Strip District in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
State Violence Incites Rioting
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Philadelphia's troops had just returned home from service in the Reconstruction South. Tired, hungry and missing their families, these men were sent to Pittsburgh to defend the interests of businessmen who were losing money for every hour their trains stood idle. As the crowd showered the troops with insults and stones, the Philadelphia militia opened fire. The massacre ignited a full-scale riot, which left dozens dead and countless wounded.
The Great Strike of 1877 is thought to mark the first use of federal troops to defend a corporation's "right to run a profitable business." These actions have since set a precedent for state violence against labor movements and legislation that favors the rights of corporations over the safety and well being of working families.
Erected 2007 by the Howling Mob Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Labor Unions • Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1877.
Location. 40° 27.09′ N, 79° 58.979′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in the Strip District. Marker can be reached from 21st Street, 0.1 miles south of Penn Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15222, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Saint Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Desperate and the Decadent (about 400 feet away); GNC (about 600 feet away); Who Was the Howling Mob? (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Menace of the Iron Horse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Westinghouse Railroad Air Brake (approx. ¼ mile away); Seige at the 26th Street Roundhouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joshua (Josh) Gibson (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Other Great Railroad Strike of 1877 Markers erected by the Howling Mob Society in 2007.
Also see . . . The Howling Mob Society Website. (Submitted on January 4, 2010.)
Additional commentary.
1. Interesting backstory of the Howling Mob Society and its 10 markers.
“The Howling Mob Society (HMS) is a collaboration of artists, activists and historians committed to unearthing stories neglected by mainstream history. HMS brings increased visibility to the radical history of Pittsburgh, PA through grassroots artistic practice. We chose to focus on The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, a national uprising that saw some of its most dramatic moments in Pittsburgh.” From their website.
— Submitted August 2, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
Additional keywords. Social Justice Struggles
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2010. This page has been viewed 1,143 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 5, 2010. 2. submitted on January 1, 2010. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.