Hazelwood in Baldwin in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Pittsburgh's Lost Cyclist

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 30, 2021

1. Pittsburgh's Lost Cyclist Marker

Inscription.

Pittsburgh's Lost Cyclist. Three Rivers Heritage Trail. , Frank George Lenz (1867-1894) was a celebrated cyclist and photographer from Pittsburgh, widely admired for his audacity and ingenuity, and well loved for his warmth and charm., On May 15, 1892, thronged by an adoring public, he left his home on Webster Avenue to circle the globe on a 57-pound Victor "safety” with inflatable tires (the prototype of the present-day bicycle). Two years later, after pedaling some 15,000 miles on two continents, he vanished mysteriously in Turkey, just as he was nearing Europe for his last leg. Although his life was cut short, he helped to spark a great bicycle boom and to establish the bicycle's enduring utility and appeal., Born in Philadelphia to German emigres, Frank moved to Pittsburgh at an early age with this widowed mother Anna Reinhart, who would soon marry Frank's adoptive father, William A. Lenz, a Westinghouse machinist., In 1886, working as an accountant for a brass manufactory in the Strip District, Lenz spent $100 (his monthly salary) on a Columbia highwheeler. He joined the Allegheny Cyclers and rode many thousands of miles over the region's rugged dirt roads. Though only 5'7", competing in a sport that favored the long-legged, he also shined as a racer., Gradually, Lenz shifted to cycle touring, packing a boxy wooden camera. In the summers of 1890 and 1891 he rode with Charles Petticord to St. Louis and to New Orleans. Finally, Lenz persuaded Outing Magazine to send him on his fateful journey., captions: , Logo for Lenz's series in Outing Magazine. , Lenz photographs himself on his highwheeler on the National Road in (Little) Washington, PA, ca. 1890. , On the Smithfield Street Bridge, August 1891: Lenz (far left) and Petticord (center) start for New Orleans. , Lenz in central China, with spectators who are probably seeing a bicycle for the first time. , Lenz at the Taj Mahal in October 1893. , Last known photo of Lenz, taken in the courtyard of the Crown Prince's palace in Tabriz, Persia, April 1894. , , Text by David V. Herlihy, author of The Lost Cyclist (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010). , Images courtesy of John Heron, John Lenz, and the Seaver Center for Western History Research, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.

Frank George Lenz (1867-1894) was a celebrated cyclist and photographer from Pittsburgh, widely admired for his audacity and ingenuity, and well loved for his warmth and charm.

On May 15, 1892, thronged by an adoring public, he left his home on Webster Avenue to circle the globe on a 57-pound Victor "safety” with inflatable tires (the prototype of the present-day bicycle). Two years later, after pedaling some 15,000 miles on two continents, he vanished mysteriously in Turkey, just as he was nearing Europe for his last leg. Although his life was cut short, he helped to spark a great bicycle boom and to establish the bicycle's enduring utility and appeal.

Born in Philadelphia to German emigres, Frank moved to Pittsburgh at an early age with this widowed mother Anna Reinhart, who would soon marry Frank's adoptive father, William A. Lenz, a Westinghouse machinist.

In 1886, working as an accountant for a brass manufactory in the Strip District, Lenz spent $100 (his monthly salary) on a Columbia highwheeler. He joined the Allegheny Cyclers and rode many thousands of miles over the region's rugged dirt roads. Though only 5'7", competing in a sport that favored the long-legged, he also shined as a racer.

Gradually, Lenz shifted to cycle touring, packing a boxy wooden camera. In the summers of

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1890 and 1891 he rode with Charles Petticord to St. Louis and to New Orleans. Finally, Lenz persuaded Outing Magazine to send him on his fateful journey.

captions:
Logo for Lenz's series in Outing Magazine.
Lenz photographs himself on his highwheeler on the National Road in (Little) Washington, PA, ca. 1890.
On the Smithfield Street Bridge, August 1891: Lenz (far left) and Petticord (center) start for New Orleans.
Lenz in central China, with spectators who are probably seeing a bicycle for the first time.
Lenz at the Taj Mahal in October 1893.
Last known photo of Lenz, taken in the courtyard of the Crown Prince's palace in Tabriz, Persia, April 1894.

Text by David V. Herlihy, author of The Lost Cyclist (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010).
Images courtesy of John Heron, John Lenz, and the Seaver Center for Western History Research, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.

Erected by Friends of the Riverfront, Over The Bar Bicycle Cafe, City of Pittsburgh, Baldwin Borough, Allegheny Trail Alliance.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is May 15, 1892.

Location. 40° 23.755′ N, 79° 56.611′ W. Marker is in Baldwin

Three Rivers Heritage Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 30, 2021

2. Three Rivers Heritage Trail

, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in Hazelwood. Marker is on Three Rivers Heritage Trail, 2½ miles south of Hot Metal Bridge, on the left when traveling south. Not accessible by motorized vehicles. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. World War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Redman's Mills (approx. 1.1 miles away); 4600 East Carson Street (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Flood Of 1936 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Coal Tipple (approx. 1.3 miles away); Steelmaking Capital of the World (approx. 1.6 miles away); 1892 Homestead Strike Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Steel on the Move (approx. 1.8 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Frank Lenz. Excerpt:

Going first to Washington, D.C., and New York, Lenz traveled west across the United States and parts of Canada, reaching San Francisco on October 20. From San Francisco he sailed to Japan, where he rode from Yokohama to Nagasaki before crossing to China. While Lenz seems to have had a pleasant trip through Japan, which he praised in his reports, China proved a tougher stage of his journey. Japan had good roads for the time, but roads in China were in poor condition, especially in winter, and the locals were often hostile or fearful.
Photograph by Mozaffar al-Din Shah (Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons, 1894

3. Last known photo of Frank Lenz
Lenz had expected to cross China in three months, but it took him six, and he was very happy when he reached Burma, then part of the British Empire.

(Submitted on May 14, 2022.)

2. Friends of the Riverfront. (Submitted on June 1, 2021.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 501 times since then and 40 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week May 15, 2022. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on May 14, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.