Making History Blog
5 Questions with Dr. Adovasio
In 1973, Dr. James Adovasio and his University of Pittsburgh students conducted an archaeological excavation of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter site on a farm owned by Albert Miller in Avella,…
Count Down to Destination Moon with these Staff Picks
Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission, an epic traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian, launches at the Heinz History Center on Sept. 29, 2018 for a limited engagement. Featuring the…
Relax, Pittsburgh – It’s National Relaxation Day
Ah summer, when everyone seeks to break their routine and relax. Today might be a better day than usual to do that, since it is officially “National Relaxation Day.”…
Fort Pitt During the Revolutionary War: General Brodhead’s Expedition
The American Revolutionary War was a monumental time in history. Today, students across the nation learn about everything from the Boston Massacre and the signing of the Declaration of…
Dr. Alice Bennett and the Johnstown Flood
Read the full article about Dr. Alice Bennett and the Johnstown Flood by Kenneth J. Weiss, M.D. in the Fall 2017 issue of Western Pennsylvania History. Alice Bennett, M.D.,…
Book Review: “Drums in the Forest”
Drums in the Forest: Decision at the Forks, Defense in the Wilderness By Alfred James and Charles Stotz Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1958, 2005.…
The Discovery of the Miller Lanceolate
Meadowcroft Rockshelter in 1973 prior to excavation. In June 1973, a multidisciplinary team of University of Pittsburgh students and faculty led by Dr. James Adovasio first arrived at the…
Look for the Helpers: Mister Rogers & Officer Clemmons
This story will appear in the Summer 2018 issue of Western Pennsylvania History magazine, out soon. Officer Clemmons shirt and tie, c. 1990. Gift of François Clemmons. The History…
Women at Fort Pitt During the French & Indian War
Women consisted of a quarter of the population living outside the walls of Fort Pitt in the early 1760s. Two Pittsburgh censuses exist from that time: the first from…
Camp Horne – The Perfect Summer Retreat
Brochure, “Enjoy Life at Camp Horne,” 1927. George F. Wazenegger Collection, MSS 770, Detre Library & Archives at the History Center. Camp Horne was the dream of Albert H.…