Jewish Squirrel Hill: 1907-1957
Squirrel Hill has been the “Jewish part of Pittsburgh” for nearly a century. How did that happen? To find the answer, we’ll follow the trail year by year, looking at
Squirrel Hill has been the “Jewish part of Pittsburgh” for nearly a century. How did that happen?
To find the answer, we’ll follow the trail year by year, looking at the development of subdivisions, the establishment of businesses and the arrival of synagogues, schools and community centers.
We will also consider Squirrel Hill in relationship to the larger Jewish population of Allegheny County, following migrations into the neighborhood as Squirrel Hill gradually consolidated the Jewish population of a broad and disparate region.
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This story was recorded on December 13, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center. He is a child of Squirrel Hill and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He spent 15 years as a journalist before joining the Rauh Jewish Archives–first as a volunteer, then as a researcher and for the past three years as its director. He curates its Jewish history website “the Jewish Encyclopedia of Western Pennsylvania,” oversees its Small Towns Jewish History Project, and hosts its podcast “The Cornerstone.”
He writes and speaks extensively about the Jewish history of Western Pennsylvania. He is the author of The Seventeenth Generation: The Lifework of Rabbi Walter Jacob and a coeditor of the anthologies Her Deeds Sing Her Praises and Bound in the Bond of Life.
Obscure Pittsburgh
Did you know the ball in Pittsburgh goes up instead of down? Join DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh and storyteller Chris Whitlatch as he shares the obscure holiday traditions of Pittsburgh along
Did you know the ball in Pittsburgh goes up instead of down?
Join DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh and storyteller Chris Whitlatch as he shares the obscure holiday traditions of Pittsburgh along with other stories you may not have heard before.
What do a scary face, a shrine to traffic, columns that reveal a past, a car that got a second life and Snoopy all have in common? They are obscure sites in Pittsburgh that you can explore.
Explore your city further; Obscure Pittsburgh will take you to places you may not know existed.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on December 7, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Christopher Whitlatch currently works for the International Rhino Foundation, helping to save the five species of rhinos in the wild.
In his spare time, he likes to tell stories about Pittsburgh, especially of the notorious kind. He is also proud to serve on the DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh Board of Directors.
He has a degree in journalism and mass communications from New York University. Christopher’s passions are nature, wildlife, toys, and stories. He plans to release his first book of stories in 2022.
Secrets of Pittsburgh’s Bridges
Think you know Pittsburgh’s bridges? Think again. Join author and engineer Todd Wilson for a virtual tour of Pittsburgh’s bridges where he will point out many of the secrets of
Think you know Pittsburgh’s bridges? Think again.
Join author and engineer Todd Wilson for a virtual tour of Pittsburgh’s bridges where he will point out many of the secrets of Pittsburgh’s bridges. From the incredible stories behind the design and construction of the city’s bridges to the still visible remnants of former bridges and pointing out the hidden structural details of current bridges, this exciting photo-based presentation will show you Pittsburgh’s bridges in a way you have never seen them before.
He will also attempt to answer the question: “How many bridges are in Pittsburgh?” And, as you will see, it is far from a simple question.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on November 29, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Todd Wilson, MBA, PE, is an award-winning transportation engineer and author with a deep appreciation for Pittsburgh bridges. The son of a photographer and a great grandson of an ironworker who built bridges, Todd has been photographing them his whole life. His photography trips growing up gave him an interest in the built environment–bridges, roadways, transit, and aviation–leading him to pursue civil engineering with an additional major of engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
He also holds an MBA from Point Park University. In his spare time, he has co-authored two books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America Pittsburgh’s Bridges and the History Press’s Engineering Pittsburgh a History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges, and More. He was named a New Face of Civil Engineering by the American Society of Civil Engineers, serves as a Trustee of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, and was a Pittsburgh 40 under 40 winner.
Behind the Walls: Western State Penitentiary
Western State Penitentiary is a former Pennsylvania state prison, originally constructed between 1878 and 1893 on the east banks of the Ohio River. The facility has been closed since 2017,
Western State Penitentiary is a former Pennsylvania state prison, originally constructed between 1878 and 1893 on the east banks of the Ohio River.
The facility has been closed since 2017, but due to a documentation project undertaken by the PA State Historic Preservation Office with the support of the Department of General Services, you can see inside this massive complex, and hear the history and significance of the prison.
Learn how at the time of its completion, it was the most expensive and modern prison in the world. Led by Edward S. Wright, the institution became a leader in penology during the late 19th century. The 22-acre site includes the historic Warden’s Residence and, behind the 25-foot walls, an auditorium, power plant, industrial shop buildings, dining hall, a library/chapel, a health services building, an administration building and inmate housing.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on November 22, 2021.
Nationality Rooms: Uncover a Connection
Your Storyteller
Michael Walter is the Tour Coordinator for the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Walter is an exhibiting artist and educator and his interests and public presentations have involved history, art and science.
Join DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh as we visit the Nationality Rooms in Oakland’s Cathedral of Learning. These rooms were created to celebrate the cultural diversity of Pittsburgh.
Learn about the thematic approaches to the various Nationality Rooms which open up connections across architecture, history, art and science and will give you an awareness of the long-standing place in local history that these Nationality Rooms inhabit.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on November 20, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Michael Walter is the Tour Coordinator for the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Walter is an exhibiting artist and educator and his interests and public presentations have involved history, art and science.
Mapping: From Pittsburgh to Middle-Earth
Maps change how we see the places where we live. For the past seven years, local cartographer Stentor Danielson has been drawing maps of Pittsburgh and other real cities in
Maps change how we see the places where we live. For the past seven years, local cartographer Stentor Danielson has been drawing maps of Pittsburgh and other real cities in a style drawn from fantasy maps like Tolkien’s famous map of Middle-earth.
During this virtual storytelling experience Danielson talks about what maps do and don’t show, and how they can help us to reimagine our world.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on November 15, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Stentor Danielson is a cartographer, geography professor and cat wrangler based in Pittsburgh. He has loved maps ever since encountering the Lord of the Rings at age 9.
Pittsburgh: America’s Glass City
For more than 200 years, Western Pennsylvania has been a center for the production, design and marketing of glass. It is also home to an internationally-known education center and studio,
For more than 200 years, Western Pennsylvania has been a center for the production, design and marketing of glass. It is also home to an internationally-known education center and studio, Pittsburgh Glass Center.
Anne Madarasz from the Heinz History Center and Heather McElwee of Pittsburgh Glass Center will talk about the history of glass in the region and how Pittsburgh Glass Center is upholding the tradition and contributing to Pittsburgh’s thriving cultural landscape.
This virtual experience compares and contrasts the historic hot glass industry with a major glass art studio. In addition, you can watch Pittsburgh artists at work and understand how the overall processes may differ, but the tools, skills and fascination remain the same.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
The story was recorded on November 8, 2021.
Your Storytellers
Heather McElwee is the Randi & L. Van V. Dauler, Jr. Executive Director of Pittsburgh Glass Center where she has worked since 2001, overseeing educational programming, exhibitions, fundraising and strategic direction for the organization. She has curated numerous shows in PGC’s Hodge Gallery including Lifeforms, Pittsburgh Biennial and Turned On: Lighting Hooks Up with Sculpture. Her own artwork is an investigation of the relationship of vessel to architecture and has been shown in galleries across the country. For more information, visit the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
Anne Madarasz has been at the Heinz History Center since 1992 and currently holds the titles of Curatorial Division Director, Chief Historian, and Director of the Western PA Sports Museum. A graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, she completed the coursework for her Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. She served as Project Director and Curator for Glass: Shattering Notions and authored the accompanying catalog. She was awarded a Richards Fellowship for research from the Corning Museum of Glass and lectures and writes frequently about Pittsburgh glass, regional industry, and the history of Pittsburgh sports.
August Wilson’s Hill District
This story will provide a sense of what the Hill District was like during the era when Pulitzer prize-winning playwright August Wilson was growing up there and how this iconic
This story will provide a sense of what the Hill District was like during the era when Pulitzer prize-winning playwright August Wilson was growing up there and how this iconic neighborhood inspired his best-known plays, including Jitney, Fences and The Piano Lesson.
Highlights include St. Benedict the Moor Church, Freedom Corner across the street from the church and the old Connelley Vocational School on Bedford Avenue. You will see August Wilson’s former home, located at 1727 Bedford Avenue as well as learn about current and ongoing restoration efforts.
Additional tour locations include:
A scenic overlook, where you will have fabulous views of downtown Pittsburgh, the Strip District and the North Side
A large former synagogue which provides evidence of the Jewish community presence in the Hill
The Crawford Grill
The New Granada Theater (also undergoing renovations)
The former Hill House Community Center
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded November 1, 2021.
Ghosts of Pittsburgh
Join storyteller Alan Irvine for an evening exploring the darker side of Pittsburgh’s history with ghost stories from the City’s days as a frontier settlement up to modern times. Discover
Join storyteller Alan Irvine for an evening exploring the darker side of Pittsburgh’s history with ghost stories from the City’s days as a frontier settlement up to modern times. Discover the spirits of the Heinz History Center and the old Pittsburgh Playhouse, as well as the most fiendishly haunted house in the city.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on October 25, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Alan Irvine told his first story over 40 years ago while working as a camp counselor in Louisiana: a ghost story told in the cabin after lights out. He has been telling ghost stories ever since. Over the years, he has collected Pittsburgh ghost stories, “true” tales and legends, and delights in sharing Pittsburgh’s darker side with audiences.
When George Washington Defeated Death…Again
George Washington played a critical role in what turned out to be the worst British-American defeat during the French and Indian War. That disaster–Braddock’s Defeat–took place less than 10 miles
George Washington played a critical role in what turned out to be the worst British-American defeat during the French and Indian War. That disaster–Braddock’s Defeat–took place less than 10 miles from Pittsburgh’s Point.
In July 1754, young George Washington surrendered the fort he had built near what is now Uniontown to French and Indian forces.
He wrote a description of the battle of Fort Necessity to his brother that suggests more bravado than strategic thinking: “The right wing, where I stood, was exposed to and received all the enemy’s fire…I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound.”
Learn more about Washington’s actions and enjoy a virtual tour of the Braddock battlefield with your guide, Len Barcousky.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on October 18, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Until his retirement in 2015, Len Barcousky worked as a reporter and editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is the author of a Pittsburgh trilogy that describes some of the important, unusual and odd events in southwestern Pennsylvania history.
Len’s three books about the region are: Remembering Pittsburgh: An Eyewitness’ History of the Steel City (2010); Civil War Pittsburgh: Forge of the Union (2013); and Hidden History of Pittsburgh (2016). All are published by The History Press.
For 12 years, he wrote a bi-weekly “Eyewitness” column for the P-G. In it, he investigated how now historic and not-so-historic events were reported as breaking news in the Post-Gazette and its predecessor publications.
Kennywood Behind the Screams
Kennywood Park has been Pittsburgh’s playground since the 19th century, when baseball games, track races and pony rides were more common than Potato Patch fries and amusement rides! One of
Kennywood Park has been Pittsburgh’s playground since the 19th century, when baseball games, track races and pony rides were more common than Potato Patch fries and amusement rides!
One of only two amusement parks recognized as a National Historic Landmark, this little trolley park has outlasted all the trolleys and is recognized by amusement enthusiasts worldwide for its tradition of preservation, highlighted by three classic wooden roller coasters that date back to the 1920s.
But while the park is a time-honored tradition and civic institution for the region, so much happens behind the scenes–or, behind the Screams!–that you may not realize.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on April 25, 2021.
Your Storytellers
Kennywood’s Director of Corporate Communications Nick Paradise and Heinz History Center Director of Publications Brian Butko, author of multiple Kennywood books, peek inside several Kennywood spots rarely seen by the average Jack Rabbit rider.
Jonas Salk Ends Paralyzing Summers
Everyone who is old enough remembers where they were on April 12, 1955 when the Polio Vaccine was heralded. Horns honked, church bells rang, people celebrated in the streets. It
Everyone who is old enough remembers where they were on April 12, 1955 when the Polio Vaccine was heralded.
Horns honked, church bells rang, people celebrated in the streets. It was official: The Salk Vaccine Is Safe and Works!
Jonas Salk was, and is, a popular hero, but some in the scientific community were not so happy with his discovery. This is the story of Salk’s journey to discovery, the setbacks, the grit, the naysayers, and the triumph of a national hero.
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This story was recorded April 12, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Pamela Gianni, MD is a native Pittsburgher and second generation Italo-American, who loves all things Pittsburgh. She joined DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh as a volunteer tour curator, and now virtual storyteller, in 2019. In her day job, she’s a Medical Consultant to the Social Security Administration.
Inside the City of Pittsburgh Vault
Get virtual access inside the City’s Vault. The City Vault is where hundreds of years of legislative records are stored and preserved. In 2016 the City hired the first-ever archivist
Get virtual access inside the City’s Vault. The City Vault is where hundreds of years of legislative records are stored and preserved. In 2016 the City hired the first-ever archivist to endeavor on preserving thousands of archived materials about the City of Pittsburgh. Learn more about this process and even some of the interesting finds along the way!
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on April 5, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Nick Hartley became the first Pittsburgh City Archivist in August of 2016. Prior to joining the City, Hartley worked as an archivist for the Heinz History Center. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is a Certified Archivist and Certified Records Manager.
I Shall Always Love You Isaly’s
Take a walk through Isaly’s history to learn why so many Pittsburghers have fond memories of the company, why its ice cream and chipped ham are still regional favorites, and
Take a walk through Isaly’s history to learn why so many Pittsburghers have fond memories of the company, why its ice cream and chipped ham are still regional favorites, and how Isaly’s Klondike bar became the world’s best-selling ice cream novelty.
Along the way, we will see some vintage ads and cool product packaging.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on April 1, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Brian Butko, who has written more than a dozen books on popular culture topics like Diners, Kennywood, the Lincoln Highway, and Roadside Attractions. His next book is a sequel: Isaly’s Chipped Ham, Klondikes, and other Tales from Behind the Counter. Brian has been voted Best Local Author by the Pittsburgh City Paper multiple times and has more history-themed books underway. Since 2001, Brian has served as Director of Publications at the Senator John Heinz History Center, where he oversees a quarterly journal and book publishing. He designs books and magazines too.
Culinary Journey from Portugal to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has evolved in all things having to do with food and culinary. With humble beginnings dating back to the produce terminal in the Strip District to Pittsburgh being a
Pittsburgh has evolved in all things having to do with food and culinary. With humble beginnings dating back to the produce terminal in the Strip District to Pittsburgh being a culinary destination for locals and tourists alike.
We have our small, but mighty, diverse immigrant population to thank for our culinary choices and history in Pittsburgh.
Celebrate this fact as we travel to the Azores with Elsa Santos from the Azorean Cafe. The Cafe is one of the favorite stops on the Burgh Bits and Bites Bloomfield food tour.
Elsa shares stories about the beautiful Portuguese islands she calls home. Cook along with Elsa as she makes a Traditional Portuguese Kale Soup.
Not only will you hear about the Azores, but you’ll also learn the history of Bloomfield, Pittsburgh’s Little Italy where the Azorean Cafe is located.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on March 29, 2021.
Presented by DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh and Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tours/ Hosted by The Azorean Cafe.
Pittsburgh Astronomer’s Tiny Abode
Ever wonder what it might be like to live in a “tiny house?” DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh invites you into a Pittsburgh astronomer’s tiny house. This 500-square-foot house was built by
Ever wonder what it might be like to live in a “tiny house?”
DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh invites you into a Pittsburgh astronomer’s tiny house.
This 500-square-foot house was built by ex-cons and assembled in a warehouse on South Side. It was driven through Pittsburgh at five miles per hour on an escorted, cross-city journey that took nine hours until it reached eight acres of woods off a dead-end road in the City of Pittsburgh.
Learn more about this tiny house, from the owner Diane Turnshek, as she invites us in for a virtual tour.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on March 22, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Diane Turnshek is an astronomer in the CMU Department of Physics and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh. She coordinates astronomy activities in Western PA through her Astronomy Enthusiasts newsletter (sign up at dianeturnshek.com). Her research on light pollution has gained worldwide attention. At last count, the total combined subscriber base of the networks that have featured her is upwards of 1.2 billion.
Lost Treasures of Pittsburgh
Get nostalgic and reflect on the lost treasures of Pittsburgh with local author Rossilynne Culgan who is writing a book about the lost treasures of Pittsburgh. Rossilynne will share her
Get nostalgic and reflect on the lost treasures of Pittsburgh with local author Rossilynne Culgan who is writing a book about the lost treasures of Pittsburgh.
Rossilynne will share her research on five beloved Pittsburgh places lost over the years–Raywell’s Restaurant in the Skinny Building, the iconic Isaly’s around town, the Syria Mosque’s original location, Kaufmann’s Downtown store, and Market Square in an era you won’t recognize.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on March 15, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Rossilynne Culgan is a writer and editor who is enamored with her hometown of Pittsburgh. Rossilynne is the author of 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die (www.100ThingsPittsburgh.com), a book that promises to become the ultimate Pittsburgh bucket list and to provide new ideas for your next visitors. Passionate about local journalism, she helps to lead The Incline (www.TheIncline.com) and its sister sites across the United States.
Theatres of Downtown: A 100-Year Story
Did you know that Pittsburgh represents the birth of the “movie theatre?” This story begins in 1896, on the day that an image first flickered on a screen in Downtown
Did you know that Pittsburgh represents the birth of the “movie theatre?”
This story begins in 1896, on the day that an image first flickered on a screen in Downtown Pittsburgh and visits every Downtown theatre that ever played a movie. Learn about the theatres that once dominated the entertainment scene in the Golden Triangle. Hear fun history, trivia, and stories as we usher you through an era that is long-gone and stir up some fond memories. So, reserve your seat and don’t forget the buttered popcorn!
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on March 8, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Jim Kastner was a 70-year resident of Pittsburgh. Born and raised on Spring Hill and schooled on Troy Hill, he spent most of his free time as a kid in the Northside’s old East Street neighborhood, known today as the Parkway North. He saw his first movie at the Garden Theatre in 1955.
It was his fondness for theatres and movies that led to his publishing Where the Movies Played in Downtown Pittsburg(h), which begins with a tribute to his Northside roots when he and all the neighborhood kids walked to the movies. Jim is now retired and living in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is honored to share this journey with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh ticketholders and patrons.
Behind the Beer: A Peek Inside Penn Brewery
Let us take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of Penn Brewery where you will learn the fascinating history behind our 19th-century building, as well as show you how we make
Let us take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of Penn Brewery where you will learn the fascinating history behind our 19th-century building, as well as show you how we make our award-winning brews.
We will also give you a brief “Penn Beer 101” so you can enjoy the brew that is right for you!
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on March 2, 2021.
Frank Lloyd Wright in Pittsburgh
Frank Lloyd Wright was the most talked about “starchitect” of the mid-20th century and inventor of Prairie style architecture. He had a twenty-year relationship with Pittsburgh. Fallingwater was only the
Frank Lloyd Wright was the most talked about “starchitect” of the mid-20th century and inventor of Prairie style architecture.
He had a twenty-year relationship with Pittsburgh. Fallingwater was only the beginning.
Wright’s on and off friendship with retail magnate Edgar Kaufmann yielded innovative designs–and plenty of controversy. Apprentices who trained at FLW’s Taliesin program carry on his legacy into the 21st century.
When you register on Patreon through the button below, you gain access to all of our Virtual Storytelling On-Demand recordings for $10 per month. Cancel at any time.
This story was recorded on March 1, 2021.
Your Storyteller
Paul J. Tellers is an architect and planner. He was the University Architect at Carnegie Mellon University, the Director of Planning at WTW Architects, and a Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.