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| The Fort Pitt Block House in Point State Park. It was built in 1764, making it the oldest building in Pittsburgh |
We've packed it up and left Pittsburgh behind. It was an exceptionally nice visit and we're already looking forward to coming back. Before heading out we were able to enjoy a nice spring morning roaming around the downtown and riverfront one final time. The pleasant weather of the last few days, plus a little rain yesterday afternoon, continues to bring blooms and leaves out on flowers and trees everywhere.
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| Downtown is blooming! |
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| Locks left on the Fort Duquesne Bridge |
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| No caption needed! |
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| This wagon was known as the "Heinz Hitch". Like the Budweiser Clydesdales it toured parades and fairs for many years. It's now on display in the Heinz History Center. |
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| Pitt was having their spring game today. I wasn't interested in the football, but it was fun to get to walk around inside the stadium that they share with the Steelers. |
On Saturday mornings the Strip District comes to life early with many of the shops, as well as other vendors, setting up outside to create an open air market that is about 10 blocks long. Afterwards we enjoyed a slow stroll down to Point State Park, which was full of residents and visitors enjoying the great outdoors in this fine city.
We enjoyed lunch at Condado Tacos, a "build your own" taco restaurant across the street from the hotel. The tacos were good but the parade we enjoyed from our outdoor table was even better. There are around 10,000 people attending the Tekko Convention that I mentioned in the previous blog. Many of them were passing by as they headed to local restaurants and back to the convention center. The costumes were everything you could imagine. I understand there is a costume contest later today. I have absolutely no idea how they'll pick a winner!
I'll close out the Pittsburgh blogs with a few fun facts:
During World War II Pittsburgh produced 95 million tons of steel towards the war effort.
Bob Marley played the last concert he ever played in Pittsburgh on September 30, 1980.
Pittsburgh hosted the first night time World Series game in 1971.
The pull tab used on soft drink and beer cans was invented in Pittsburgh and first used on Iron City Beer.
The worlds first movie theater was opened in Pittsburgh in 1905.
The polio vaccine was invented by Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh in 1954.
The first BINGO game was held in Pittsburgh in 1920.
Fred Rogers, Charles Bronson, Christina Aguilera, Perry Como, Gene Kelly, Shirley Jones, Dean Martin, Mike Ditka, Pete Maravich, Mark Cuban, Bill Mazeroski and Stan Musial are all Pittsburgh natives.
