Renewal of Westinghouse Memorial Would Make Inventor Proud

The memorial to the iconic Pittsburgh inventor, located in Schenley Park, has just undergone a $2.7 million restoration.

Photos by Jeremy Marshall for Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

George Westinghouse was born 170 years ago this month, so it was a fitting tribute that the unveiling of the renovated Westinghouse Memorial in Schenely Park would take place on his birthday, Oct. 6.

At the celebration hosted by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, 16 of the inventor's descendants along with Westinghouse alumni and others enjoyed a custom cake and sang “Happy Birthday.” The event was the first since the 86-year-old memorial reopened after a year-long, $2.7 million restoration.

The memorial has been restored to its authentic state –– with some modern-day improvements –– such as stonework, a reconfigured lily pond, rejuvenation of the memorial’s granite and bronze statues, energy-efficient halo lighting around the monument and a large meadow that absorbs stormwater.

The restoration work was funded by the City of Pittsburgh, Westinghouse Electric, Wabtec Corporation, foundations and individual donors.  When it opened in 1930, the memorial was paid for by 55,000 of Westinghouse’s workers to honor his innumerable contributions to society. The original memorial was built by renowned architects and artists, including Daniel Chester French, who constructed Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln memorial.

“We are thrilled to gather in Pittsburgh to celebrate the rededication of my great-grandfather’s memorial in Schenley Park,” said George Westinghouse IV. “Our hope is that the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s efforts to restore and renew the Westinghouse Memorial will encourage more visitors to be inspired by both his incredible mind and the care he had for those who worked for him.”