PHOTOS: Construction of Point State Park

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Construction of Point State Park On May 18, 1950, a demolition ceremony was held at the future location of Point State Park to kickoff the beginning of the Renaissance program aimed at reviving the City of Pittsburgh. During the mid-1940s the Point was in an extreme state of deterioration. The area included freight yards, a terminal, largely unused railroad tracks, riverbanks littered with debris, and the grand Exhibition Hall that had held its last show in 1918. The Allegheny Conference on Community Development brokered pollution-control program in the 1940s explicitly influenced the decision of the Equitable Life Assurance Society to invest in planning the Gateway Center project, which led to the development of Point State Park. The park was completed in 1974. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park Caption on the back of the photograph reads, “River Wall and Wharf on left bank of Allegheny River under construction. Next contract to call for construction of Step Wall.” Today, visitors can walk along paved promenades on the riverfront and to overlooks for dramatic views of Pittsburgh, its busy waterways, scenic hillsides, and many bridges. A stepped wall (pictured under construction) or stone bleacher along the Allegheny River section of Point State Park provides seating for outdoor events. The fountain at the headwaters of the Ohio River was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on August 30, 1974, marking the completion of the 36-acre Point State Park, which was 29 years in planning and construction. Point State Park is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks. The park is managed and maintained by the City of Pittsburgh under a reimbursable arrangement. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park Caption on the back of the photograph reads, “River Wall and Wharf on left bank of Allegheny River under construction. Next contract to call for construction of Step Wall.” Today, visitors can walk along paved promenades on the riverfront and to overlooks for dramatic views of Pittsburgh, its busy waterways, scenic hillsides, and many bridges. A stepped wall (pictured under construction) or stone bleacher along the Allegheny River section of Point State Park provides seating for outdoor events. The fountain at the headwaters of the Ohio River was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on August 30, 1974, marking the completion of the 36-acre Point State Park, which was 29 years in planning and construction. Point State Park is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks. The park is managed and maintained by the City of Pittsburgh under a reimbursable arrangement. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park Point State Park in its early stages of development. In the right center of the photograph, surrounded by trees, is the Fort Pitt Blockhouse. The Blockhouse was built in 1764 by Colonel Henry Bouquet and is Pittsburgh’s oldest structure. The small building to the right of the trees is the Caretaker’s House, which was maintained by the Daughters of the American Revolution and demolished in 1966 to make way for the development of a museum devoted to early Pittsburgh history and the story of Fort Pitt. In the foreground spanning the Monongahela River is the Point Bridge and in the far left center is the Manchester Bridge spanning the Allegheny River. Both bridges were demolished in 1970. Point State Park was completed in 1974. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park By the late 1960s Point State Park was in the final stages of development. The outline of the original Fort Pitt can be seen at the center of the park. Above it, just below the highway development and near the evergreen trees is the original Fort Pitt Blockhouse. Top left, just visible, are the Gateway Towers and Hilton Hotel. In the foreground are the Manchester Bridge (left) spanning the Allegheny River and the Point Bridge (right) spanning the Monongahela River. Both bridges were demolished in 1970. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park By the late 1960s Point State Park was in the final stages of development. The outline of the original Fort Pitt can be seen at the center of the park. Above it, just below the highway development and near the evergreen trees is the original Fort Pitt Blockhouse. Top left, just visible, are the Gateway Towers and Hilton Hotel. In the foreground are the Manchester Bridge (left) spanning the Allegheny River and the Point Bridge (right) spanning the Monongahela River. Both bridges were demolished in 1970. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park An aerial view of the Point and the Point Bridge (being dismantled) spanning the Monongahela River. On the left is the Manchester Bridge spanning the Allegheny River, which was demolished in 1970. At the center of Point State Park is the outline for the original Fort Pitt and located directly above it is a small cluster of trees obscuring the Fort Pitt Blockhouse. The Fort Pitt Bridge (far right) opened on June 19, 1959. The Fort Duquesne Bridge (upper left), or known locally as “The Bridge to Nowhere,” went nowhere because of difficulties in locating a suitable site to place its northern ramps. The main span of this bridge was finished in 1963, and it wasn’t until 1969 when it was finally opened to traffic. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park An aerial view of the Point and the Point Bridge (being dismantled) spanning the Monongahela River. On the left is the Manchester Bridge spanning the Allegheny River, which was demolished in 1970. At the center of Point State Park is the outline for the original Fort Pitt and located directly above it is a small cluster of trees obscuring the Fort Pitt Blockhouse. The Fort Pitt Bridge (far right) opened on June 19, 1959. The Fort Duquesne Bridge (upper left), or known locally as “The Bridge to Nowhere,” went nowhere because of difficulties in locating a suitable site to place its northern ramps. The main span of this bridge was finished in 1963, and it wasn’t until 1969 when it was finally opened to traffic. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park The Point State Park Bridge, also known as the Portal Bridge, was designed by the Pittsburgh architects Stotz, Hess and McLachlan. Construction on the bridge began in 1961 and was completed in 1963. The general contractor for this project was the Joseph J. Graciano Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The reinforced concrete bridge is located between the Fort Pitt Bridge and Fort Duquesne Bridge, and spans 182 feet and services Interstate 279. There is also a pedestrian access to Point State Park and a pedestrian arch bridge over a reflecting pool located below the bridge. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

Construction of Point State Park The Allegheny Conference on Community Development brokered pollution-control program in the 1940s explicitly influenced the decision of the Equitable Life Assurance Society to invest in planning the Gateway Center project, which led to the development of Point State Park. The park was completed in 1974 and today, the fifty-nine acre Point, bounded by Stanwix Street and the Allegheny and Monongahela riverbanks, includes twelve office and residential towers, four bridges over land and water, and one of the world’s tallest fountains. (Allegheny Conference on Community Development Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center)

August 26, 2020 at 10:34 am EDT

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