The idea of naming a Pittsburgh bridge for celebrated author and historian David McCullough, a native son, has much to recommend it -- and Allegheny County officials think so, too, as reported in Monday's Post-Gazette.
It's a wonder that it hasn't been done already. In a stellar career, Mr. McCullough, 78, has educated Americans about their own history like few others. His gift for bringing the past to life has produced masterpieces on subjects as diverse as the Johnstown Flood, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Panama Canal, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Adams and the year 1776.
At the same time he has been no stranger to his hometown, to which he is a frequent visitor. Yet, while he has a Presidential Medal of Freedom and two Pulitzer Prizes, no Pittsburgh structure honors him.
A resident of Chalfant, Michael Connors, first proposed the idea that a bridge be named for Mr. McCullough, and the Post-Gazette's Brian O'Neill in an August column suggested the elegant, county-owned 16th Street Bridge. In a subsequent letter to the editor, Andrew E. Masich, president and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center, also endorsed naming a bridge for the eminent historian.
While members of county council are interested, Monday's story made clear that no quick action is likely. For one thing, council is awaiting a report on how many of the county's 520 bridges might be suitable for selling sponsorship or naming and advertising rights.
But perhaps it's time to also have a comprehensive report on which great Pittsburghers should have a bridge named after them or a statue erected in their honor. As it is, the selection process seems more the result of someone having a bright idea and promoting it.
The danger of haphazard selection is generational bias. Pittsburgh has been around for more than 250 years, yet all the bridges named for notables on the Allegheny River -- Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson -- were alive at the same time. And, in the absence of an ordered process, Gene Kelly, who danced his way from Pittsburgh into movie legend, still is not honored with a statue. That idea is off singing in the rain somewhere.
David McCullough, the methodical chronicler of history, is one for the ages and would certainly rank high if all Pittsburgh's high achievers were examined methodically. That's the bridge work that must be done first.
First Published: September 13, 2011, 4:00 a.m.
