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Finally, a bill for a national park near Homestead
Wednesday, August 23, 2000
At the dawn of the 20th century, America ran on smoke, sparks and sweat. Pittsburgh was the epicenter of the industrial universe, and what a time it was.
No sooner were inventions created and processes tested than thousands of jobs followed in southwestern Pennsylvania. Smelters, foundries and machine shops bloomed in sleepy valleys. Along the rivers, sprawling mills forged raw materials into steel.
The owners of production became wealthy, laborers fought for opportunity and waves of immigrants saw promise in the offer of hard work and steady wages. It's the story of America's rise as steel-maker to the world, and it is Pittsburgh's story to tell.
U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle introduced legislation last month, which was marked by a news conference on Monday, that would declare 38 acres along the Monongahela River a National Historic Park. Competition is keen for national park designations, but this one is long overdue.
The site, which includes the idle Carrie Furnace in Rankin and Swissvale and the Pump House and Hot Metal Bridge in Munhall, contains relics that are important to the rise of the steel industry, the history of labor unions, the explosion of wealth in America and the nature of immigrant life.
Historians also teach about one of the watershed events to occur along these banks: The Battle of Homestead in 1892, in which 10 people died during an armed conflict between security guards and striking steel workers. The town was placed under martial law and the cause of labor was set back for decades.
All this and more would be the focus of a $75 million National Historic Park near Homestead, if Congress approves. In the meantime, much of the history is being preserved and retold through the activities of the Steel Industry Heritage Corp., a nonprofit group devoted to education, economic development and tourism.
Last month, the organization broke ground on a $4.3 million conversion of the historic Bost Building (the 1892 strikers' headquarters) into a labor museum and visitors' center. For two years, the group has been offering steel heritage tours that trace the impact of the industry on Pittsburgh and the Mon Valley. And it has fought to raise awareness, support and funding (the state has pledged $48 million) for a permanent way to convey the history of this industrial region to generations of learners.
A federally funded national park near Homestead would be the ideal way to do that, and given the level of activity already here, it would have a solid foundation.
In addition, the new and adjacent Waterfront retail, dining and entertainment development could service the thousands of annual visitors to the national park. The plan would also dovetail with Pittsburgh's fresh determination, on several fronts, to improve access to its neglected riverfronts.
A National Historic Park is the right venue for the right reasons at the right time. Rep. Doyle's legislation -- and Rep. Bill Coyne's co-sponsorship -- are a major step forward in the long march to securing a proper showcase. It deserves the votes of lawmakers not only from Western Pennsylvania but also the rest of the country.