Market Square, Pittsburgh
Encyclopedia
Pittsburgh's Market Square is located in Downtown Pittsburgh at the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Market Street. It has traditionally been the heart of the city and is currently undergoing a revival with several new apartments and retail spaces planned.
The Square was created in 1764 when John Campbell mapped out the city plan. It was home to the first courthouse, the first jail and the first newspaper west of the Atlantic Plain
, the Pittsburgh Gazette, which was established in 1786. It also was the site of the original city hall for the borough and then city of Pittsburgh until May 22, 1872 when the second city hall opened at Oliver and Smithfield.
On May 26, 1858 the city hall/courthouse was the host of the conference of Presbyterians that led to the merger forming the United Presbyterian Church of North America
.
Renovation work began in August 2009 to transform the square into a European-style piazza; it officially reopened in November 2010. All vehicle traffic was diverted around the square to increase pedestrian-friendliness, and more outdoor seating was provided. Nearby, new apartments, condominiums and office space with ground-level retail have been fitted into historic buildings.
The Square was created in 1764 when John Campbell mapped out the city plan. It was home to the first courthouse, the first jail and the first newspaper west of the Atlantic Plain
Atlantic Plain
The Atlantic Plain is one of eight distinct United States physiographic regions. This major division consists of the Continental Shelf and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces. It is the flattest of the U.S. physiographic divisions and stretches over in length from Cape Cod to the Mexican border...
, the Pittsburgh Gazette, which was established in 1786. It also was the site of the original city hall for the borough and then city of Pittsburgh until May 22, 1872 when the second city hall opened at Oliver and Smithfield.
On May 26, 1858 the city hall/courthouse was the host of the conference of Presbyterians that led to the merger forming the United Presbyterian Church of North America
United Presbyterian Church of North America
The United Presbyterian Church of North America was an American Presbyterian denomination that existed for exactly one hundred years. It was formed on May 26, 1858 by the union of the Northern branch of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with the Associate Presbyterian Church at a...
.
Renovation work began in August 2009 to transform the square into a European-style piazza; it officially reopened in November 2010. All vehicle traffic was diverted around the square to increase pedestrian-friendliness, and more outdoor seating was provided. Nearby, new apartments, condominiums and office space with ground-level retail have been fitted into historic buildings.