Making History Blog
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Pioneers on Ice
Most of the Pittsburgh Pennies weren’t looking to break barriers or change the world when they laced up their skates and took to the ice in 1973, but now 50 years later, they are seen as trailblazers. The Pennies came of age in the era of Title IX when opportunities for girls and women to participate in organized athletics began to expand. The team was homegrown, formed by a small group of young women and some of their parents who came to know each other at the Alpine Arena in Swissvale. A love of the game and a desire to compete initially brought them together. What they created is now recognized as integral to the establishment of competitive hockey for girls in the region.
Fred Lenn: The Battling Boxer
Fred Lenn fought in two arenas—as a Marine serving during World War II and Korea, and in the ring as a champion amateur and professional boxer. The second of…
Behind the Portrait: Bill Hartack’s Derby Disappointment of 1958
William Hartack, by James Ormsbee Chapin, oil on canvas, 1958. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of TIME magazine, © James Cox Gallery at Woodstock for…
Negro League Centennial: Negro League Baseball in Pittsburgh
The Homestead Grays baseball uniform of second baseman Clarence Bruce is on display in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Bruce wore number 46 for the Grays for the 1947…
Vintage Base Ball Q&A with Adam Johnson
“Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd…” Each summer, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in scenic Avella, Pa., hosts an exciting afternoon of vintage…
Remembering Johnny Majors
PITT National Championship, by Merv Corning, watercolor, 1996. Portraits of Coach Johnny Majors and Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett center this piece created…
Immortalizing Forbes Field: MGM Drafts Pittsburgh for Big Film
Ever wish you could see one last baseball game at Pittsburgh’s historic Forbes Field? Well, the 1951 feature film “Angels in the Outfield” offers the next best option. The…
Pysanky on Ice
Traditionally, Ukrainians find time in the week before Easter to create highly decorated eggs or pysanky that celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Pysanky eggs made by Helen Timo on…
The James A. Dorsey Story
For many people, time off from work or school is an opportunity to engage in physical activity, whether it’s hunting and fishing, enjoying swings on a playground, or a…
The Olympics on Ice: Herb Drury
U.S. vs. Belgium on outdoor rink, Chamonix, France, Jan. 28, 1924. Courtesy of Frederick R. Favo. Every four years, the Winter Olympic Games recall the importance of Pittsburgher Herb Drury…