Steel mills past and present, mansions built by 19th century robber barons and century-old churches built by immigrants who worked in those mills are all part of the industrial heritage of riverfront towns in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

There are many lesser-known gems in the valleys carved by the Monongahela, Allegheny, Youghiogheny, Kiskiminetas, Beaver and Ohio rivers. There are things like a Hungarian restaurant in Hazelwood, a Slovak bakery in Homestead and a small park in Duquesne with sculptures built with the hard hats and hand tools of people who worked in the mill that used to stand on that site.

These are a few of the thousands of things to see and things to do that are highlighted in "Routes to Roots," a 228-page "driving guide."

"Discover the cultural and industrial heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania," says the subhead on the book, published by the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.

The guide is divided into five sections, based on area rivers and valleys. Within each section are multiple well-mapped driving routes that can be completed in a one-day or half-day drive. Each route begins with an introduction about the area's character and history. Maps with numbered locations show featured sites and points of interest.

In the guide, addresses, operating hours, admission prices and telephone numbers are included with a color photo and information about each site. Festivals and events are listed at the end of each route.

The first section is the Three Rivers Route. The first day trip in that section starts in Pittsburgh and gives detailed driving instructions for a trip through Homestead, Munhall and West Homestead.

Highlights of that tour include Chiodo's Tavern, the Bost Building, the Pump House and Water Tower, A & B Bakery, Conrad's Catering, Art Space 303, Blemahdoo's African Market Place, Little Frick Park, Carnegie Library of Homestead and The Bulgarian-Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center.

The next tour in the Three Rivers Route guides drivers through Rankin, Braddock, West Mifflin, Duquesne, McKeesport and Clairton. Points of interest include Emil's Restaurant and Lounge, Braddock Carnegie Library, St. Michael/Good Shepherd Parish, U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson plant and Clairton Works, Kennywood Park, Metamorphosis Sculpture Park and McKeesport Heritage Center.

Each site and point of interest is numbered, which makes it easy to locate on the multiple maps and drawings located throughout the driving guide.

The other areas in the driving guide are:

Ohio-Beaver, which includes Aliquippa, Ambridge, Baden, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Freedom, Rochester and Monaca.

Alle-Kiski, which includes Brackenridge, Kittanning, New Kensington, Springdale, Taren- tum and Vandergrift.

Youghiogheny, which includes Connellsville, Greens-burg, Latrobe, Ligonier , Mt. Pleasant and Uniontown.

Monongahela, which includes Brownsville, Charleroi, Donora, Washington and Waynes- burg.

"Routes to Roots" was previewed and launched Friday at the Bost Building in Homestead, one of the points of interest in the guide.

The Rivers of Steel staff worked three years to produce the guide, said August Carlino, president and chief executive officer. At least 10 years of research preceded that work.

The driving guide will be a great boon to local efforts to promote conventions and tourism, said Joyce Lee, associate director of cultural heritage tours with the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"In the 18 years I have been doing trade shows, I've been asked hundreds of times if there is a steel industry tour," Lee said. Now that tour has, in essence, been put together.

Part of the driving guide's charm is lesser known and even unknown locales, including small shops and restaurants.

One is the A & B Bakery at 514 E. Eighth Ave. in Munhall.

The guide says the bakery, operating since 1962, features Slovak cold-dough filled cookies and holiday pita -- apricot nut pastry -- as well as doughnuts.

Alexander Jozsa Bodnar, who attended the book launch, was pleasantly surprised to find his restaurant included on Page 65 of the guide. Jozsa Corner Hungarian Restaurant, 4800 Second Ave. in Hazelwood, features such "Old World delights" as paprikas chicken, goulash and palacinky (pancakes) and evenings of Hungarian music and dance.

Metamorphosis Sculpture Park is the site of sculptures crafted with the tools of former mill workers. It's on the site of the former U.S. Steel Duquesne Works, now called RIDC Riverplace City Center.

The guide sells for $20, and can be purchased at the Bost Building, online at www.riversofsteel.com and at selected bookstores.