Sightseeing in Pittsburgh - what to see. Complete travel guide

This is a large port city situated on the bank of the Ohio River. Pittsburg is a major financial and trading center of the USA. The city was founded in the middle of the 18th century - in 1761 a fortification was built on the bank of the river. It was named Fort Pitt and all new houses were built around it. Thanks to richness of natural resources, Pittsburgh quickly acquired the status of a major industrial center. Here were built metallurgical and engineering plants. One of the most significant events happened here in 1957, when the world's first nuclear power plant was opened in Pittsburgh. Hi-tech manufacturing industry steadily replaced metallurgy.

Nowadays in the city are well-developed software development organizations, biomedical equipment production plants, as well as numerous academic and research institutions. Besides this the city is a major university center as here are located the University of Pittsburgh, Duke University, Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Institute of Technology, and several colleges.

As a rule, industrial and educational centers are rarely popular among tourists, but Pittsburgh is a pleasant exception. There are really many attractions and beautiful places here, so tourists keep coming here all year round. Point Park is considered the most beautiful one. This is the ideal place for walking. Nature lovers are also recommended to visit the local botanical garden, which is one of the largest in the country. Pittsburgh is also among the leaders in the number of museums and cultural centers as in this city one can visit Museum of Fine Arts, Carnegie Museum, Museum of Natural History, Planetarium, Science Carnegie Center, Observatory and Museum Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Classical music lovers of should visit Carnegie Concert Hall, where are often organized symphony orchestra performances. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

An unforgettable adventure for visitors to Pittsburgh would be climbing to the top of Mount Washington, which can be reached by cable car. Today on top of the mountain there is a wonderful park, this place is considered one of the most beautiful in the United States. Here there are several excellent observation platforms offering a chic view of the city center. On the top, you can also discover several popular restaurants. Experienced tourists visit this amazing place after sunset to admire the night panorama of the city.

A beautiful old red-brick building currently houses a museum with a long name - Senator John Heinz History Center. This seven-story building features a very interesting collection of exhibits dedicated to the history of Pennsylvania. The museum has many thematic expositions devoted to the life of famous natives of the region, as well as a rich sports exposition. A lot of interactive exhibits make it very popular among tourists with children.

Nature enthusiasts should definitely visit the National Aviary. Its collection includes 600 stuffed birds of different species. A favorable habitat for each species of birds has been recreated in the museum. Here, visitors can see miniature hummingbirds, rare waterfowl, and huge stuffed condors with a wingspan of about 10 ft.

Each district of Pittsburgh has its unique charm. Fans of entertainment and noisy parties are very fond of Strip District. It is quite small, numerous factories and warehouses were located here many years ago. Today, the former industrial buildings house restaurants, shops, and nightclubs. Interesting entertainment can be found here at any time of the day.

The Pittsburgh Zoo currently containing about 4,000 animals is one of the largest and most interesting the United States. It has long been converted into a multifunctional entertainment center: the famous zoo has beautiful recreation areas, playgrounds, and children's rides, there are numerous cafes and souvenir shops. Another attractive feature of the zoo is its large aquarium.