When it comes to Christmas displays in Pittsburgh, we're used to over the top and extravagant. It is just what we do during the holidays in southwestern Pennsylvania.
We visited Overly's Country Christmas in Greensburg with a great deal of excitement because of this, and ended up being a bit underwhelmed!
Throughout its history, Pittsburgh has been known for a lot of things. The city was host to George Washington on multiple occasions, the departure point of Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition, home to America's early glass industry, and the world's leading supplier of iron and steel- and that is before even getting to the 20th century.
Although these are all incredible in their own right, it is the steel industry in Pittsburgh that made the city famous the world over.
In its prime, Pittsburgh was producing thousands of tons of steel per day- more than half of the entire output of all factories in the United States combined- and boasted a staggering number of mills located along the city's rivers. But by the 1980s this all changed- the steel industry went bust, nearly all of the factories were shut down, and Pittsburgh went through one of the largest depressions from which it only recently emerged.
Since then, most of the factories have been demolished and replaced with new industries. But a small portion of one massive factory, the iron-producing Carrie Furnaces, was rescued by the Rivers of Steel Heritage Foundation and turned into a historical site for future generations to come and learn about how the Steel City got its name.
At one point in time Pittsburgh was home to nearly twenty active funiculars, or inclines as they are called here, which were used to transport people and cargo up and down the many different hills located around the city.
Sadly, most of the Pittsburgh incline funiculars have closed over time, the city is now home to only two: the Monongahela Incline, located at Station Square, and the Duquesne Incline, located a mile down Carson Street.
Although we thoroughly enjoy riding both of these funiculars, for those who are interested in enjoying the best view the city has to offer, taking a ride on the Duquesne Incline is a must do experience.
Unlike other attractions in the city, you'll have no problem spotting Randyland from a distance.
This outdoor art studio, if you can call it that, is quite possibly the most colorful spot in all of Pittsburgh– and that is only the first impression from looking at it on the outside.
Once you enter, a world of incredible art and whimsy is yours to explore.