On a warm summer evening in 1919, throngs of Pittsburghers packed into saloons for what was billed as the “last call” before the dry law took effect . Strangely, the wild debauch many expected never materialized. “Everybody came to see everybody else get drunk,” the Pittsburgh Post observed the next day, “and nobody got drunk”…
Pittsburgh’s historic prisons are more than stone and steel – they’re storied landmarks where history and legend intertwine. Tales of daring escapes, infamous inmates, and restless spirits have long swirled around the Old Allegheny County Jail and the Western Penitentiary, two formidable institutions that once loomed over the Steel City’s justice system. In this journey…
Pittsburgh’s vibrant Strip District is beloved for its eclectic markets, trendy eateries, and bustling streets. However, beneath its colorful surface lies a fascinating, shadowy past marked by bootlegging, organized crime, and legendary mobsters. This intriguing underworld history dates back to Prohibition (1920–1933), a time when the federal ban on alcohol inadvertently fostered a thriving black…
During the Prohibition era, Pittsburgh transformed into one of America’s most notorious gangster towns. The Steel City’s roaring furnaces weren’t the only things blazing—gunfire from rival gangs battling for control of bootlegging operations echoed through the streets. Pittsburgh’s strategic position, expansive industrial workforce, and dense network of ethnic neighborhoods created a perfect environment for organized…
Explore the incredible life of Andrew Carnegie — the immigrant who built Pittsburgh’s steel empire, became the richest man in America, and gave it all away.
Discover the incredible story of Henry Heinz — the Pittsburgh pioneer who turned ketchup into a global icon and revolutionized food safety, marketing, and American industry.
Explore the life and legacy of August Wilson, the Pulitzer-winning playwright who brought Pittsburgh’s Hill District and the Black American experience to the global stage.
Discover the true story of the Biddle Boys — Pittsburgh’s most notorious outlaws, their daring jailbreak, and the love affair that shocked a city.
Discover the life of George Westinghouse — the brilliant Pittsburgh inventor and industrialist who revolutionized electricity, railroads, and worker rights, but remains history’s forgotten genius.
In the annals of Pittsburgh’s dark and shadowy history, one name strikes a particularly ominous chord: John Bazzano. As the ruthless mafia don who ruled the Steel City’s underworld during the early 20th century, Bazzano orchestrated one of the bloodiest chapters of organized crime in Western Pennsylvania. His reign was defined by backroom deals, brutal…