Trip #244 Lombard Street, Crawford Roberts, Pittsburgh took place on January 12, 2019, and was published on February 4, 2019.
The words “give up” are painted on the wall. It’s an old wall, soiled from years of pollution but solid. Constructed like the stairs, from long, individual slabs of stone. The words are in sky blue spray paint, and the letters dance and jostle for space with playful flourishes. Who or what this message is for is unclear. But we know for sure it’s not directed toward the stairs. These stairs are not the kind to give up. No cracks or fissures here, only the time-worn grooves in the center of each step. These stairs were built to outlive their builders and anyone else who might remember those long ago times.
Field Notes: Lombard Street is another flight done is the style of #240 – giant slabs of stones and the rails are thick and heavy. In some places, all the layers of paint are worn through and you can see the iron underneath it all.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
