Hello! I am Val (short for Valentina), the founder, owner and tour guide of Bike the Burgh Tours. Originally from the Italian Alps, I lived in Germany for over 10 years. I studied in Munich (Germany) and Rome (Italy) to get my Master's degree in art and architectural history. After that I also spent some time in NYC where I met my future husband, a real Pittsburgher. After years of a long-distance relationship, we finally decided to declare Pittsburgh as our new home. I was so surprised of the rich history and culture the city has to offer that I decided to study and share it with people in a different and sustainable way: on bikes! Since urban biking has always been a substantial part of my daily life, I became a passionate advocate of cycling and also recycling. :-) The mission of Bike the Burgh Tours is both to reveal the beauty of Pittsburgh, educate visitors as well as residents about its history, and to promote biking as a healthy, green and sustainable method of recreation and transportation. Shameless plug: Please also check out our rich portfolio of offered walking tours via Walk the Burgh Tours, BTB's sister company!
Sign up for our newsletter!
THE HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh is known as “The Gateway to the West” thanks to its ideal location at the intersection of three major waterways. It was founded in 1758 right where the Allegheny River and Monongahela River join together to form the Ohio River.
Pittsburgh’s position made it a titan of early trade in America, and it’s recognized as the official starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. By the mid-1800s, Pittsburgh had become one of the largest cities in the West. But the city’s story isn’t all smooth sailing; over 1000 buildings burned down during the Great Fire of Pittsburgh in 1845.
The city recovered, rebuilt in part by Irish immigrants escaping the Great Famine. By the 20th century, the city had grown to over a half million. By World War II, they had the manpower to produce 95 million tons of steel for the war effort.
Following WWII, Pittsburgh took the initiative to develop a cleaner, greener environment. The city launched revitalization projects to clean up the air and the rivers and invest in cultural development, creating the vibrant, artistic city we know and love today.