Trip #527 Cushman Street, Mount Washington, Pittsburgh took place on November 26, 2020, and was published on December 16, 2020.
Archaeology isn’t just about digging in the desert sands looking for ancient civilizations; it’s also about understanding and making sense of a more recent past that is quickly slipping through the hourglass. While professional archaeologists explore our shared history, each of us has the power to dig into our personal accounts. We can uncover people, places, and events that have shaped our lives. Even if we choose to avoid our “Le Brea Tarpits” of painful memories, there are still plenty of other areas to explore: your DNA and distant ancestors, where your relatives lived when they first came to the US, the far-removed cousins you know nothing about, or the places your family called home over the decades. Once you start sifting through the information, you might be surprised to discover how these bygone connections influence you today.
Field Notes: This somewhat rickety wooden flight leads up to a house that used to be an orphan house but now appears to have access via an adjacent street. The city steps led to a walkway that is now all overgrown and appears more “private property” than a public accessway.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
