Matt Simmons
WPXI
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Past articles by Matt:
ON THIS DAY: September 17, 1961, Civic Arena Grand Opening
The Civic Arena was considered an ambitious architectural marvel at the time of its grand opening in 1961. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: June 5, 1953, Squirrel Hill Tunnel opens as most costly PennDOT project to date
The Squirrel Hill Tunnels opened to traffic for the first time after a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 5, 1953, marking the completion of PennDOT’s single most expensive road project to that date. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 28, 1870, Monongahela Incline opens
The Monongahela Incline connects Mount Washington with downtown Pittsburgh and opened to the public on May 28, 1870. It is the oldest continuously operating funicular railway in the U.S., transporting more than half a million passengers each year. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 27, 1907, Environmentalist Rachel Carson born in Springdale
Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She researched and wrote extensively on environmental issues and testified in numerous government hearings, leading to sweeping policy changes. Cason is often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 25, 1935, Babe Ruth hits final 3 career home runs at Forbes Field
Home run numbers 712, 713 and 714 were smashed into low earth orbit by Babe Ruth at Forbes Field in Oakland on May 25, 1935. Ruth’s last career home runs set a major league record that would stand until 1974, when Hank Aaron surpassed it on his way to 755. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 19, 2001, Reworked Steel Phantom debuts as Phantom’s Revenge at Kennywood Park
Kennywood Park’s Steel Phantom roller coaster debuted in 1991 and was reworked into the Phantom’s Revenge, which opened on May 19, 2001. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 18, 1986, Two BASE jumpers arrested after leaping off U.S. Steel Tower
Two base jumpers leapt off the top of the U.S. Steel Tower just minutes before the start of the 1986 Pittsburgh Marathon. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 12, 1938, Homeopathic Hospital changes its name to Shadyside Hospital
Founded in 1866 in downtown Pittsburgh as the Homeopathic Medical and Surgical Hospital and Dispensary, the pioneering medical facility moved to Shadyside in 1910. Homeopathy fell out of favor as traditional medicine advanced and the hospital was renamed Shadyside Hospital on May 12, 1938. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 4, 1970, National Guard opens fire on Kent State students, killing Churchill woman
National Guardsmen opened fire on students at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, on May 4, 1970. The students were protesting the invasion of Cambodia and the presence of the National Guard on campus following earlier protests that turned violent. Four people were killed and nine were injured. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: May 2, 2009, UPMC Children’s Hospital opens in Lawrenceville
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh officially opened its new campus in Lawrenceville on May 2, 2009. The $625 million cost was more than the combined construction costs of PNC Park and Heinz Field. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 29, 1995, New $147M Allegheny County Jail opens
Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County Jail, a masterpiece of design by Henry Hobson Richardson at the time it was built in the late 1800s, needed to be replaced with a more secure and humane facility, as most prisoners were awaiting trial and not convicted. The new jail cost $147 million and more than 100,000 people showed up to tour the facility starting on April 29, 1995. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 28, 1995, Restored “Miss Pittsburgh” airmail plane unveiled at airport
Visitors to Pittsburgh International Airport often look up in wonder at a lovingly-restored vintage plane that hangs in the Landside Building in front of the TSA checkpoint. The Waco 9 biplane, named “Miss Pittsburgh,” flew the first airmail from Pittsburgh to Cleveland and the restored plane was unveiled on April 28, 1995. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 26, 1999, FORE Systems in Warrendale sold to London company
Founded in 1990 by four Ph.D.s from Carnegie Mellon University, FORE Systems Inc. went public in 1994 and soon after built its distinctive campus in Warrendale. The company’s proprietary network switches were in high demand as investment in data centers and internet servers saw explosive growth. On April 26, 1999, the company announced its sale to a London-based telecommunications company for… → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 24, 1977, Mt. Lebanon housewife elected president of NOW
Eleanor Smeal was elected to her first two terms (of three) as president of NOW on April 24, 1977. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 23, 2008, Mural in Gateway Center T station saved after $15M appraisal
After Romare Bearden's enormous ceramic tile mural was appraised at $15M, the Port Authority scrambled to find funding to save it without affecting the construction schedule of the North Shore Connector. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 21, 1927, “Miss Pittsburgh” makes first U.S. Airmail flight to Cleveland
Visitors to Pittsburgh International Airport often look up in wonder at a lovingly-restored vintage plane that hangs in the Landside Building in front of the TSA checkpoint. The Waco 9 biplane, named “Miss Pittsburgh,” flew the first airmail from Pittsburgh to Cleveland on April 21, 1927. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 19, 2005, Transformation of Schenley Plaza from parking lot begins
For decades, the plaza between the main streets of Oakland and Schenley Park was nothing more than an ocean of asphalt and parking spaces. On April 19, 2005, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy received funding from its community partners and the state to restore the plaza to its intended use as a public park. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 16, 1951, Point State Park fountain design approved by committee
Plans for a giant 100-foot geyser at the apex of a new Point Park were first unveiled and given preliminary approval on April 16, 1951. The fountain was expected to pose sizable engineering challenges and would take over two decades to come to fruition. Crowds gathered at the point on August 30, 1974, for the official grand opening of Point State Park, which was marked by turning on the fountain. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 13, 2013, Highmark Stadium opens, becomes new home of Riverhounds
Highmark Stadium opened in Station Square on April 13, 2013, featuring an elite field surface and stunning skyline backdrop. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds became the third United Soccer Leagues Pro Division team to have its own stadium. → Read More
ON THIS DAY: April 6, 1983, President Reagan visits Pittsburgh, urges retraining for steelworkers
President Ronald Reagan received a chilly reception when he touched down in Pittsburgh on April 6, 1983. Thousands of angry protestors gathered outside the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel and reminded the president of the economic recession by chanting “Reagan’s a jerk, put us back to work!” → Read More