Thanks to reader Ms. S. for pointing out Pittsburgh’s distinction as the Bridge City. When I had suggested Cleveland as a contender (see my post on the bridges of Cleveland and the boat tour that highlights them) Ms S. quickly replied that Pittsburgh’s 3 rivers easily trounces Cleveland’s one. Add the mountainous terrain of western Pennsylvania, and its no wonder that Pittsburgh has over 400 bridges to its name. My brother Mr. F has always been a big fan of Pittsburgh and the 1877 Duquesne Incline, another technological marvel designed to help humans navigate the environment.

Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA dcu. Public domain.

My experience in downtown Pittsburgh is limited to a rush hour dalliance during our 2005 Lincoln Highway trip. My friend Mrs. G. and I were retracing the 1913 route (what was left of it) from Beaver Falls into Pittsburgh, and once we got into the city, our 1924 map was giving us a bit of trouble and we ended up on an interstate in rush hour. (Note: Lincoln Highway rules: interstates bad, dirt roads good!). I don’t even have any photographs of that part of the trip; Pittsburgh seemed to empty at 5pm. The coffee shop we stopped at had turned over its chairs on the tables and was counting up the change in the till.

The website Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, PA. There are several self-guided tours of bridges on the website and posts news about threatened historic bridges. It’s a nice tool for learning more about the Pittsburgh area built environment.