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 Pittsburgh owes its progress to a past rich in cultural and intellectual history, and preservationists are working hard to make sure we never forget what got us from there to here.The evidence is hard to miss.
Stroll through the city, and you will spot historically significant areas by looking for gold-lettered blue marker plaques that say "Historic Landmark," as designated by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Other landmark plaques may be part of the state program.
Some may be found on buildings, others sit atop poles to mark a site distinguished by a significant person or event, or a building that did not stand the test of time.
Buildings age 50 years or older in Allegheny County are awarded plaques based on their "sense of history and historical integrity," among other criteria, said Anne Nelson, general counsel of the organization. "We want to make sure that no alterations were made to the buildings."
A committee of experts meets once or twice a year to vote on nominations. Since 1968, Landmarks has awarded more than 500 historic landmark plaques. The Pennsylvania Historical and Landmarks Commission also has marked sites throughout the region.
Below are a few historical sites to see, but you're bound to stumble upon some plaques on your own.
• Fort Pitt Blockhouse: The marker on the small brick structure inside Point State Park reads: "One of Fort Pitt's outworks, this blockhouse or redoubt stood near the western bastions and is the only surviving structure of that fort. Built in 1764 by Co. Henry Bouquet."
• Nickelodeon Theater: Hollywood may be the world's current movie capital, but the film business began here in Pittsburgh, home of the world's first modern movie theater. The Nickelodeon, found at what is now 441 Smithfield St., became famous for showing a 15-minute silent film in 1905. Patrons paid 5 cents for entrance (hence, the name "nickel" odeon) to see film snippets accompanied by live piano music. The 100-seat theater drew 1,500 visitors on its second business day, and within two years, copycats had sprung up across the country.
• August Wilson House: The childhood home of August Wilson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for his "Pittsburgh Cycle" dramas, earned landmark status in 2007. The crumbling brick house at 1727 Bedford Ave. is where Wilson was born Frederick August Kittel. The playwright famous for such works as "The Piano Lesson," "Fences" and "Gem of the Ocean," drew national attention to Pittsburgh's Hill District by setting most of his dramas in its impoverished black neighborhoods. Wilson was one of six children to grow up in the two-bedroom apartment, then located above a grocery store.
• New Granada Theater: The plaque at the New Granada Theater, a one-time Hill District musical hot spot that was built in 1928, is a reminder of the city's significant role in the development of jazz as an art form.
• Smithfield Street Bridge: The Smithfield Street Bridge that spans the Monongahela River from Downtown to the South Side, ending in Station Square, also is a National Historic Landmark. The present bridge is the third at the site and is considered to be among the oldest steel bridge in the United States.
• Trinity Cathedral, across from the Duquesne Club on Sixth Avenue between Grant and Wood streets, has burial grounds with some of the oldest graves in Pittsburgh. It was completed in 1872; the land was designated for burial grounds and church groups in 1787.
• Allegheny County Courthouse and Jail: The granite courthouse at 436 Grant St. and jail in the 400 block of Ross Street were designed by the renowned Henry Hobson Richardson and built from 1884 to '88. Among architectural highlights are the courthouse tower, rising more than 300 feet and the picturesque roof lines, with towers and turrets.
Landmark markers are not relegated to Downtown sites. For example:
• Rachel Carson Homestead: The 19th-century farmhouse in Springdale, Pa., (about a half-hour drive from Downtown) was the birthplace of environmentalist Rachel Carson. Author of the revolutionary book "Silent Spring" (1962), Carson argued against pesticide use and is credited with igniting the environmental movement. Guided tours of the house are available and last about an hour. Guests are also invited to explore surrounding nature paths, like the self-guided Wild Creatures trail and the 34-mile Rachel Carson trail.
Learn more at the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Web site, www.phlf.org, and the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission site, www.phmc.state.pa.us.
Jennifer Rizzi was a Post-Gazette summer intern.
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