Pittsburgh Rising: From Frontier Town to Steel City, 1750-1920

Edward K. Muller, professor emeritus of history at the University of Pittsburgh and Rob Ruck, a historian at the University of Pittsburgh present Pittsburgh Rising: From Frontier Town to Steel City 1750-1920. Over 170 years, Pittsburgh grew from a frontier outpost into an industrial powerhouse, shaped by its rivers, resources, and innovation. As glass, iron, and steel industries fueled immense wealth for industrial leaders, immigrants and African American migrants labored in dangerous, poorly paid jobs and lived in crowded neighborhoods. Pittsburgh Rising traces the lives of these workers and reformers, revealing how class, ethnic, religious, and racial divides limited efforts to address inequality—divisions that persist today.This event is part of America250PA programming.