150 Years since the Civil War Split the American County. What role did Pittsburgh play? No battles were fought on the ground in this region, but Pittsburgh and its countryside were critical in industrial, military, financial and political support for the Union cause.  Pittsburgh designed and manufactured steamboats, locomotives, freight cars, iron.”Iron City”.  Fort Pitt Foundry supplied 15 percent of the Unions wartime orders for weaponry and supplies. Pittsburgh manufactured the world’s then-largest cannon and nearly 1,200 guns used in the war.

The area is also the birthplace of a number of wartime heroes who fought in some of the Civil War’s most notable battles, including John White Geary who commanded the “White Star Division” (Twelfth Army Corps) during the Battle of Gettysburg and later went on to become governor of Pennsylvania. Journalist Jane Grey Swisshelm, known for her radical abolitionist newspapers and political activism, also hails from this region. Below are some sites that are related to the Civil War:

http://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/

Many exhibits displaying military artifacts and personal mementos.  The Gettysburg Room is dedicated to the Civil War and the Hall of Valor which pays tribute to American heroes.

Plaque Honoring Jane Grey Swisshelm
Dedicated to ending slavery, Swisshelm faced countless threats as editor of several radical abolitionist newspapers. View this plaque in her honor at the Heinz headquarters.

LeMoyne House

 National Historic Landmarks of the Underground Railroad in the U.S., the house of Francis Julius LeMoyne was a safe haven for those seeking refuge as they tried to escape from slavery.

Blairsville Area Underground Railroad Project
Tour the town of Blairsville—a stop along an Underground Railroad route in Pennsylvania—for a look at the many Underground Railroad sites.

Allegheny Cemetery
Visit the graves of soldiers who served in the Civil War, both for the Confederate and Union armies, at the Allegheny Cemetery.