Trip #97 Elgin Street, Highland Park, Pittsburgh took place on February 3, 2018, and was published on February 19, 2018.
Let this sink in for a moment: Pittsburgh has more public steps than any other city in the United States. Pretty cool, huh? No two stairways are alike, and everyone I visit is a new adventure – like this small, hidden flight right next to Highland Park. The Alexander King Estate, which is at the end of the street behind me is from the 1880s, a time when the city had only a handful of stairways and the city park still farmland. But as I look around, I see other homes, built in popular styles from the 1920s through the 1960s, the decades that brought about so much change, so many people, and a record-setting number of stairways. I sit here and imagine the people from all these different eras, passing by the windows of this stately mansion on their way to enjoy the beauty of Highland Park. I picture their clothing and hairstyles, what they might have talked about, walking dogs, holding hands, letting the young kids run ahead.
Field Notes: The Elgin Street flight connects two dead-end streets right near Highland Park. There is a big Victorian mansion on one side and the other side has a variety of nice houses that represent different eras (kind of like land got divided and then subdivided into more buildable lots as time progressed).
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!!
