Pittsburgh's Historic South Side

When you are visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania there will be many things that you may want to see or do especially on Pittsburgh's South Side. People traveling to Pittsburgh usually already have an agenda planned out with those things. However when you are traveling to Pittsburgh there are a few things you may want to remember. Pittsburgh's South Side has many historic attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Always check the road conditions and construction delays. From water main breaks to the flooding of the Warf, there are many things that can detour your travels around the Burgh. Road conditions can be found on the local weather stations and many other website. Websites such as www.wpxi.com/traffic and www.post-gazette.com/traffic can alert you of any traffic back ups or detours to make your traveling more successful.

If you get a chance visit the Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline. Both the inclines are located on West Carson Street and connect the valley with Mount Washington in the South Side. The Monongahela Incline was built in 1870 and is the steepest incline in the country with a 78 percent grade. The Duquesne Incline was built in 1877 and was closed from 1962 to 1963 until residents launched a successful fund raising campaign to cover the cost of the repairs. The Observation Platform is located at the top of the inclines and provides a magnificent view of Point State Park and all around the city.

The Smithfield Street Bridge is the oldest bridge in Allegheny County. The first bridge was a covered bridge that was built in 1818. The wooden bridge was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1845 and was replaced in 1847 by a wire rope suspension bridge. The new Smithfield Street Bridge was a toll bridge until 1895 when it was purchased by the city. The current Smithfield Street Bridge was erected in 1881 and a second deck was added to widen the bridge in 1889. The Smithfield Street Bridge is the largest lenticular truss bridge in the country with two 360-foot spans and a total length of 1184 feet.

Pittsburgh's Station Square was built in 1879 for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. After being a portal for passengers and freight for over 90 years, Station Square was no longer needed due to the decline in railway traffic. In 1976, this once popular railway station began its transformation into the retail outlet that it is now. Docks were built to house the Gateway Clipper Fleet and retail spaces were forged into the areas that once help waiting passengers and freight.

In the midst of the mighty city that Pittsburgh has become with building of glass and metal you will find the quaint and historical areas like Pittsburgh's South Side. South Side is a place that has modern day convenience and a rich historical past.