A City of Steel

[HostDave]

One of the most magnificent things about traveling on America’s rivers is that you get to see far more of this great nation than you might ever have imagined. A riverboat like the American Queen and the traditions of river voyages immortalized by Mark Twain put the focus squarely on the Mississippi River all the way from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN to New Orleans, LA and the historic, and nostalgic charm, that lies between.

However, time and time again, we hear our guests sing the praises of the Ohio River which is just as rich in history as the mighty Mississippi River. We make it a point to explore this quintessential American waterway in the height of summer when the trees shade classic homes, flower pots are blooming, children are selling lemonade by the curb, and American flags snap to attention in the cooling breezes off the river. At the northern end of the Ohio River lies a city that is undergoing a renaissance symbolic of America’s ability to adapt to change. Pittsburgh, a city of steel, was once known for little more than being the hub of steel manufacturing in the United States. Huge steel plants ringed downtown, tall smokestacks belching coal smoke as giant Bessemer furnaces melted iron and gangs of brawny men worked in conditions that today would not be tolerated. The pall of smoke that once hung over Pittsburgh in the 19th century and early 20th century was actually a badge of honor, proclaiming to all the world its importance and prosperity.

The decline of the steel business, the rise of environmentalism and Pittsburgh’s unflinching ability to roll with the punches have created a far different city today. Soaring skyscrapers, graceful bridges, world-class art museums, clean air and a population that is proud of their city and eager to share it with visitors are now what define Pittsburgh as a destination for the 21st century. Pittsburgh is featured prominently as a departure point on two of our voyages in 2013: our 6-day Music of the Rivers trip to Cincinnati on July 31, and a 14-day Lewis & Clark/Route 66 journey to St. Louis on August 9. With American Queen Steamboat Company’s signature pre-voyage night in a deluxe hotel in Pittsburgh included in the cruise fare, you have ample opportunity to learn what makes a classic city like Pittsburgh tick.

Named after British statesman William Pitt, Pittsburgh became a city in 1816 and was known as America’s steel town for many decades. Its professional football team is even called the Pittsburgh Steelers. But a future in steel was a long way off when Robert de La Salle led a 1669 expedition along the Ohio River past the site of present-day Pittsburgh. The first settlements in the area around the city were established as far back as 1717.

Pittsburgh’s history is tied to George Washington. Quebec sent a contingent of French soldiers to the area in 1749 in the hopes of bringing together British Canada with French Louisiana using rivers such as the Ohio to bind the two. The British weren’t amused and the governor of Virginia Colony sent Major George Washington to tell the French to cease and desist. The French built Fort Duquesne in the 1750s to make their point and eventually the entire conflict fueled the French and Indian War. The British prevailed, built Fort Pitt and the settlement was initially called Pittsborough. Even after the British claim to the area was defended, they argued amongst themselves with both Pennsylvania and Virginia trying to incorporate Pittsburgh into their territory. The Mason-Dixon Line in 1780 settled things once and for all and Pittsburgh became part of Pennsylvania.

With its location at the confluence of three rivers (Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela), Pittsburgh was a natural spot for the building of flatboats, keelboats and, eventually, steamboats to carry trade between the Deep South and Pennsylvania. The city survived a massive fire in 1845 and benefitted from the Civil War as it became a hub for the production of weapons. Steel came to town with Andrew Carnegie in 1875. Over 95 million tons of steel were pumped out during World War II and the city was one of the largest in the country. After the decline of the steel industry and the clearing of the smoke from the many factories, Pittsburgh is now a dynamic, cultured city with an intriguing past.