Lower Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Stephen C. Foster

Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, March 13, 2011

1. Stephen C. Foster Marker

Inscription. America's beloved composer of folk songs and ballads was born nearby on July 4, 1826, and lived in the Pittsburgh area most of his life. After achieving fame in writing songs for Christy's Minstrels, he gradually declined in health and died in New York City on January 13, 1864.

Erected 1976 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 13, 1864.

Location. 40° 27.847′ N, 79° 57.825′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in Lower Lawrenceville. Marker is at the intersection of Penn Avenue and 36th Street, on the right when traveling east on Penn Avenue. Located in front of Stephen Foster's home in the Lawrenceville Section of Pittsburgh. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pat the Avenger Returns Fire (approx. 0.2 miles away); Safe Haven Denied at Allegheny Arsenal (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pittsburgh Brewing Company

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Soldiers and Sailors of the War of 1812 (approx. ¼ mile away); Allegheny Arsenal (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Allegheny Arsenal (approx. ¼ mile away); Johnny Unitas (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Also see . . .
1. Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh. The Center for American Music is the principal repository for all materials pertaining to American composer Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864). (Submitted on March 15, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

2. Stephen Foster at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on March 16, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
3. Stephen C. Foster - Behind the Marker. (Submitted on June 29, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Stephen C. Foster Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, March 13, 2011

2. Stephen C. Foster Home

Stephen Collins Foster image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown

3. Stephen Collins Foster

Stephen C. Foster Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, July 18, 2010

4. Stephen C. Foster Grave

Allegheny Cemtery Lawrenceville

Jeanie with Light Brown Hair, by Stephen Foster image. Click for full size.

Photographed By N/a

5. Jeanie with Light Brown Hair, by Stephen Foster

One of Foster's most popular and enduring parlor songs is Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair, written for his wife, Jane McDowall Foster. Foster had married McDowell in 1850 when his songwriting career was just taking off. The couple had one child, born nine months after their marriage, but soon drifted apart, and were separated when Foster wrote Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair in 1854. Center for American Music, University of Pittsburgh

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,213 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 14, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on July 26, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.