverboat at Station Square, where a variety of cruises are offered regularly. The “T,” the city’s subway system, takes passengers free within the city.

Gateway to the Region

Pittsburgh is a destination that connects travelers to a variety of interesting towns, outdoor adventure and scenic drives through the countryside into neighboring counties. Outdoor enthusiasts will love Armstrong County’s Crooked Creek Lake Park. There’s a beach, lake, campgrounds, picnic areas, and fitness trails. Visitors to Beaver County’s Aviation Museum can learn about the history of flight. Fitness buffs can head to Butler County for a walk or ride on the Butler-Freeport Trail, one of the nation’s first Rails-to-Trails bicycling/ walking trails. Greene County visitors can find hiking and equestrian trails and primitive and RV camping at Mason Dixon Historical Park.

It’s a wonderful life in Indiana County, home to beloved actor Jimmy Stewart and the Jimmy Stewart Museum. Frank Lloyd Wright fans will enjoy Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob in the Laurel Highlands region. Lawrence County offers a glimpse of the Amish Countryside. Adventure seekers can find a full range of outdoor activities at Shenango River Lake in Mercer County. And visitors can take a ride into the past at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington County.

Pittsburgh is a unique city with a small-town, neighborhood feel. A world of fun, adventure, and exciting side trips await those who visit.

Joseph McGrath is president and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau. www.visitpittsburgh.com

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