Allegheny Commons is a
municipal park
An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a municipal park (North America) or a public park, public open space, or municipal gardens ( UK), is a park in cities and other incorporated places that offer recreation and green space to res ...
located in
Pittsburgh's North Side. The park surrounds the neighborhood of
Allegheny Center. Dating to 1867, it is the oldest park in the city of Pittsburgh.
[Note, however, that it did not become part of Pittsburgh until the annexation of ]Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Allegheny City was a municipality that existed in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1788 until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. It was located north across the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh, with its southwest border formed ...
, in 1907.
History
The park was once free grazing land whic
surrounded the first 32 blocksof
Allegheny City
Allegheny City was a municipality that existed in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1788 until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. It was located north across the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh, with its southwest border formed by ...
in John Redick's 1784 town plan. It was re-made into a municipal park in the 1860s by landscape architects hired by
Allegheny City
Allegheny City was a municipality that existed in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1788 until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907. It was located north across the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh, with its southwest border formed by ...
.
Allegheny Commons Park has three main parts, all of which are in the
Allegheny Center neighborhood: Allegheny Commons Park West Park, Allegheny Commons Park North Park, and Allegheny Commons Park East Park. The West Park portion is the largest of the three, and it has housed the
National Aviary
The National Aviary, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only independent indoor nonprofit aviary in the United States. It is also the country's largest aviary, and the only one accorded honorary "National" status by the United States Con ...
since 1952.
A non-profit organization, The Allegheny Commons Initiative maintains the park acting as a liaison
between it and the city through advocacy, fundraising, and project management.
Western Penitentiary
From 1826 to 1880, the first prison west of the
Atlantic Plain
The Atlantic Plain is one of eight distinct United States physiographic regions. The Atlantic Coast of the United States comprises the coastal states of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Caro ...
operated in the present day park. It was demolished in 1880. In 1882 a
new prison
The New Prison was a prison located in the Clerkenwell area of central London between c.1617 and 1877. The New Prison was used to house prisoners committed for examination before the police magistrates, for trial at the sessions, for want of bai ...
bearing its name was completed a few blocks west, along the
Ohio River.
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
visited the city from March 20–22, 1842, during his American tour. He visited the prison and some scholars believe conditions at the facility inspired elements of the classic ''
A Christmas Carol''.
The site is famous for housing 118
Confederate soldiers after their capture in
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was a diversionary incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Union states of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11 to July 26, 1863, and is named for the comman ...
a dozen miles to the west. It held them from August 5, 1863, until they were transferred to a military fort in
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
on March 18, 1864. Although conditions were good for the time, at least eight Confederates died during the winter, one while attempting escape.
Gallery
File:Gus_Kalaris.jpg, Gus Kalaris, owner of Gus and Yiayia's.
File:Gus and Yiayia's Ice Ball Stand.jpg, Gus and Yiayia's is a historic shaved ice stand in Pittsburgh's Allegheny Commons Park.
See also
*
List of Pittsburgh neighborhoods
This is a list of 90 neighborhoods in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Generally neighborhood development followed ward boundaries, although the City Planning Commission has defined some neighborhood areas. The map of neighbo ...
Notes
References
{{Pittsburgh parks
Parks in Pittsburgh
Urban public parks
1867 establishments in Pennsylvania
Protected areas established in 1867