Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 to support the preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, USA
.
PHLF is known nation-wide for its pioneering work in restoring inner-city neighborhoods without dislocating the people who live there. In 1966, PHLF established the Revolving Fund for Preservation with a $100,000 grant from the Sarah Scaife Foundation
. PHLF used the grant to purchase, restore and renovate historic inner-city properties primarily in the North Side and South Side
neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, which were rented or sold to low- and moderate-income families. PHLF's Revolving Fund now provides loans to more than 30 Pittsburgh neighborhood organizations and technical assistance to preservation groups throughout the United States.
and James D. Van Trump did in 1965. As a result of a more comprehensive 1984 PHLF survey, more than 6,000 architecturally and historically significant sites in Allegheny County
have been documented,and nearly 400 bear a PHLF historic landmark plaque.
(which later became the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
), the Union Station
rotunda in downtown Pittsburgh, the Neill Log House
in Schenley Park
, the Burtner Stone House in Harrison Township
, the Rachel Carson Homestead
in Springdale
and the Neville House
in Collier Township.
With the help of a grant from the Allegheny Foundation
in 1976, PHLF adapted five historic Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
buildings in Station Square
for new use and built a hotel, a dock for the Gateway Clipper Fleet
, and parking areas. Station Square is now one of Pittsburgh's premiere attractions. It reflects a $100 million investment from all sources, with the lowest public cost and highest taxpayer return of any major renewal project in the Pittsburgh region since the 1950s.
The foundation's historic plaque program was begun in 1968, and since that time it has awarded over 500 plaques to designate significant historical structures within Allegheny County.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
PHLF is known nation-wide for its pioneering work in restoring inner-city neighborhoods without dislocating the people who live there. In 1966, PHLF established the Revolving Fund for Preservation with a $100,000 grant from the Sarah Scaife Foundation
Sarah Scaife Foundation
The Sarah Scaife Foundation is one of the American Scaife Foundations. It is controlled by Richard Mellon Scaife. The foundation does not award grants to individuals. It concentrates its efforts towards causes focused on public policy at a national and international level...
. PHLF used the grant to purchase, restore and renovate historic inner-city properties primarily in the North Side and South Side
South Side (Pittsburgh)
South Side is an area in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, located along the Monongahela River across from Downtown Pittsburgh. The South Side is officially divided into two neighborhoods, South Side Flats and South Side Slopes. Both the Flats and the Slopes are represented on Pittsburgh City...
neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, which were rented or sold to low- and moderate-income families. PHLF's Revolving Fund now provides loans to more than 30 Pittsburgh neighborhood organizations and technical assistance to preservation groups throughout the United States.
Allegheny County Survey
PHLF was the first historic preservation group in the nation to undertake a countywide survey of architectural landmarks, which Co-Founders Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr.Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr.
Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. is a leading American preservationist, urbanist, writer and activist. He is best known for the creation of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation , a non-profit preservation organization created in response to the destructive urban renewal policies of the 1950s in...
and James D. Van Trump did in 1965. As a result of a more comprehensive 1984 PHLF survey, more than 6,000 architecturally and historically significant sites in Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
have been documented,and nearly 400 bear a PHLF historic landmark plaque.
Campaigns
The trustees, staff and members of PHLF have successfully campaigned to save such landmarks as the North Side Post OfficeAllegheny Post Office
Allegheny Post Office, also known as Old North Post Office, The Landmarks Museum, is a building built in 1897 in the Allegheny City area that is now within Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
(which later became the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is a children's museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Center neighborhood in Pittsburgh's Northside.- History :...
), the Union Station
Union Station (Pittsburgh)
Union Station is a historic train station at Grant Street and Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States.-History:Unlike many union stations built in the U.S...
rotunda in downtown Pittsburgh, the Neill Log House
Neill Log House
The Neill Log House is a historic log cabin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation placed a Historic Landmark Plaque on the building in 1970. In 1977, it was named a City of Pittsburgh Designated Historic Structure. It is part of Schenley Park U.S...
in Schenley Park
Schenley Park
Schenley Park is a large municipal park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between the neighborhoods of Oakland, Greenfield, and Squirrel Hill. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district...
, the Burtner Stone House in Harrison Township
Harrison Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Harrison Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,461 at the 2010 census. Pennsylvania Route 28 passes through Harrison Township connecting Kittanning to the northeast and Pittsburgh to the southwest. Allegheny Technologies has extensive steel...
, the Rachel Carson Homestead
Rachel Carson Homestead
Rachel Carson Homestead, also known as Rachel Carson House, is a National Register of Historic Places site in Springdale, Pennsylvania, United States, 18 miles northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River....
in Springdale
Springdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River. The population was 3,405 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Springdale is located at ....
and the Neville House
Woodville (Heidelberg, Pennsylvania)
Woodville, also known as the Neville House or John Neville House, is a house on Washington Pike south of Heidelberg, Pennsylvania. It is significant for its association with John Neville, a tax collector whose other house was burned in the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. The oldest portion of the house...
in Collier Township.
With the help of a grant from the Allegheny Foundation
Allegheny Foundation
The Allegheny Foundation is a philanthropic organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and part of the Scaife Foundations. Richard Mellon Scaife endowed the foundation and serves as the chairman. It makes grants to historical, educational, political, and environmental organizations, especially...
in 1976, PHLF adapted five historic Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad , also known as the "Little Giant", was formed on May 11, 1875. Company headquarters were located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The line connected Pittsburgh in the east with Youngstown, Ohio at nearby Haselton, Ohio in the west and Connellsville, ...
buildings in Station Square
Station Square
Station Square is a indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex located in the South Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
for new use and built a hotel, a dock for the Gateway Clipper Fleet
Gateway Clipper Fleet
The Gateway Clipper Fleet founded by John E. Connelly is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based fleet of riverboats. The fleet cruises the three rivers of Pittsburgh- the Monongahela, the Allegheny, and the Ohio. The fleet is named after the city of Pittsburgh, which in earlier times was known as the...
, and parking areas. Station Square is now one of Pittsburgh's premiere attractions. It reflects a $100 million investment from all sources, with the lowest public cost and highest taxpayer return of any major renewal project in the Pittsburgh region since the 1950s.
The foundation's historic plaque program was begun in 1968, and since that time it has awarded over 500 plaques to designate significant historical structures within Allegheny County.