Ranked as the second largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Pittsburgh offers a multitude of attractions that attend to tourist from all inclinations. From the magnificent 30 skyscrapers, a pre-revolutionary fortification, two inclines, to the Ohio River - Pittsburgh promises you memories to cherish forever. The city is very much tied to its industrial roots but today it has much other pride to boast of, from cluster of universities to heaps of notable landmarks. Pittsburgh has paced ahead other American cities with its accomplishments in steel, glass, aluminum, shipbuilding, foods, petroleum, transportation, autos, sports, computing and electronics. Pack your back for a holiday to Pittsburgh and find out yourself why the city has earned many rave reviews by renowned publication.
Image by Yassie via wikimedia commonsHistory of Pittsburgh
In 1758, the City of Pittsburgh was christened by General John Forbes, as an accolade to British statesman William Pitt- Chatham's first Earl. As far as the spelling of the city's name is concerned, it was spelled with the 'h' removed as 'Pittsburg' from 1890 to 1911. Later, the United States Board on Geographic Names officially restored it to 'Pittsburgh.' In 1771, the city became a town and in 1794, it was incorporated as a borough.
In the 19th century, Pittsburgh was a significant producer of stee, iron, glass, brass. By 1911, Pittsburgh was the 8th-largest city in the US that accounted for the nation's between a third and a half steel output. The latter half of the 20th century witnessed a transition of the city's economic base from industrial sectors to tourism, education and services, mainly focused in healthcare/medicine, high technology and finance.
Important Locations in Pittsburgh
With a total area of 58.3 square miles, the City of Pittsburgh basically encompasses 90 neighborhoods and three rivers. Geographically, Pittsburgh is hemmed on the Allegheny Plateau. The city's famous convergence point of the Monongahela River and Allegheny River, forming the Ohio River, is in Point State Park, known as 'the Point'. This region forms the Downtown area of the city, called the Golden Triangle. The other regions relative to downtown, are divided into - the North Side, East End, South Side/South Hills and West End. The eastern part of the city comprises of the Shadyside and Oakland sections, and serves as the hub for cluster of Universities and several other medical, educational and cultural institutions. The city's western, northern and southern regions are mainly residential. Read further to find out some of the major tourist attractions of the city.
Duquesne Incline: To see the best view of the city, take trolley ride of the Dunquesne Incline up to Mount Washington.
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Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: Explore the diverse species of animals and also the animal kingdom that offers various habitats for many animals.
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University of Pittsburgh: Visit the University of Pittsburgh to learn more about the student life and also to see the remarkable monuments, Heinz Memorail Chapel, the Stephen Foster Memorial Museum.
Read more here.
Heinz History Center: From historical artifacts to sports exhibit, that focuses on Pittsburgh's football and baseball legacies - this museum offers many unique displays.
Visit the website to learn more.
PNC Park: To see the Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates in action, you must visit the PNC Park.
You can get more details about PNC Park here.
Carnegie Science Center: From planetarium, sports space, a naval submarine, an exploration station exhibiting weather and electricity - the center has so much to amuse you.
For more details, Click Here.
Click here to know more about the best tourist spots in Pittsburgh!
People and Culture of Pittsburgh
The 5 largest white ethnic groups in Pittsburgh are German, Italian, Irish, Polish and English. The German-American, Italian American and Irish American mostly make up the metropolitan area white ethnic population. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is the largest employer in the city. The city led in environmental design and thus it boasts of 60 in total and 10 of the first green buildings in the world. Dating from 19th century, Pittsburgh has a rich arts and culture history, as a hub for cultural philanthropy and also embraces a strong tradition of jazz, bluegrass and blues music.
Time Zone and Phone Codes of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is in the Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5). The Summer Daylight Saving Time (EDT) is Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4).
Standard time zone: UTC- 5 hours
Daylight saving time: 1 hour
Current time zone offset: UTC- 4 hour
Time zone abbreviation: EST
Phone Codes of Pittsburgh
Area code: 412, 724, 878
International Country Code: 1
Best Time to Visit Pittsburgh
Plan your next visit to Pittsburgh during spring or fall time. These are the best time to completely enjoy your stay there, the weather stays quite pleasant and the changing fall leaves and color are beautiful. Spring and fall are especially popular for business travelers. Family vacationers crowd the city during summer time and also you can participate in many festivals during this time of the year.
High season: April to October
Shoulder season: March and November
Low season: December to February
Notable Festivals celebrated in PittsburghPittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta The Holy Trinity Greek FestivalPittsburgh International Children's FestivalPittsburgh Folk FestivalA Fair in the Park Christmas at the VillageCarnegie Mellon University International Film Festival Steel City Blues Festival Pennsylvania Maple FestivalPittsburgh JazzLive International Festival Pittsburgh Wine Festival
Map Guide of Important Locations in Pittsburgh
