Pittsburgh, PA

Established on land purchased from the Iroquois Nations in 1768 by descendents of Pennsylvania founder William Penn, Pittsburgh was originally named by General John Forbes to honor British statesman Sir William Pitt. During colonial times, Pittsburgh was considered part of both Virginia and Pennsylvania, and it was not until the Mason-Dixon Line was extended west in 1780 that Pittsburgh officially became part of Pennsylvania. Today, Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in Pennsylvania, with a population of approximately 310,000. The downtown area is situated on a triangular tract where the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers converge. Known as "The City of Bridges" (with more than four hundred of them), Pittsburgh is also called "The City of Steel" for its historic leadership in United States steel production.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The city of Pittsburgh consists of more than ninety neighborhoods in all. Reflecting the city's rich ethnic history, Pittsburgh's neighborhoods include residential areas with beautiful tree-lined streets, as well as more densely populated areas near the city center. The downtown area, which is called The Golden Triangle, consists of four distinct neighborhoods:

• The North Side, which was known as Allegheny City from 1840 until 1907, has many neighborhoods that are currently going through a transition. The North Side is made up primarily of beautifully built residential homes dating back to the nineteenth century.

• The South Side used to be where most of the steel mill workers lived in inexpensive housing, but in recent years it has become one of the most popular areas in Pittsburgh. The South Side's East Carson Street is one of the most vibrant sites in the city because of its unique shops, restaurants, and nightlife.

• Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, and The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh are located on the East End. Additionally, the East End is home to Phipps Conservatory, the Soldiers and Sailors Museum, the Pittsburgh Zoo, and PPG Aquarium.

• The West End features Mount Washington, a neighborhood that is known for its steep hill that overlooks the Pittsburgh skyline. Mount Washington has two of the oldest continuous inclines in the world: the Duquesne and the Monongahela. There is also a row of restaurants on the crest of Mount Washington.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Pittsburgh's industry has grown consistently throughout the years. Once primarily a steel town, Pittsburgh now includes a variety of business sectors such as technology, finances, and retail. Pittsburgh is the Northeast's regional headquarters for Nova Chemicals, Federal Express Ground, Ariba, Rand, National City, Highmark, and General Nutrition Center.

Many corporations operating out of Pittsburgh have been listed by Fortune 500. These companies include Alcoa, Allegheny Technologies, H. J. Heinz Company, PNC Financial Services, PPG Industries, FedEx Ground, U.S. Steel, and WESCO International. Other large corporations include Allegheny Energy, American Eagle Outfitters, Consol Energy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Kennametal, Mylan Laboratories, and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.

The city's biggest employers are Comcast Holdings Corporation, University of Pittsburgh, and Highmark.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Pittsburgh is a city rich with cultural institutions, including:

• Heinz Hall is a concert hall and performing arts center that is home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. It seats 2,676 and hosts approximately two hundred performances each year by a variety of artists and musicians.
• Benedum Center is home to the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, the Pittsburgh Opera, and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. It was named the "Number One Auditorium in the United States" by Billboard magazine.
• Pittsburgh Opera enriches the Pittsburgh cultural scene by making opera accessible to a wide audience.
• Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre offers professional ballet performances as well as arts education and community programs.

BEST BETS

The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh: The original Carnegie Museum was founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1895. Carnegie wanted to create something new with his museum, so instead of filling it with the works of old masters from the past, his museum collection was to consist of "Old Masters of Tomorrow." Originally, the Carnegie Museum consisted of the Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Library, and also a music hall. Today's group includes:

• Carnegie Museum of Art features collections of contemporary art that includes paintings and sculpture as well as video and film.
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History has permanent and traveling exhibits that feature dinosaurs, a hall of Egyptian art, a hall of North American wildlife, and an Earth theater.
• Carnegie Science Center, which opened 1991, offers many programs for children, such as summer camps, holiday camps, and science workshops.
• Andy Warhol Museum opened in 1994 and features the permanent collections of one of the most innovative artists of the twentieth century.

Other well-known attractions include:

• Soldiers and Sailors Memorial
• Monongahela Incline
• Phipps Conservatory
• Cathedral of Learning
• Pittsburgh Zoo

SPORTS TEAMS

Pittsburgh's dedication to sports is legendary and is marked by the fact that they are the only city in the United States where not only all of their teams but also their police, fire department, and even the fire hydrants, use the same colors of black and gold. Major franchises include:

• Baseball: Pittsburgh Pirates

• Football: Pittsburgh Steelers

• Hockey: Pittsburgh Penguins

EDUCATION

For those in search of higher education, Pittsburgh provides many opportunities. University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University offer academic programs in medicine, business, arts and sciences, technology, and health and rehabilitation sciences, as well as engineering, nursing, dentistry, pharmacology, and public and international affairs. Carnegie Mellon is located in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, where students are surrounded by museums, entertainment, libraries, and parks. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh opens the world of creativity to students who want to study the culinary arts, hotel and restaurant management, advertising, interior design, fashion, digital filmmaking, and web design.