" The Smoky City " once described by James Parton as "Hell with the lid off!" lives up to its reputation in these photographs of yesteryear.

The city that was busy creating the steel that forged the Industrial Revolution, the defeat of Germany & Japan and building the skyscrapers of

tomorrow such as the Empire State Building, was too busy to craft a plan to bring in tourists. Robber Barons ravaged its hills and mines for

coal and built state-of-the-art processing plants that belched enough soot and carbon that a businessman had to change his collar at lunch

because it had turned black.



Germans, Hungarians, Poles, Irish & Italians flocked to its river beds for steady, hard work inside its mills. Hardened by sweat, heat, poverty

and manual labor, it forged its people like the steel that rolled out of its plants. They worked hard and played harder.



These rare glimpses that are scattered among these pages show a life of determination, grit and an industrious that was unmatched by anything

in the outside world. Although outsiders will see these photos and gasp in unknowing horror, Pittsburghers will view these photos with pride.

For we know where we were and where we are now. From its humble beginnings as a remote outpost for George Washington to the original

"Gateway to the West" to a glass and steel juggernaut, to what it is now, the " Most Livable City !" Pittsburgh has gained national acclaim for

having "One of the Best Views" in the country, the Number One Family Destination, one of the top ten most literate cities and the City of

Champions! The esteemed National Geographic Traveler chose Pittsburgh as one of the best places in the world to visit! All this along

with being world-renowned in organ transplants, robotics and green-industry.

And, don't forget the 6-time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers!

