When news reached Pittsburgh in the old days where did one hear about it first?  The answer is Market Square.  This was the original civic space.  A market building sat in the center where foods and other goods were for sale.  The local paper and court house were right on the square.  When America declared its independence 250 years ago it was probably in the square that locals first heard of it – about a week after it happened.  Today Market Square is a food court and it is where we end our tours so you can have lunch!

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Happy Independence Day!  As we know at Free Tours, Independence was actually voted for on the 2nd of July.  Yet the Declaration of Independence was printed with the date of the 4th and so we will celebrate with everyone else!  Happy 4th from all of us at Free Tours or Pittsburgh!

 

As we celebrate our 250th anniversary, Pittsburgh must come to terms with the fact that it takes its name from William Pitt, First Earl of Chatham and Prime Minister of Great Britain.   Yet it’s good to know that the Honorable Mr. Pitt was held in very high regard by the colonists for his proposed ‘Provisional Act’ that would have given the colonies most of what they asked for.

 

In 1776 there was no internet.  There was also no phone or radio.  When did the people at Pittsburgh learn about the Declaration of Independence?  Certainly not on the 4th of July.  It is about 300 miles from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.  A rider could make 40 to 60 miles a day probably following the Forbes road.  Therefore, it’s likely that word would have reached Pittsburgh somewhere between July 10th and 14th.  For about a week Philadelphia had seceded but Pittsburgh was in the dark.