Black History and Historic Sites

Take a journey through more than 200 years of the Black experience in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

One hundred sites of local, regional and national significance are represented in this first-ever tour guide of Black history in the region.

The goal of this guide of Black historic sites in the region is to inform the public about the extensive history and also to draw attention to the need for preservation and reuse of many of the sites featured.

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Historic Sites in Pittsburgh

African American Historic Sites in and around Pittsburgh

Visitors to Pittsburgh, long-time natives and students are encouraged to use the guide above as a starting point to explore the rich depth and breadth of black history—from the Underground Railroad to the jazz era. This list is not designed to be exhaustive but to represent a cross section of sites with major significance to the development of the Pittsburgh region’s Black community.

The full list of sites is available on the Post-Gazette website (subscription required to access).

This project, compiled by the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh, was supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

How the sites were determined

Sites for this tour guide were determined based on whether the site fit into at least one of 10 historical themes and met at least one of five criteria, listed below.

Historical Themes

Patterns of Settlement and Housing
Sports and Recreation, including Social Clubs
Arts and Entertainment
Places of Work/Businesses
Famous People
Religious Properties
Underground Railroad
Education & Politics
Civil Rights
Military

Criteria for Tour Guide Listing

National or Statewide Significance: The site is listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and/or has a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) marker.
Local Significance: The site is a locally-designated landmark, has a plaque or is of particular interest to southwestern Pennsylvania's history.
Visitability: The site is interesting enough that someone would travel to see it.
Condition: The site is still standing, it's part of a historic district or the site is of particular archaeological interest.
Thematic Relevance: The site is representative of a larger historical theme in the region, state or nation.