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 entrepeneurs, 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 Rogers Neighborhood, to organ transplants, to bio-engineering research and to designing the communications 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

• Gas station

First gas station opened by forerunners of Gulf Oil, Baum Boulevard, 1913

• 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



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



Health

• First federal hospital in America

Hand's 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, 1999



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

Entertainment

• First community supported public television station in the United States

WQED, 1954

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Pittsburgh, PA  |  Allegheny County  |  15212  |  Pennsylvania  |  United States of America

Three Rivers Heritage Trail
Langley Observatory Clock
The Pittsburgh Point
Three Rivers Stadium
County of Allegheny Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
First Professional Football Game
The Immaculate Reception
Mary Cassatt
Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial
Byers-Lyon House

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.