Cabbage and noodles?  Heinz and ketchup?  Pittsburgh and the Mon?  Some things just go together.  On this 90-minute boat cruise with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh, go beyond the typical sightseeing tour as we sail past the Hot Metal Bridge and discover how the Monongahela River shaped the Steel City.

Fragments of an industrial past dot its riverbanks, but the Monongahela River began shaping the fortunes of Pittsburgh long before iron and steel. From topography to transportation, from industry to innovation, from tech to tourism, the Monongahela River is central to the story and history of Pittsburgh. Join engineer and local bridge expert Todd Wilson and Architect Paul Tellers for this immersive look at the mighty Monongahela River.

TOUR HOST BIO:

Paul Tellers is an architect and planner. Paul was the University Architect at Carnegie Mellon University, the Director of Planning at WTW Architects, Facilities Planning Director for a CUNY college in New York, and a Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Paul’s community service included the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Oakland Task Force, Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission, Mt. Washington Community Development Corp., Mt. Lebanon Planning Board, Chatham Village Charitable Trust, and the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh Board. In addition to Doors Open Pittsburgh, Paul currently serves as a guide for historical Pittsburgh tours for Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Rivers of Steel, and Bike the Burgh. Paul is a docent at the Carnegie Museum of Art and a member of the Bach Choir.

Todd Wilson, MBA, PE, is an award-winning transportation engineer, named one of Pittsburgh Business Times’ 20 Engineers to Know in 2022. He has co-authored two books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, Images of America Pittsburgh’s Bridges and Engineering Pittsburgh a History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges, and More. An engineering graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Todd has extensive knowledge on bridges, having photographed them in all 50 states and 25 countries, and he has presented at many conferences. Check out his Pittsburgh bridge photography on Instagram @pghbridges.

TOUR STARTS/ENDS: Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks, 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

• Photography is allowed. 

• A restroom is available. 

• Itinerary subject to change due to changes in weather. Rain or Shine. No refunds.

• Indoor/outdoor seating is available. First come, first served.

• Food/Beverage is available for sale by the Gateway Clipper.

"This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Arts and Culture Recovery Program."

Additional events you may be interested in:

We invite you to explore the Three Rivers with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh, as we showcase our rivers, buildings and bridges.

Engineer Todd Wilson and Architect Paul Tellers will be your guides for this riverboat journey through time. Pittsburgh’s amazing bridges and impressive architecture will be explained as the scene unfolds from the vantage point of the riverboat’s viewing decks. Be immersed in Pittsburgh’s history as seen from the Allegheny, the Monongahela, and the Ohio.

DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh boat tours sail for 90 minutes from Station Square.

TOUR HOST BIO:

Paul Tellers is an architect and planner. Paul was the University Architect at Carnegie Mellon University, the Director of Planning at WTW Architects, Facilities Planning Director for a CUNY college in New York, and a Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Paul’s community service included the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Oakland Task Force, Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission, Mt. Washington Community Development Corp., Mt. Lebanon Planning Board, Chatham Village Charitable Trust, and the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh Board. In addition to Doors Open Pittsburgh, Paul currently serves as a guide for historical Pittsburgh tours for Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Rivers of Steel, and Bike the Burgh. Paul is a docent at the Carnegie Museum of Art and a member of the Bach Choir.

Todd Wilson, MBA, PE, is an award-winning transportation engineer, named one of Pittsburgh Business Times’ 20 Engineers to Know in 2022. He has co-authored two books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, Images of America Pittsburgh’s Bridges and Engineering Pittsburgh a History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges, and More. An engineering graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Todd has extensive knowledge on bridges, having photographed them in all 50 states and 25 countries, and he has presented at many conferences. Check out his Pittsburgh bridge photography on Instagram @pghbridges. 

TOUR STARTS/ENDS: Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks, 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

• Photography is allowed. 

• A restroom is available. 

• Itinerary subject to change due to changes in weather. Rain or Shine. No refunds.

• Indoor/outdoor seating is available. First come, first served.

• Food/Beverage is available for sale by the Gateway Clipper.

"This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Arts and Culture Recovery Program."

Additional events you may be interested in:

What secrets lie beyond the Forks of the Ohio? On this 90-minute boat cruise with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh, go beyond the typical sightseeing tour and uncover the mysteries of the Ohio River.

Beyond the Point lies a part of Pittsburgh shrouded in relative mystery. From the largely uninhabited Brunot Island to the roughhewn walls of the Western Penitentiary, the triumphant arch of the West End Bridge to the monumental McKees Rocks Bridge, many of the river’s secrets are hidden in plain sight. Join engineer and local bridge expert Todd Wilson and architectural historian Justin Greenawalt for this immersive look at a seldom seen stretch of the Ohio River.

TOUR HOST BIO:

Justin P. Greenawalt is an architectural historian and historic preservationist with a deep appreciation for the history and development of Pittsburgh and greater southwestern Pennsylvania. Justin is employed within the Cultural Resources practice of Michael Baker International. He is Director Emeritus of Preservation Pittsburgh and a past president of the East Liberty Valley Historical Society. Justin is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (B.A. Architectural Studies, 2008) and Columbia University (M.S. Historic Preservation, 2010).

Todd Wilson, MBA, PE, is an award-winning transportation engineer, named one of Pittsburgh Business Times’ 20 Engineers to Know in 2022. He has co-authored two books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, Images of America Pittsburgh’s Bridges and Engineering Pittsburgh a History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges, and More. An engineering graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Todd has extensive knowledge on bridges, having photographed them in all 50 states and 25 countries, and he has presented at many conferences. Check out his Pittsburgh bridge photography on Instagram @pghbridges.

TOUR STARTS/ENDS: Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks, 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

• Photography is allowed. 

• A restroom is available. 

• Itinerary subject to change due to changes in weather. Rain or Shine. No refunds.

• Indoor/outdoor seating is available. First come, first served.

• Food/Beverage is available for sale by the Gateway Clipper.

"This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Arts and Culture Recovery Program."

Additional events you may be interested in:

We invite you to explore the Three Rivers with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh, as we showcase our rivers, buildings and bridges.

Engineer Todd Wilson and Architect Paul Tellers will be your guides for this riverboat journey through time. Pittsburgh’s amazing bridges and impressive architecture will be explained as the scene unfolds from the vantage point of the riverboat’s viewing decks. Be immersed in Pittsburgh’s history as seen from the Allegheny, the Monongahela, and the Ohio.

DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh boat tours sail for 90 minutes from Station Square.

TOUR HOST BIO:

Paul Tellers is an architect and planner. Paul was the University Architect at Carnegie Mellon University, the Director of Planning at WTW Architects, Facilities Planning Director for a CUNY college in New York, and a Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Paul’s community service included the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Oakland Task Force, Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission, Mt. Washington Community Development Corp., Mt. Lebanon Planning Board, Chatham Village Charitable Trust, and the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh Board. In addition to Doors Open Pittsburgh, Paul currently serves as a guide for historical Pittsburgh tours for Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Rivers of Steel, and Bike the Burgh. Paul is a docent at the Carnegie Museum of Art and a member of the Bach Choir.

Todd Wilson, MBA, PE, is an award-winning transportation engineer, named one of Pittsburgh Business Times’ 20 Engineers to Know in 2022. He has co-authored two books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, Images of America Pittsburgh’s Bridges and Engineering Pittsburgh a History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges, and More. An engineering graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Todd has extensive knowledge on bridges, having photographed them in all 50 states and 25 countries, and he has presented at many conferences. Check out his Pittsburgh bridge photography on Instagram @pghbridges. 

TOUR STARTS/ENDS: Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks, 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

• Photography is allowed. 

• A restroom is available. 

• Itinerary subject to change due to changes in weather. Rain or Shine. No refunds.

• Indoor/outdoor seating is available. First come, first served.

• Food/Beverage is available for sale by the Gateway Clipper.

"This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Arts and Culture Recovery Program."

Additional events you may be interested in:

From Acrisure to Herr’s Island shore, the Allegheny River has countless stories to tell.  On this 90-minute boat cruise with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh, go beyond the typical sightseeing tour as we sail to the tip of Herr's Island and reveal the secrets of the Allegheny River.

What ever happened to Allegheny City? Who are the Three Sisters? What does horseradish have to do with a floating house? For the answers to these questions (and more), join engineer and local bridge expert Todd Wilson and architectural historian Justin Greenawalt for a fresh and immersive look at the histories and mysteries of the Allegheny River.

We look forward to having you join us to explore Pittsburgh from the rivers, DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh style!

TOUR HOST BIO:

Justin P. Greenawalt is an architectural historian and historic preservationist with a deep appreciation for the history and development of Pittsburgh and greater southwestern Pennsylvania. Justin is employed within the Cultural Resources practice of Michael Baker International. He is Director Emeritus of Preservation Pittsburgh and a past president of the East Liberty Valley Historical Society. Justin is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (B.A. Architectural Studies, 2008) and Columbia University (M.S. Historic Preservation, 2010).

Todd Wilson, MBA, PE, is an award-winning transportation engineer, named one of Pittsburgh Business Times’ 20 Engineers to Know in 2022. He has co-authored two books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, Images of America Pittsburgh’s Bridges and Engineering Pittsburgh a History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges, and More. An engineering graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Todd has extensive knowledge on bridges, having photographed them in all 50 states and 25 countries, and he has presented at many conferences. Check out his Pittsburgh bridge photography on Instagram @pghbridges.

TOUR STARTS/ENDS: Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks, 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

• Photography is allowed. 

• A restroom is available. 

• Itinerary subject to change due to changes in weather. Rain or Shine. No refunds.

• Indoor/outdoor seating is available. First come, first served.

• Food/Beverage is available for sale by the Gateway Clipper.

"This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Arts and Culture Recovery Program."

Get a fresh perspective on how Pittsburgh’s iconic skyscrapers and bridges came to be during this exclusive 90-minute boat cruise with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh.

We will take you beyond the typical sightseeing tour– from the Point, we’ll cover the Monongahela River as we travel along the South Side, then back up and around to the Allegheny River, past the Strip District and down to the beginning of Herr’s Island.

As you cruise on the rivers, local bridge expert Todd Wilson, and local skyscraper expert Mark Houser, will share new insights about the City of Bridges, such as– does Pittsburgh really have more bridges than any other city? We’ll hash this out along with plenty of fascinating facts, skyscraper stories, and Golden Triangle lore we bet you haven’t heard before.

This exclusive tour is offered only once in 2022, so get your tickets now!

NOTE: Due to the overwhelming response to our pre-sale tickets, we have decided to open the General Admission ticket sales earlier than scheduled. These tickets are available now.

We look forward to having you join us to explore Pittsburgh from the rivers, DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh style!

TOUR HOST BIO:

Mark Houser is the author of “MultiStories: 55 Antique Skyscrapers & the Business Tycoons Who Built Them” and an award-winning writer and frequent speaker on popular history, especially in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Mark has traveled across the country and beyond in search of the world’s most interesting and attractive landmark high-rises and researched the colorful personal tales of the magnates and power brokers who brought them into being. Mark has appeared on NPR, CNN, and FOX and given a TEDx Talk. His website is HouserTalks.com

Todd Wilson, MBA, PE, is an award-winning transportation engineer, named one of Pittsburgh Business Times’ 20 Engineers to Know in 2022. He has co-authored two books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, Images of America Pittsburgh’s Bridges and Engineering Pittsburgh a History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges, and More. An engineering graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Todd has extensive knowledge on bridges, having photographed them in all 50 states and 25 countries, and he has presented at many conferences. Check out his Pittsburgh bridge photography on Instagram @pghbridges.

TOUR STARTS/ENDS: Gateway Clipper Fleet Docks, 350 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 — Tour times are as follows:

• 10:30am – 1:00pm (Boarding 10:30am – 11:00am / Sailing time is 11:00am – 12:30pm)

• 1:30pm – 4:00pm. (Boarding 1:30pm – 2:00pm / Sailing time is 2:00pm – 3:30pm)

• We allow 30-minutes for boarding/off-boarding

Please note:

• Itinerary subject to change due to changes in weather. Rain or Shine. No refunds.

• Indoor/outdoor seating is available. First come, first served.

• Food/Beverage is available for sale by the Gateway Clipper.

Pre-sale General Admission ticket price is $30, from 6/20 (limited availability)

Full-price General Admission ticket price is $38; available until 9/11 at 10am.

Children General Admission ticket price is $12.