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1956 Map of Pittsburgh West

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Pittsburgh West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Industrial corridors and residential expansion define this mid-century landscape where the Ohio River begins at the confluence of the Allegheny River and Monongahela River. The map captures a critical period of infrastructure growth, showing the newly established Point State Park and the network of bridges—including the Fort Pitt Bridge and Fort Duquesne Bridge—that connect the Golden Triangle to the western boroughs. Heavy rail traffic is evident along the riverbanks, with extensive tracks for the Pennsylvania RR and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie RR serving the industrial heart of McKees Rocks and Esplen.

Away from the riverfronts, the terrain rises into the steep hills of Mt Washington and Green Tree, where suburban developments like Dormont and Mount Lebanon Township are shown in detail. Notable institutional landmarks such as the Western State Penitentiary, Allegheny Observatory, and Woodville State Hospital are clearly marked, alongside numerous neighborhood anchors like Mellon Jr High Sch and local burial grounds including Chartiers Cem.