Allegheny Commons is a
municipal park 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 by ...
, in 1907.
History
The park was once free grazing land which surrounded the first 32 blocks of
Allegheny City 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 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, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only independent indoor nonprofit aviary in the United States. It is also the country's largest indoor aviary, and the only one accorded honorary "Nationa ...
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 operated in the present day park. It was demolished in 1880. In 1882 a
new prison bearing its name was completed a few blocks west, along the
Ohio River
The Ohio River () is a river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing in a southwesterly direction from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to its river mouth, mouth on the Mississippi Riv ...
.
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
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
''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. It recounts the ...
''.
The site is famous for housing 118
Confederate soldiers after their capture in
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid (also the Calico Raid or Great Raid of 1863) was a diversionary incursion by Confederate States Army, Confederate cavalry into the Union (American Civil War), Union states of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia during the A ...
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 located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
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 neighb ...
Notes
References
{{Pittsburgh parks
Parks in Pittsburgh
Urban public parks
1867 establishments in Pennsylvania
Protected areas established in 1867