Schenley Farms: A "Residential Utopia" in Oakland

In 1903, Cleveland-born businessman Franklin Felix Nicola, who had moved to Pittsburgh in the mid-1890s, bought the last parcels of Oakland land left by heiress Mary Schenley on her death that year. Part of what he planned for this land was an enclave of high-quality residences; by 1906, he hired several well-regarded local architects to design model houses in various architectural styles. Over the following 15 years, Nicola constructed 96 houses on the flat portion of the site, subject to design guidelines and incorporating innovative features like underground electrical and telephone lines. (Another 39 houses were built on the terrace of land rising from the flat section.) This tour will visit the lower, gridded part of Schenley Farms, which, to this day, rewards pedestrians with multiple charms. Refreshments follow at the home of a Schenley Farms resident.

Evolution of the Skyscraper in Downtown

Friday, July 19 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. $20.00 per person This tour is limited…

Evolution of the Skyscraper in Downtown

The tall commercial building is one of the great achievements of American culture, manifesting in physical structures the confluence of aesthetic taste, business objectives, and innovation in engineering and architectural design. In Pittsburgh—a quintessential skyscraper city—the evolution of tall commercial buildings in the United States can be observed simply by walking through Downtown. Our tour will take us to numerous landmarks or groups of structures that illustrate key concepts in the development of the skyscraper.

Neighborhood Walking Tour: Carnegie, PA

Saturday, June 29 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. $20.00 per person This tour is limited…

Neighborhood Walking Tour: Carnegie, PA

Located about seven miles west of Pittsburgh, Carnegie was once a commercial center for surrounding farming villages and coal-mining camp towns. It is now considered a suburb of Pittsburgh, but Main Street remains a vibrant urban corridor of small businesses, many in revitalized historic buildings. Complementing the business district are a number of churches, including a Russian Orthodox church and a Ukrainian Orthodox church that stand side by side and work in harmony, even as their home countries are at war. You will learn about the role of PHLF’s Historic Religious Properties program in safeguarding these churches for future generations and tour the splendid interior of St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In addition to this classic mix of neighborhood architectural types, the tour includes the elegant Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall and Library Park, which connects the Library to Main Street. Join our docents as they lead you through this surprising and delightful community.

Neighborhood Walking Tour: Point Breeze

Saturday, June 15 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. $20.00 per person This tour is limited…

Neighborhood Walking Tour: Point Breeze

Described as “Chateau Country” by PHLF’s co-founder Jamie Van Trump, Point Breeze was once home to Pittsburgh industrialists of great wealth: Andrew Carnegie, H.J. Heinz, George Westinghouse, and Henry Clay Frick, among others. Only Frick’s grand home, “Clayton,” survives, as part of The Frick Pittsburgh, but there is still much to see and explore in this large, residential city neighborhood. The tour will amble among Point Breeze’s lovely streets and include the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (originally the home of Durbin Horne, son of Joseph Horne), Pittsburgh New Church, nearby main street shops, and Engine House No. 16, now home of Fireman Creative.

Allegheny County Courthouse, Jail, & City-County Building

Friday, August 16 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon $20.00 per person This tour is limited…