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Stunning Historical Photos Of Pittsburgh From 20th Century

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Pittsburgh is a city of hills, parks, and valleys in the state of Pennsylvania, located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. For centuries, Native Indians inhabited this area. French and British also fought a battle here over a territorial claim in 1758. By 1815, Pittsburgh was producing large quantities of iron, brass, tin, and glass products. The Civil War boosted the city’s economy with increased iron and armament demand. The strategic location and wealth of natural resources and rapid industrial growth boosted the economy of the town in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Pittsburg was 321,616, and the growth doubled in the next 50 years. In the 1950s the population surpassed 675,000.

Here below are some stunning historical photos from the 20th century that give a glimpse of old Pittsburgh capturing streets, roads, landmarks, and everyday life.

#1 Russian Orthodox Church. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

Russian Orthodox Church. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

6 Points
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#3 Street in the mill district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

Street in the mill district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

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#4 Post Office, Fourth Avenue and Smithfield Street, 1904

Post Office, Fourth Avenue and Smithfield Street, 1904

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#5 Union Station, Pittsburgh, Detroit Publishing Co, 1902

Union Station, Pittsburgh, Detroit Publishing Co, 1902

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#7 T.J. Keenan Building, Tenth Floor, Pittsburgh, 1907

T.J. Keenan Building, Tenth Floor, Pittsburgh, 1907

4 Points
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#11 Coal barges at ‘The Point’ Confluence of Allegheny and Monongahela at start of Ohio River, Pittsburgh, 1912

Coal barges at 'The Point' Confluence of Allegheny and Monongahela at start of Ohio River, Pittsburgh, 1912

3 Points
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#13 Cacti, Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, 1905

Cacti, Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, 1905

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#14 Fifth Avenue looking north, On the left, Kaufmann’s, Pittsburgh, 1908

Fifth Avenue looking north, On the left, Kaufmann's, Pittsburgh, 1908

3 Points
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#16 A group of skyscrapers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

A group of skyscrapers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

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#17 Pittsburgh waterfront, Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, September 1936

Pittsburgh waterfront, Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, September 1936

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#18 In a slum area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

In a slum area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

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#19 Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River, August 1941

Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River, August 1941

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#20 Mechanic in the Greyhound bus garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

Mechanic in the Greyhound bus garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

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#21 Smithfield Street and the Post Office, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

Smithfield Street and the Post Office, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

2 Points
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#22 Diamond Bank and Wabash Terminal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1909

Diamond Bank and Wabash Terminal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1909

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#23 A Rainy street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 1941

A Rainy street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 1941

1 Point
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#24 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “Carloads of fruits and vegetables at city terminal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 1941

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "Carloads of fruits and vegetables at city terminal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 1941

1 Point
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#25 Negro church in mill district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

Negro church in mill district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

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#26 Mill district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

Mill district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

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#27 Houses along Monongahela River and Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

Houses along Monongahela River and Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

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#31 Fifth Avenue at Grant Street, South Pittsburg, 1904

Fifth Avenue at Grant Street, South Pittsburg, 1904

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#32 Sixth Street Bridge and skyscrapers across the Allegheny River, Pittsburgh 1903

Sixth Street Bridge and skyscrapers across the Allegheny River, Pittsburgh 1903

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#33 The Kroger warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 1942

The Kroger warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 1942

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#34 Houses along Monongahela River and Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

Houses along Monongahela River and Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

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#35 A mechanic at the Greyhound garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

A mechanic at the Greyhound garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

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#37 Schenley Park Bridge and the ‘Tick’ Carnegie-Mellon University), Pittsburgh, 1910

Schenley Park Bridge and the 'Tick' Carnegie-Mellon University), Pittsburgh, 1910

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#38 Pittsburgh (vicinity). Montour No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, November 1942

Pittsburgh (vicinity). Montour No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, November 1942

1 Point
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#39 Wood Street, looking east, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

Wood Street, looking east, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

1 Point
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#41 Fifth Avenue from Grant Street, Perpendicular Pittsburgh, 1908

Fifth Avenue from Grant Street, Perpendicular Pittsburgh, 1908

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#42 Bringing baggage from a bus, Pittsburgh, September 1943

Bringing baggage from a bus, Pittsburgh, September 1943

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#43 Removing a tire from a bus at the Greyhound garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

Removing a tire from a bus at the Greyhound garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

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#44 Bus serviceman washing a coach which has just come in from a run in the Greyhound garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

Bus serviceman washing a coach which has just come in from a run in the Greyhound garage, Pittsburgh, September 1943

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#45 Pennsylvania Avenue and Joseph Horne’s store, Pittsburgh, 1912

Pennsylvania Avenue and Joseph Horne's store, Pittsburgh, 1912

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#46 Monongahela Incline up Mount Washington, Pittsburgh, 1905

Monongahela Incline up Mount Washington, Pittsburgh, 1905

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#47 Sixth Avenue above the Nixon Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1914

Sixth Avenue above the Nixon Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1914

1 Point
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#48 Coal barges at confluence of Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

Coal barges at confluence of Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

1 Point
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#50 Wood Street and the Farmers Bank. At left, the domed Keenan Building, Pittsburg, 1910

Wood Street and the Farmers Bank. At left, the domed Keenan Building, Pittsburg, 1910

1 Point
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#51 Steelworker’s son, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

Steelworker's son, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 1938

1 Point
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#52 Bridge of Sighs, Pittsburgh. The bridge was named after the famous span in Venice, it was used to transport prisoners between the Allegheny County Courthouse and the jail, 1903

Bridge of Sighs, Pittsburgh. The bridge was named after the famous span in Venice, it was used to transport prisoners between the Allegheny County Courthouse and the jail, 1903

1 Point
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#53 From the Kermy Kodachrome cache, Pittsburgh Nov 1956

From the Kermy Kodachrome cache, Pittsburgh Nov 1956

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#59 Nixon Theatre, Sixth Avenue & Cherry Alley, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

Nixon Theatre, Sixth Avenue & Cherry Alley, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

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#60 Carnegie Steel Company, ‘Lucy’ furnace, Pittsburgh, 1908

Carnegie Steel Company, 'Lucy' furnace, Pittsburgh, 1908

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#63 Pittsburgh from Mount Washington. Monongahela River with Smithfield Street Bridge and Pan Handle Bridge, 1905

Pittsburgh from Mount Washington. Monongahela River with Smithfield Street Bridge and Pan Handle Bridge, 1905

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#64 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from Mount Washington, 1905

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from Mount Washington, 1905

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#67 Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park, , Pittsburgh, 1910

Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park, , Pittsburgh, 1910

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#68 Wood Street from Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

Wood Street from Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

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#69 Furnaces, National Tube Works, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

Furnaces, National Tube Works, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

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#71 Pittsburgh Wall Street (4th Avenue), , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1905

Pittsburgh Wall Street (4th Avenue), , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1905

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#73 Sixth Street Bridge over Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

Sixth Street Bridge over Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1910

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#75 Monongahela River levee from Smithfield Street Bridge, Pittsburgh, 1910

Monongahela River levee from Smithfield Street Bridge, Pittsburgh, 1910

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#76 Duquesne Incline Railway. Mount Washington and the Ohio River feature in this view, which includes the Point Bridge, a paint and varnish factory, a riverboat and the Graham Nut Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, circa 1900-1910

Duquesne Incline Railway. Mount Washington and the Ohio River feature in this view, which includes the Point Bridge, a paint and varnish factory, a riverboat and the Graham Nut Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, circa 1900-1910

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#78 Wabash Bridge, Monongahela River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

Wabash Bridge, Monongahela River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1908

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#79 Montour No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 1942

Montour No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 1942

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#80 Montour No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. Mine car operating off a trolley cable, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 1942

Montour No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. Mine car operating off a trolley cable, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 1942

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#81 Long stairway in mill district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

Long stairway in mill district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 1941

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#84 Dr. Walter F. Rittman. Gasoline plant at Pittsburg, 1915

Dr. Walter F. Rittman. Gasoline plant at Pittsburg, 1915

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#86 The comforts of home looked pretty good to Navy Radioman John Marshall Evans and Sergeant French L, Pittsburgh, August 1942

The comforts of home looked pretty good to Navy Radioman John Marshall Evans and Sergeant French L, Pittsburgh, August 1942

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#87 Houses on “The Hill” slum section of Pittsburgh, July 1938

Houses on "The Hill" slum section of Pittsburgh, July 1938

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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