Page 10 - The Golf Guide, Fall 2016

Golf Destination

Pittsburgh, PA ~ Home of the Black and Gold

Wes Bolyard

The city of Pittsburgh has a long and
interesting history. Few people associate
the Lewis and Clark expedition with
Pittsburgh where Meriwether Lewis
actually started this long journey at
the Ohio River where the Allegheny
and the Monongahela rivers merge.
After having a keelboat built, he started
down the Ohio River (all 981 miles of
it) on August 31, 1803, and was joined
by William Clark in mid-October at
Louisville, Kentucky. They continued the journey to the Mississippi River, and then
floated north to the Missouri River and points west. Where the Allegheny and the
Monongahela come together was a very strategic location during the middle 1700s
where two forts were built to defend the area: Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt. This
location was called the Golden Triangle and now serves as Pittsburgh’s central
business district, and the popular Point State Park is located there.
Pittsburgh comprises several distinct areas: Mount Washington, Shadyside, The
Strip District (not really what you are thinking) and many others. In the early 19th
century, the Strip District was home to many mills and factories. With the demise of
the steel industry, the area has been reclaimed and developed into a historic market
district with many ethnic food purveyors, art studios, antique dealers, unique
boutiques, and other businesses. Because of the city’s location with the two rivers
dissecting it and the proximity of the foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, Pittsburgh
has a hilly terrain. This has caused the city to build 445 bridges to help traffic flow
better.
Speaking of hills, the Duquesne Incline allows
you to take a step back in time on a century old
cable car and see the best views of downtown
Pittsburgh while riding one of the few
remaining inclines in the country. It opened
on May 20, 1877, and remains a very integral
part of the transportation system, climbing 400
feet to the Mt. Washington area. Seniors 65
and older ride free! And after you have ridden
the incline to the top, you wonʼt find a better
chance to visit the Monterey Bay Fish Grotto.
You also will not get better panoramas of the
city and the joining of the rivers, plus enjoy
outstanding food.
Pittsburgh has more than 300 downtown
restaurants, a great variety of hotel

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