Mount Washington

Day or night, your ascent to this hilltop neighborhood will be rewarded with picture-perfect vantage points of all that is Pittsburgh: its downtown skyline, rivers, bridges, and neighborhoods. Getting to Mt. Washington is half the fun�cruise up and down the 400-foot slopes in historic �inclines,� funicular railways that transport you to Grandview Avenue, the cliffside thoroughfare known for romantic strolls, magnificent vistas, and fine dining with a view on Restaurant Row. Take just one look and you�ll see why both visitors and Pittsburghers find it impossible to resist the charms of Mount Washington�s vistas.

But there�s more to Mount Washington than what immediately meets the eye. Venture away from the ridgeline for a neighborhood slice of life in the Shiloh Street business district or an uncommon urban hike through portions of the newly established Scenic Byways Park.

History
The neighborhood�s namesake is none other than George Washington, who was dispatched by British brothers-in-arms to survey the area�and ward off a French invasion. Atop Mount Washington, he observed that the wedge of land sitting at the confluence of three rivers - now Point State Park -would make an ideal location for a fort. The subsequent struggle to control this land and the surrounding Allegheny Mountains was the crux of the French and Indian War (or Seven Years� War) from 1755-1763.

As the War ended on this continent in 1760, colonists from victorious Great Britain launched mining operations beneath Mount Washington, then known as �Coal Hill.� Over the following century, the hilltop was populated by English, Scotch-Irish, and Welsh immigrants, many of whom worked in the iron and glass industries that were blooming on the banks of the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers.

German and Eastern European �migr�s arriving here in the late 1870s constructed four inclined railway systems to move people and supplies up the formidable grade. Two of these railways�the Monongahela and Duquesne Inclines�operate today, serving both visitors and commuters en route to the South Side�s Carson Street business district or to points �Downtown��the city�s central business district. Stop into the hilltop stations of both inclines to view exhibits showcasing their history and role in the growth of the neighborhood.

How�s the View Up There?
One of the best in the country, as a matter of fact. Local brides and grooms travel to pose for photos at the Grandview Avenue scenic overlook spots, but the admiration isn�t limited to sentimental locals. In 2003, USA Weekend Magazine named �the nighttime view from Mount Washington in Pittsburgh� second in its list of the 10 most beautiful places in America�rivaling natural and man-made wonders from across the country. And in 2005, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation designated the area as a State Scenic Byway. Soon, new interpretive signage along Grandview Avenue will enrich your visit with sidewalk history lessons of the city and community heritage.

You don�t have to look away from Mount Washington for great scenery; plenty of natural beauty resides within neighborhood boundaries. Framing the Grand View Scenic Byway is the newly designated Scenic Byways Park, a 280-acre crown of green and open space that rings Mount Washington and adjacent neighborhoods. Soon hiking and biking trails will connect three formal city parks with wooded areas for a respite from concrete cityscapes. For architecture enthusiasts, the residences of Grandview Avenue include great examples of the Queen Anne style.

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