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

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 26, 2014

1. Three Rivers Heritage Trail Marker

Inscription.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail. . , Firsts in the World from Pittsburgh. , For two centuries Western Pennsylvania has been a cradle of invention in industry and technology in many fields, from medicine to manufacturing. The unique topography of hills and valleys required innovation in bridge-building and the transportation industry. The busy workshops and mills produced business entrepreneurs, engineers and inventors. Pittsburgh's growing population of laborers triggered firsts in hospital care, new educational programs, types of entertainment, and free public libraries. The heritage continues today in many forms, from educational programs such as Mister Roger's Neighborhood, to organ transplants, to bioengineering research and to designing the comunications network for computers.

Transportation , . Steamboat, New Orleans. First to navigate western waters, 1811 , . Suspension Bridge. First successful wire cable bridge, built by John A. Roebling, 1845 , . Air Brake. First used for a train, by George Westinghouse, 1869 , . First automobile road map, provided by Gulf Oil, 1914 , . First atomic engine. Built by Westinghouse Electric for submarine U.S.S. Nautilus, 1954., Entertainment. , . First Ferris Wheel. Invented by George Ferris, 1892/3 , . First World Series in baseball. Pirates and Cubs, 1903 , . First motion picture theater. Nickelodeon opened on Smithfield Street, 1905 , . First professionally-paid football player. William Heffelfinger, 1892, Ferris Wheel invented in Pittsburgh by George Ferris. The Ferris Wheel astonished the world at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893 by carrying up to 2,000 people., Industry. , . Petroleum refining. Distilling process for petroleum, 1853/4 , . First labor union. American Federation of Labor, 1881 , . Aluminum. Produced commercially, by forerunners of ALCOA, 1889 , . First aluminum-faced skyscraper, ALCOA building, 1953 , , Mister Rogers. , The Pittsburgh star of the longest running program on public television. Family Communications, WQED., Health. , . First federal hospital in America. Hand Hospital in Allegheny City, 1778 , . Polio vaccine. Developed by Jonas Salk and staff at University of Pittsburgh, 1953 , . Organ transplants. First heart, liver and kidney transplant in one operation at Presbyterian University Hospital, 1989, Communications , . Printing. First printing press to use a continuous roll of paper, 1863 , . Carnegie Libraries. Free to the public, first in Braddock, PA, 1889 , . First phonograph records regularly broadcast, from private garage in the East End, 1919 , . First commercial radio station, KDKA, 1920 , . First community supported public television station in the United States, WQED, 1954

Firsts in the World from Pittsburgh.
For two centuries Western Pennsylvania has been a cradle of invention in industry and technology in many fields, from medicine to manufacturing. The unique topography of hills and valleys required innovation in bridge-building and the transportation industry. The busy workshops and mills produced business entrepreneurs, engineers and inventors. Pittsburgh's growing population of laborers triggered firsts in hospital care, new educational programs, types of entertainment, and free public libraries. The heritage continues today in many forms, from educational programs such as Mister Roger's Neighborhood, to organ transplants, to bioengineering research and to designing the comunications network for computers.

Transportation
• Steamboat, New Orleans. First to navigate western waters, 1811
• Suspension Bridge. First successful wire cable bridge, built by John A. Roebling, 1845
• Air Brake. First used for a train, by George Westinghouse, 1869
• First automobile road map, provided by Gulf Oil, 1914
• First atomic engine. Built by Westinghouse Electric for submarine U.S.S. Nautilus, 1954.

Entertainment.
• First Ferris Wheel. Invented by George Ferris, 1892/3
• First World Series in baseball. Pirates and Cubs, 1903
• First

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motion picture theater. Nickelodeon opened on Smithfield Street, 1905
• First professionally-paid football player. William Heffelfinger, 1892

Ferris Wheel invented in Pittsburgh by George Ferris. The Ferris Wheel astonished the world at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893 by carrying up to 2,000 people.

Industry.
• Petroleum refining. Distilling process for petroleum, 1853/4
• First labor union. American Federation of Labor, 1881
• Aluminum. Produced commercially, by forerunners of ALCOA, 1889
• First aluminum-faced skyscraper, ALCOA building, 1953

Mister Rogers.
The Pittsburgh star of the longest running program on public television. Family Communications, WQED.

Health.
• First federal hospital in America. Hand Hospital in Allegheny City, 1778
• Polio vaccine. Developed by Jonas Salk and staff at University of Pittsburgh, 1953
• Organ transplants. First heart, liver and kidney transplant in one operation at Presbyterian University Hospital, 1989

Communications
• Printing. First printing press to use a continuous roll of paper, 1863
• Carnegie Libraries. Free to the public, first in Braddock, PA, 1889
• First phonograph records regularly broadcast, from private garage in the East End, 1919
• First commercial radio station, KDKA,

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 26, 2014

2. Three Rivers Heritage Trail Marker

Eastward. Carnegie Science Center at left.

1920
• First community supported public television station in the United States, WQED, 1954

Erected by PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, City of Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, The Friends of the Riverfront.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Science & Medicine.

Location. 40° 26.72′ N, 80° 1.089′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in Chateau. It can be reached from Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Marker is behind the Carnegie Science Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: One Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15212, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Langley Observatory Clock (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Pittsburgh Point (about 700 feet away); Three Rivers Stadium (approx. ¼ mile away); County of Allegheny Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); First Professional Football Game (approx. ¼ mile away); First MLB All-Minority Lineup (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mary Cassatt

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 26, 2014

3. Three Rivers Heritage Trail Marker

Back of marker at left. Westward view. Carnegie Science Center at right.

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Three Rivers Stadium Baseball Information Panel (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Also see . . .
1. Carnegie Science Center. Next to the marker (Submitted on September 10, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

2. Friends of the Riverfront - Three Rivers Heritage Trail. (Submitted on September 10, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 26, 2014

4. Three Rivers Heritage Trail Marker

Back of marker and view towards USS Requin submarine. Admission to the submarine is included with admission to the Carnegie Science Center.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, August 26, 2014

5. Three Rivers Heritage Trail Marker

Marker and view towards downtown.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 642 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 10, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.