from a friend:
Are there any bike trails right in the city with any historical significance. I've road 90% of the trails in western pa but not too much in the burg. I love old stone architecture, bridges/tunnels and anything involving railroads.
any suggestions?
All the pittsburgh trails are pretty much rail trails.. there are a couple signs and stuff explaining some of the trails along them, like the eliza furnace and stuff.. Dont know of one offhand that shows any interesting architecture tho.
Once the trail gets through Sandcastle and hits the Waterfront, it'll also be hitting the site of the Homestead works, site of the Homestead Strike. It involved lots of dramatic events like launching flaming railcars at boats full of Pinkertons.
The back side of the prison at the end of the Ohio trail is pretty spiffy, in a stone haunted-house Gothic wreck sort of way. What you can see over the fence, that is.
Last year someone, I can't remember who, did a historic bike/tour ride of the trails with a guide. Venture Outdoors? Was it part of Bike Fest? There's a lot of stuff that "not there anymore" but which has left its mark along the city trails. If anyone remembers who did the tour one could look to see if it will be repeated this year...
How soon does this person want a response?
Dude needs to go over the Smithfield St bridge, toodle around Sta Square, up the trail to 10th, over the bridge, throught the Armstrong tunnel, to the Allegheny Co jail, then over to the old Penn station dome. Just for starters, without even thinking about it.
I hardly ever do the trail along the Ohio without rolling past Port Authority's Manchester building. Not exactly historical, but that's where you can see what they're *going to* put on the road soon. Or an experimental bus they are evaluating. Or a bus they're going to install a rack on. Or a wreck they're going to fix. Or a wreck they're not going to fix and are waiting for the flatbed to show up. Just always fascinating.
Old railroad bridges abound. Think Montour Trail, Great Allegheny Passage, etc. For pure historic stuff, you can't beat the Ghost Town Trail. Pretty much every trail will offer SOMETHING. The challenege may not be in identifying WHAT but WHERE.....you'd hate to ride the wrong section of the trail, if looking for elements in particular. Most trail websites will point out the "trail features" and identify them on a map.
There was a history ride during Bike Fest last year. It started at the History Center, duh. From there it went on both trails and roads to Lawrenceville, as far as Allegheny Cemetery.
A guide described significant buildings, bridge architects, famous Pittsburghers, etc. It was a short ride, but informative. It was sponsored by Pittsburgh Historic Landmarks Foundation. They have regular walks in the city highlighting history and architecture. www.phlf.org
your friend should check out pedal pittsburgh this weekend.
If you go to the Friends of the Riverfront map and click Signage and Art, you can see the location of each of their interpretive signs and what each one's about. Almost all are on the trails, and most point out the historical significance of some local feature.
A mostly relevant thread hijack --- Steve's friend (original postt) apparently has an interest in historical preservation....
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is conducting a survey to update its historic preservation plan. Public responses to the survey will help PHMC prepare Pennsylvania’s Statewide Historic Preservation plan for 2012-2017.
To take the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/PAcommunitypres.
For more information or hard copy questionnaires, visit PHMC’s website at www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhp.
