FANS START TAKING PHOTOS OF THE NEW STARS ON THE PITTSBURGH WALK OF FAME. THE FIRST 10 HONOREES — INCLUDING ACTOR MICHAEL KEATON — WERE INDUCTED IN A CEREMONY ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON OCT. 20 IN THE STRIP DISTRICT. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

It was a day of jubilation and pride Monday as the first 10 honorees were inducted into the inaugural class of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame in the Strip District.

“There’s nothing like being recognized by your hometown, because it’s the place that actually makes you who you are,” said honoree Michael Keaton after pulling up the cover of his bronze star on the walk along The Terminal complex.

“And to be honored here, and boy, included among this inaugural group of honorees, people who have not just shaped Pittsburgh, but literally shaped the world … when I listen to these accomplishments … it makes me even more proud,” said the Pittsburgh-born actor.

Related: How Well Do You Know the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame Inductees?

MICHAEL KEATON TALKS ABOUT HIS PRIDE FOR PITTSBURGH AFTER UNVEILING HIS STAR ON THE PITTSBURGH WALK OF FAME. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

The honorees — which were inducted in the order of their birth — include industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, journalist and world traveler Nellie Bly, environmentalist Rachel Carson, polio researcher Dr. Jonas Salk, children’s television host Fred Rogers, pop artist Andy Warhol, Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, jazz musician George Benson, playwright August Wilson and Keaton, who turned 74 in September.

ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR., LEFT, AND HIS BROTHER, LUIS ROBERTO CLEMENTE, LIFT THE COVERING TO REVEAL THEIR FATHER’S STAR ON THE PITTSBURGH WALK OF FAME AS THE PROJECT’S FOUNDER NANCY POLINSKY JOHNSON LOOKS ON. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Family members and representatives on hand for the induction ceremony included Peter Salk, Jonas Salk’s oldest son — who follows in his father’s footsteps, working in scientific research — and August Wilson’s widow, Constanza Romero Wilson, who has worked to carry on her husband’s legacy. Two of Roberto Clemente’s three sons — Luis and Roberto Jr. — also attended the ceremony, as did Fred Rogers’ sons, John and Jim.

THE SONS OF FRED ROGERS, JIM, LEFT, AND JOHN, STAND NEXT TO PITTSBURGH WALK OF FAME FOUNDER NANCY POLINSKY JOHNSON AFTER THEY UNVEIL THEIR FATHER’S STAR. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Peter Salk, in talking about his father, said, “When he was a child, he used to pray that he could do something to help humanity, and he did that with the help of many individuals … the skilled work research team that he had gathered [at the University of Pittsburgh], with the support of the … parents and the children of this area who had the courage to take part in the earliest studies of the vaccine.”

The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, 10 years in the making, was started by former Shady Ave publisher Nancy Polinsky Johnson, who was inspired by a similar walk of fame she saw in St. Louis. When she learned that Dan McCaffery, the developer of The Terminal, was wondering how he was going to get people to walk the full five blocks of his development along Smallman Street, she had a ready suggestion. The idea stuck.

“This really is a dream of mine that others have bought into, that is coming true, and I’m just so pleased,” said Johnson, who envisions the Walk of Fame will become a tourist destination..

A plaque with a bronze star and description for each of the honorees can be found on the lower sidewalk of The Terminal, starting in the middle of the five-block stretch. The plaques and stars were created by the Pittsburgh-based Matthews Architectural Products.

As part of the required criteria to be considered for the Walk of Fame, the honoree must have either been born in the 10 counties of southwestern Pennsylvania, spent their formative years here or done their creative work here. That region includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Ten new inductees will be selected each year to be added to the walk. The process begins with public input; community leaders and the walk’s board of directors narrow down the selections.

INDUSTRIALIST ANDREW CARNEGIE WASN’T BORN IN PITTSBURGH, BUT HE BUILT THE STEEL INDUSTRY HERE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD. HE WAS THE FIRST TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE PITTSBURGH WALK OF FAME. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

As part of the Walk of Fame experience, an app has been created that allows visitors to point their phones to the individual plaques to get more information.

Keaton, whose real name is Michael John Douglas, has continually exuded pride for the Steel City, whether it’s from award-ceremony stages or at a rally in Point State Park with other dignitaries following the horrific synagogue shooting in 2018 or gabbing on late-night television with Seth Meyers, whose father grew up in Pittsburgh. As the youngest of seven children who was born in the hallway of the former Ohio Valley Hospital, Keaton credits the work ethic of Pittsburgh for much of his success.

“I love places like this,” he said at Monday’s ceremony, “but I especially love this, my hometown. I love these immigrant cities. The entire country is a country of immigrants, and my own family looks like the U.N. and I’m so proud.”