Saturday, May 11, 2019
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Explore the Schenley Farms National-Register Historic District in Oakland with docents from PHLF. Hear how real estate developer Franklin Nicola (1860-1938) realized his dream of creating an example of the “City Beautiful” ideal. Where cows grazed peacefully on a steep Oakland hillside, Nicola saw grand boulevards and elegant homes, hotels, and clubs. We’ll walk along the quiet residential streets of Schenley Farms, where Nicola’s company developed a high-quality residential community with the latest modern conveniences. And we’ll see what happened when Nicola encouraged some of the most notable regional and national architects of the early twentieth century to design some of Pittsburgh’s grandest buildings. Participants will take a brief look inside Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum and William Pitt Union (originally, the Hotel Schenley). This tour will reveal the power of historic preservation, since many historic buildings have been sensitively repurposed for new uses.
Paid reservations by Tuesday, May 7, 2019.
Fee: members $10; non-members $20
Registration is limited to 30 people and advance paid reservations are required: marylu@phlf.org or 412-471-5808, ext. 527. Docents will lead groups of about 10 to 15 people.
Meeting location: Entrance plaza of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, 4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Ending location: William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (across Fifth Avenue from Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum)
Please note: Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour time. Portions of this walk involve steps and going uphill on streets with steep grades. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. There are no restroom breaks during this tour and refreshments are not provided. Before the tour begins, each participant will be asked to sign his/her name on a form indicating that he/she is “fully able to participate in this PHLF tour and assumes all risk of participation.” This tour is handicap accessible, although we appreciate knowing your needs 48 hours in advance. Please contact Mary Lu Denny: 412-471-5808, ext. 536; marylu@phlf.org
Parking: Public parking is available at the Soldiers & Sailors Parking Garage. Limited on-street parking is available in the area.
Port Authority bus lines stop near the meeting and ending points. Call PAT for fares and schedules: 412-442-2000.