This Week in Pgh History
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Billy Strayhorn Meets Duke Ellington
On Dec. 1, 1938, the young man from Homewood made it backstage to what is now the Benedum after Ellington’s show — and rearranged his song for him.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Steelers Clinch First Winning Season
The team defeated the Chicago Cardinals on Nov. 22, 1942, and went on to finish the season 7-4.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: William Heffelfinger Becomes the First-Known Pro Football Player
The Yale All-American played for the Allegheny Athletic Association on Nov. 12, 1892 and received a payment of $500.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: The Conception of Carnegie International
The art exhibition — a realization of Andrew Carnegie’s hopes for Pittsburgh — has now been in existence for 128 years.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: An Early Blizzard Cancels Trick-or-Treating
If you were a kid in 1993, you likely remember trick-or-treating being canceled — or collecting candy in the snow.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: The August Wilson Theatre Was Born
Fourteen days after Wilson’s death, the playwright's legacy was enshrined on Broadway.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Bill Mazeroski Changes Pirates History
The Pirates’ second baseman became a legend in 1960 when his walk-off homer led the Pirates to conquer the Yankees in the seven-game World Series.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: The Threatened Assassination of Pirates Legend Roberto Clemente
The life of the right-fielder was threatened 52 years ago this week, although the threat was not uncovered until after the date of the targeted game.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: The City’s Largest — and Yellowest — Floating Visitor Arrives
Florentijn Hofman’s “Rubber Duck” art installation made its first U.S. appearance in Pittsburgh this week in 2013.
This Week In Pittsburgh History: Aviator Calbraith Perry Rodgers Completes the World’s First Transcontinental Flight
Rodgers was the 49th licensed aviator in the world.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: 9/11 Hits Close to Home
It’s been 23 years since United Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County as part of the worst terrorist attack ever against the United States.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Jodie Polk Is First Girl to Score in WPIAL
As a kicker for Penn-Trafford High School, Polk placed third on the team that year for total points scored.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Edith Spurlock Sampson Is Named to the United States Delegation to the United Nations
Sampson, who was born in Pittsburgh, became the first African American woman to take the position on Aug. 24, 1950, and she went on to become the first Black woman elected as a judge in America.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Meteorologist Blamed for Record-Breaking Heat
One headline from 1907 read, “The man who makes the Pittsburgh weather is called upon to explain.”
This Week in Pittsburgh History: A Pop Art Icon Was Born
The legacy of Andy Warhol lives on more than 30 years after his death.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Two Legends Are Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins
This week in 2005, the Penguins’ captain and alternate captain began their careers with the NHL.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Led Zeppelin Breaks Records at Three Rivers Stadium
On July 24, 1973, the rock band brought 40,000 fans to Three Rivers Stadium, the largest crowd ever to attend a musical event in Pittsburgh.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: The Pirates Find a New Home
Three Rivers Stadium opened on July 16, 1970, and the Pirates would play there for the next 30 years.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: The Polio Vaccine Earns Worldwide Acceptance
Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine, first administered in 1954, was declared safe and effective around the world in the years that followed.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: Pittsburgh’s First Gay Pride Week
As Pittsburgh Pride expands to record-breaking numbers, we take a look at the first celebration in 1973.
This Week in Pittsburgh History: An August Wilson Play Wins Four Tony Awards
‘Fences’ was Wilson’s second play in his Century Cycle to premiere on Broadway, and the only one of his plays to take home the top prize.
This Week In Pittsburgh History: The Pittsburgh Agreement Is Signed
On May 31, 1918, Czech and Slovak immigrant representatives in Pittsburgh came together to sign The Pittsburgh Agreement, which formed the basis for the new nation of Czechoslovakia following World War I.
