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Settled in the 1700's, Pittsburgh was
America's first 'Gateway to the West.' Due to its
strategic location - where the Monongahela and Allegheny
Rivers meet to form the Ohio - and abundant natural
resources, Pittsburgh pioneered early industrialization
in a number of fields, including coal, glass, iron,
steel, manufacturing and shipping, which helped to forge
the United States into the prosperous nation it is
today. Pittsburgh has built upon its industrial heritage
to become an internationally recognized leader in such
fields as medicine, business and technology. The city
not only has a successful track record in attracting and
retaining corporations, but is also a home for emerging
technologies. Pittsburgh consistently ranks high in
surveys of liveable American cities. Safe, attractive
and affordable, Pittsburgh is known for the high quality
of lifestyle it affords to residents. Located in Western
Pennsylvania, the city is within driving distance of a
number of other major American attractions, including
New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.,
Baltimore, Chicago, and Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.
The city is also only a short drive from some of
America's most beautiful countryside, with traditional
farms and small towns.
Industry and
Commerce
What began as an industrial region characterized by
coal, steel and manufacturing has changed with the times
to develop into one of America's business and technology
leaders. The city's entrepreneurial tradition remains
strong - in addition to a strong financial community led
by such banks as Mellon, PNC and National City,
Pittsburgh remains one of the nation's top corporate
headquarters. Corporations include those traditionally
associated with Pittsburgh's past, such as Alcoa, H.J.
Heinz, and USX as well as multi-national ones such as
Bayer and Sony Technology. One of America's top twenty
markets, Pittsburgh was the site of several notable
media firsts. KDKA, the first licensed commercial radio
station, went on the air in 1920 and WQED, the nation's
first public television station, signed on in 1953.
Education
Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania have a strong
tradition of higher education, as witnessed by the
100,000 students enrolled in thirty area colleges and
universities. As a result, the area has developed an
international reputation as an educational center that
continues to grow, most notably in the areas of
business, medicine, engineering and information
technology. In addition to such leading research
institutions as Carnegie Mellon University and the
University of Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania is the
home of a number of outstanding liberal arts colleges,
many of which are recognized for providing career
education within the liberal arts. Awarding both
undergraduate and graduate degrees, and with the city of
Pittsburgh on the front door, students are just steps
away from countless internship opportunities in
journalism, government, information technology,
business, performing arts and other fields.
Entertainment
and Leisure
 When
it comes to entertainment and leisure, Pittsburgh has
something for everyone. Professional companies include
the world renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,
Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet, the Civic Light
Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theatre and the City Theater
Company, in addition to touring national companies of
Broadway and off-Broadway productions. The Pittsburgh
Playhouse at Point Park College is a landmark,
presenting more than 15 productions a year in dance and
theatre. The Playhouse, which showcases the students of
Point Park College's Conservatory of the Performing
Arts, is the home of the Playhouse Conservatory and the
Playhouse Dance Company (both student-run), the
Pittsburgh Playhouse Repertory Company, and Playhouse
Jr., the children's theatre which has been entertaining
young people for more than 50 years.
The variety of outdoor activities which
are available throughout Pittsburgh and Western
Pennsylvania includes boating, whitewater rafting,
woodland biking, hiking, golf, tennis and skiing, to
name but a few. A bike trail fashioned along old
railroad lines connecting Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.
has been developed through the 'Rails To Trails' program
by community leaders and local, state, and federal
governments. Festivals are an integral part of city
life. Two of the largest are the annual Three Rivers
Arts Festival, a 40-year-old celebration of the arts in
downtown Pittsburgh that attracts over 600,000 people,
and the Three Rivers Regatta, which draws more than
1,000,000 people to Pittsburgh's Point area for a
variety of river activities. Pittsburgh is also the home
of a number of notable museums and attractions,
including the Carnegie Museums, which include the Andy
Warhol Museum; the Pittsburgh Zoo, and the Senator John
Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center. Professional
sports are a major part of the entertainment scene.
Pittsburgh boasts two of the oldest professional teams
in baseball (Pirates) and football (Steelers), both of
whom have long traditions of winning, and have earned
World Series and Super Bowl championships. The
Pittsburgh Penguins, the city's National Hockey League
team, has won several Stanley Cups.
Ethnic and
Religious Heritage
Pittsburgh has been a culturally diverse city since its
origin in the 1700's. Its earliest settlers were French,
English, and Scottish, and the population grew over the
next two centuries to include more than 25 ethnic
groups. With more than five dozen distinct
neighborhoods, Pittsburgh has been called the biggest
small town in America. Each year, communities hold a
variety of ethnic festivals celebrating these different
cultures and their many contributions to Western
Pennsylvania. The celebrations range from parish food
festivals to the nationally-recognized Pittsburgh Folk
Festival.
Pittsburgh also has a strong religious
heritage. Its earliest settlers were mostly Protestant,
followed by the Catholic and Jewish faiths of the
southern and eastern European immigrants who flocked to
Western Pennsylvania in the late 1800's. The area's
continuing growth as a medical, educational and research
center brings new residents and their ethnic and
religious heritages to the area. As a result, symbols of
faith, which include churches, synagogues, Hindu
temples, and a Moslem mosque abound as important parts
of the landscape. Pittsburgh is a unique city with a
proud past and an exciting future. Something special can
be felt and experienced by visitors who come to
Pittsburgh, a city with the energy of tomorrow.
Pittsburgh, An
International City
Nine of the Fortune 500 companies are headquartered
in Pittsburgh. From USX, Alcoa and H.J. Heinz to PPG
Industries and Mellon Bank Corporation, Pittsburgh has a
vast array of business opportunities for Point Park
College students. Moreover, a number of international
corporations from Asia, Europe and Latin America can be
found in the Pittsburgh area.
Located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park
College students have a geographic advantage over other
colleges. Students have the opportunity to live and work
in a major metropolitan area as well as interact with
Pittsburgh business executives. Colleges such as Point
Park College believe in hands-on learning. Often local
businesses and organizations hold weekly, monthly and
annual meetings at the college giving students the
opportunity to meet potential employers.
With such developments as Plan B, Pittsburgh is on the
verge of another renaissance. Plan B is the name given
to the Regional Destination Financing Plan. The goals of
this initiative are to raise funds to develop two new
athletic stadiums in the City of Pittsburgh, one for the
Pittsburgh Steelers and the other for the Pittsburgh
Pirates.
Additionally, Plan B has developed an outline for a new
convention center that will triple the number of
visitors, events, professional seminars and conventions.
Recently, ground-breaking ceremonies took place to begin
construction on the new baseball-only stadium for the
Pittsburgh Pirates. Furthermore, demolition has begun in
the site for the new football stadium.
Pittsburgh also has a thriving cultural district that
gives Pittsburgh residents and visitors the opportunity
to spend an evening with the symphony or enjoy the
afternoon at the theatre before dining at one of
Pittsburgh's numerous restaurants. All year round the
city offers weekend events. However, the summertime
thrives with events, which showcase the city and its
vitality.
The Three Rivers Regatta for example is a weekend at
Point State Park that allows event-goers to participate
in activities on Pittsburgh's three rivers. When the
Regatta is not in session many simply spend a day at
"the Point" relaxing in the sun and escape in the view
of the city skyline and the Mount Washington Inclines
while cooling-off in the mist from the Point State Park
fountain. |
