You are here
The City of Bridges - Pittsburgh, PA
The City of Pittsburgh is a maze of ridges and valleys. It sits at the intersection of three rivers: the Monongahela River from the south and the Allegheny River from the north to form the Ohio River. Pittsburgh is known for its steep hillsides covered with houses and streets which have steps for sidewalks. With this type of topography, the city is loaded with bridge history. You'll find a total of 446 bridges in the Steel City and officially has the most bridges in the world, three more than Venice, Italy. There are arch bridges, beam bridges, and suspension bridges.
The Smithfield Street Bridge was constructed in 1881 and is the oldest through-truss bridge in the U.S. In 1899 an ordinance established gold and black as Pittsburgh's official city colors. Several downtown bridges are painted the sunny hue. In 1929, the Sixth Street Bridge received an award by the American Institute of Steel Construction for its self-anchored suspension design. Now called the Roberto Clemente Bridge - it is one of the "Three Sisters," a trio of nearly identical bridges including those at Seventh and Ninth Streets. The bridge, renamed in honor of the late Pittsburgh Pirate, is closed to vehicular traffic on game days turning it into a large foot bridge for fans heading to PNC Park for a Pirate game.
Construction delays in 1963 earned the Ft. Duquesne Bridge the moniker "Bridge to Nowhere." In 2005, in honor of the Warhol Museum's 10th anniversary, the 7th Street Bridge was renamed The Andy Warhol Bridge and retains its golden color. The 9th Street Bridge was renamed the Rachel Carson Bridge in 2006 to pay homage to the Pittsburgh-born author and founder of the modern environmental movement.
Pittsburgh is a beautiful city that offers a surprising and unexpected experience. Wrapped in rivers and bridges and intertwined with trails and parks, the city boasts a wide variety of outdoor activities. To learn more about the City of Pittsburgh, click here to find things to do and see.
Plan your stay at a nearby Bed & Breakfast.
