Trip #611 Vineland Street, Overbrook, Pittsburgh took place on July 4, 2021, and was published on July 16, 2021.
There’s a vital difference between a ruin and a relic. A ruin can be anything, anywhere, that’s in a state of decay or disuse. Our lives are surrounded by ruins (and if you don’t believe me, take a peek into your basement, closet, or garage). A relic, on the other hand, is something from another time or place we infuse with historical or emotional connection. Despite their fragility and impermanence, we strive to preserve or honor relics as best we can – think of Troy Hill’s collection of holy remains in St. Anthony’s chapel or the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Ruins and relics are a bit like trash and treasure. Each of us gets to determine the category, and when we choose the latter, we choose the role of guardian, educator, and preservationist.
Field Notes: The Vineland Street city steps are now covered in vines! 🙂 This short wooden flight looks pretty rickety but the houses around it are nicely landscaped and there is even a planter near the entrance that makes it look a little nicer.
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.
