Here S What Pittsburgh Looked Like 100 Years Ago

A century ago most of us in Pittsburgh hadn’t even been born yet. But, look at the old black and white photographs from those years so long ago, then look at the Burgh today. Can you see the past in 21st century Pittsburgh?

Just 100 years ago, people bustled past Kaufmann’s, the home of the Tick Tock Restaurant, floors of shopping, the bargain basement, and regal gold elevators. Today, Kaufmann’s the department store is gone but its memories remain in an empty building that Pittsburghers still pass daily.

The horses, buggies, and old cars have been replaced by modern cars, buses, and a subway. The Steel City has transformed into a technological hub. But, despite the difference in decades and in generations, one thing still holds true: The Burgh still has much of the same charm it did a century ago. Here’s what Pittsburgh looked like 100 years ago:

Aerial View of Pittsburgh, circa 1903.

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Wood Street in Downtown Pittsburgh is still a popular hub of activity that leads to the Cultural District.

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Kaufmann’s Department Store now sits empty but is famous for its outside clock, the Tick Tock Restaurant, and floors of shopping.

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The Monogahela Incline in the early 1900s. The incline was built in 1886 and still operates daily.

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Union Station. Today, Union Station connects downtown Pittsburgh to Wilkinsburg via the Martin Luther King Jr. Busway.

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The Allegheny County Courthouse and Jail, designed by the famed architect H.H. Richardson.

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The Point before the fountain was installed.

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The View from Mount Washington. Pittsburghers could, and still can, reach the top of Mount Washington via the Duquesne Incline or the Monongahela Incline.

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Forbes Field, the home of the PIttsburgh Pirates and such Pirates greats as Roberto Clemente.

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General Hospital Pittsburgh, circa 1908.

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Schenley Park is still, today, a popular spot for walking, biking, and picnicking.

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A greenhouse at Phipps Conservatory in the early 1900s.

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The Pittsburgh Zoo, circa 1910, first opened in 1898.

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Wonderland entrance at Kennywood Park, circa 1906.

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The Casino at Kennywood Park, circa 1906.

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There you have it: Here’s what Pittsburgh looked like 100 years ago. Which photograph was your favorite? Why?

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