THE HISTORICAL ALLEGHENY OBSERVATORY WAS BUILT IN 1900. PHOTO COURTESY SHUTTERSTOCK.

Pittsburghers are known for being “nebby” and, really, there’s no finer way to indulge in that regional pastime than by heading to the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh’s historical North Side, where a handful of out-of-the-box home and garden tours are taking place this fall. 

The events in Brighton Heights, Observatory Hill, the Mexican War Streets and Bellevue will take tourists beyond the front door of some of the area’s most interesting properties while serving up history, live entertainment — and a few craft cocktails.   

1632 TERMON AVENUE IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THIS YEAR’S BRIGHTON HEIGHTS HOME TOUR. PHOTO COURTESY ANNIE COLE.

Brighton Heights House Tour

Brighton Heights is recognized for its stately architecture, including early 20th Century homes featuring the original woodwork and leaded glass windows — and this is a fun way to explore it. 

Now in its 18th year, the Brighton Heights House Tour takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. The 2024 tour consists of 10 homes and gardens, including this year’s signature property, an immaculate Tudor-style home on Termon Avenue. 

Inhabited by its current owner for more than 41 years, the Tudor, which was featured on the inaugural Brighton Heights House Tour almost two decades ago, has a distinctive slate roof and spiral staircase. 

According to the event’s organizers, the house, along with the adjacent property, originally were built as sister homes nearly a century ago by Dr. Joseph Andrews, a prominent local dentist who introduced Novocaine and removable bridgework to the city, and his friend. 

With help from the current owner’s architect daughter, the home’s kitchen and dining room were recently updated with respect to the home’s past, which still includes a Polish inscription inside the foyer that reads “Boze Blogoslaw Nasz Dom,” which translates to “Bless This Home.”

BUILT IN 1892, THIS TERMON AVENUE HOUSE IS ALSO FEATURED ON THE BRIGHTON HEIGHTS HOME AND GARDEN TOUR. PHOTO COURTESY ANNIE COLE.

Sponsored by the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation, the self-guided tour kicks off at Legion Memorial Park at the intersection of Brighton Road and Davis Avenue. A trolley also will be available for all ticket holders to travel between homes.

Once the tour concludes, participants are welcome to attend the Brighton Heights Summer Series at Legion Memorial Park. Taking place from noon to 8 p.m., the event, held in conjunction with Allegheny City Brewery, includes live music, local vendors, artisans, food and craft beer. ACB also has created an exclusive Brighton Heights Ale for the event. 

Tickets are $25 each. All proceeds benefit the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation, which organizes community events, sponsors a neighborhood refrigerator and maintains community gardens. 

For tickets, visit here. 

THE INN ON THE MEXICAN WAR STREETS IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE BOGGS MANSION. PHOTO COURTESY BAIDI WANG

Mexican War Streets House & Garden Tour

The historical Mexican War Streets on Pittsburgh’s Central North Side is known for its architectural gems, and there’ll be plenty of them on display with this well-established tour. 

Sponsored by The Mexican War Streets Society, whose mission is to preserve and promote the historic significance of the neighborhood, the 52nd annual Mexican War Streets House & Garden Tour takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.

The tour begins at The Inn on the Mexican War Streets, the ornate mansion once home to financier and department store baron Russell H. Boggs, on West North Avenue and will feature a number of thoughtfully restored homes as well as private and community gardens.

Tickets are $30 per person and are sold online only; no tickets will be sold on tour day. The event takes place rain or shine. 

For tickets, visit here. 

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Observatory Hill House Tour

Elevate your architecture experience (Literally; the neighborhood has Pittsburgh’s highest elevation point), and learn the stories behind the homes, with the Observatory Hill House Tour 2024: Stories of a Neighborhood Vol. 2. 

A continuation of last year’s successful event, the self-guided walking tour begins at noon on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Riverview Park, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year. From there, attendees will be able to take in everything from the elegant homes of Judge’s Row to the historical Allegheny Observatory, which was built in 1900.

Among the homes on this year’s tour are an iconic Perrysville Avenue home known for its exquisite styling and beautiful garden, a stately home on Riverview Avenue dating back to 1898 that has played a pivotal role in local and national politics for more than a century and a thoughtfully restored home on Waldorf Street with a refreshed front porch and stained glass windows.

There will also be beer tastings from area breweries and distributors at selected properties. 

Pre-sale tickets are available now for $18 or $20 on the day of the event. A two-ticket bundle is available for $34 until Sept. 2. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes as most houses are surrounded by green space and streets can be a couple of blocks long.

For tickets, visit here. 

PHOTO BY KATHRYN HYSLOP PHOTOGRAPHY

Bellevue Live Worship Shop Tour

After a two-year hiatus, the Bellevue Live Worship Shop Tour is back.

With a focus on community, the tour, which takes its name from the quirky, Las Vegas-style “Live, Worship, Shop” sign along Route 65 that welcomes visitors to the borough, is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 and features a plethora of architecturally diverse homes, churches and local businesses. 

“Across America, people choose to live, work and play in historic, well-established, walkable neighborhoods,” says Susan Stabnau, chairperson of the tour. “Residents move to places like Bellevue because they desire to live somewhere distinctive and unique with an authentic sense of place.” 

A BELLEVUE HOME ON THE TOUR/ PHOTO BY MEG ST-ESPRIT

The lineup of nine homes includes everything from a woodsy, two-bedroom cottage to the historical Marius Rousseau House, a Gilded Age mansion built in 1909 that’s recognized by the Pittsburgh Historic Landmark Foundation.

Tourists will also be able to explore Bellevue Elementary, where pint-sized docents will show visitors how they’ve made their mark on the 100-year-old building. Attendees are also invited to snip herbs in Bona Fide Bellevue’s public herb garden and view the creations of Bellevue-connected artists at the John Hermann Museum’s art show, which was curated just for the tour.

New this year, the event’s organizers are offering a limited number of VIP Packages. Each VIP package includes two tour tickets, Bellevue merchandise and a $25 gift certificate for breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of four Bellevue restaurants — among them Revival on Lincoln, 202 Hometown Tacos, Thai Tamarind and Wunderbar — that have partnered with the tour.

Tickets to the event are $45 and VIP tickets are $100. Proceeds from the tour help fund Bona Fide Bellevue, which oversees the local farmers’ market and sponsors a number of community programs.  

For tickets, visit here.