Historic Walking Tour Of Pittsburgh
Explore the city and get some exercise with this historical walking tour of downtown Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has been a dynamic part of industry and is known as the City of Bridges, but which was built first? Yes, there are three rivers, but a fourth body of water supplies the Fountain at the Point. Visit these landmarks on a historical walking tour of Pittsburgh.
Gateway Clipper Fleet
350 W. Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 355-7980
www.gatewayclipper.com
The Gateway Clipper Fleet was established by John E. Connelly for sightseeing cruises. The ALCOSAN treasurer was selected to make the three rivers attractive and developed the fleet to showcase the pollution cleanup efforts of the rivers. Its maiden voyage is dated May 17, 1958. In 2008, the Gateway Clipper Fleet celebrated its 50th anniversary. Presently, the Gateway Clipper Fleet continues to offer many types of cruises.
Smithfield Street Bridge
Smithfield Street/Monongahela River
Pittsburgh, PA
www.clpgh.org
The Smithfield Street Bridge is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It is one of the oldest steel truss bridges in the United States and crosses the Monongahela River. This is the third bridge at this site. The first was a wooden bridge destroyed by The Great Fire of Pittsburgh in 1845. The second was a rope suspension bridge that was condemned. The present bridge is made of masonry stone piers. The bridge also served at one point as part of the streetcar system.
Omni William Penn Hotel
530 William Penn Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 281-7100
www.omnihotels.com
The Omni William Penn Hotel has been in business since 1916. The structure holds 23 floors and three underground floors where the infamous speakeasy is located. It is a member of Historic Hotels of America and has hosted many notable guests and events. In 1942, the United Steel Workers Association held a conference at the location in response to war time needs. Some presidential guests include John F. Kennedy, Harry S. Truman, Ronald Reagan, Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Regional Enterprise Tower
425 6th Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 391-5590
www.downtownpittsburgh.com/regional-enterprise-tower
The Regional Enterprise Tower is the first all-aluminum façade sky scraper. The 30-story structure is located downtown at the corner of 6th Street and William Penn Place. The all-aluminum walls are 1/8-inch thick with an X on each panel and are above an all glass lobby. The building was erected during the post war era by the Alcoa Company who produces aluminum. The company built this as its corporate headquarters to showcase pride in its materials. The modern architectural skyscraper is now a commercial building.
Related: Best Local Trivia About Pittsburgh
Fountain at the Point
601 Commonwealth Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 565-2850
www.pointstatepark.com
The Fountain at the Point is located in Point State Park, which was founded in 1974. Point State Park is a 36-acre park located where the three rivers meet downtown with the landmark Fountain at the Point. The source for the storm water that spouts from the landmark fountain is known as the Wisconsin Glacial Flow. Geologists discovered the flow, an underground river that lies 54 feet below the park. The Wisconsin Ice Sheet covered much of northern U.S. during the Ice Age, and this is attributed to the creation of the underground river.
Diane Straka is a freelance writer whose work can be found on http://www.examiner.com/finance-in-pittsburgh/diane-straka
