The Donora Smog of 1948: Five Days When a Mill Town Couldn’t Breathe
In October 1948 a smog settled over Donora, Pennsylvania. Twenty people died and thousands fell ill. Here is what happened, what the federal inquiry found, and what is still argued.
Vandergrift, Pennsylvania: The Steel Town Olmsted’s Firm Planned for Its Workers
Vandergrift, Pennsylvania was planned by the Olmsted firm for Apollo Iron and Steel in 1895. Here is how the town was designed, who it left out, and the debate over why.
Pittsburgh Ghost Stories and Legends: What Is Fact, What Is Folklore
Ten Pittsburgh-area legends and ghost stories, each labeled fact, legend or disputed, with a short version and a link to the full story.
The Darr Mine Disaster of 1907: Pennsylvania’s Deadliest Coal Mine Explosion
The Darr Mine disaster of December 19, 1907 killed 239 men and boys near Van Meter. Here is what caused it, how many died, what the reports said, and what remains.
Is the Carnegie Library of Homestead Haunted? The Legend Against the Record
Ghost Hunters called the Carnegie Library of Homestead “built on bloodshed.” Here is what the record says about the 1892 strike, the hill, a reported 1899 pool death and how the ghost tours began.
The Underground Railroad in Pittsburgh: Documented Sites, Real Cases and Myths
Pittsburgh’s Underground Railroad was built by its Black community. Here are the 1850 exodus, three fugitive slave trials, the confirmed sites, and why the tunnel stories remain unproven.