Mapping Pittsburgh's Past

Comparing maps from different eras of Pittsburgh's history tells us a lot about when, how, and why the different neighborhoods grew as they did.

Continue your investigation by comparing the maps you've been studying with maps from other eras of Pittsburgh's past.

Part II. Compare the Maps

Arrange the maps

• Line up the historic maps of Pittsburgh side-by-side in chronological order.

• What are the most obvious changes you see from one map to the next?

Compare your list of clues for each map

• What has changed about topographical features between the maps?

• What has stayed the same?

• What has changed about surveyor and street patterns between the maps?

• What has stayed the same?

• What has changed about settlement patterns between the maps?

• What has stayed the same?

• What has changed about transportation systems between the maps?

• What has stayed the same?

• What has changed about economic features between the maps?

• What has stayed the same?

• What has changed about place names between the maps?

• What has stayed the same?

Look for relationships

• What relationships can you see between topographical features and transportation systems over time?

• What relationships can you see between transportation systems and settlement patterns over time?

• What relationships can you see between transportation systems and economic features over time?

Summarize changes

• Summarize the differences between each map and the next in a few sentences.

  • 1764 to 1795

   

  • 1795 to 1825

   

  • 1825 to 1865

   

  • 1865 to 1916

   

  • 1916 to 1937

   

  • 1937 to 1978

Legacies

• Compare the newest map to each of the older maps.

• What has modern Pittsburgh inherited from the older city represented by each map?

Back to "Part I: Look for Clues"

Source: Adapted from material created by Susan Donley for Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. Used by permission.

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