Pittsburgh boasts an impressive history. Unfortunately, there just isn’t enough time in a school career to learn everything there is to know about Pittsburgh. Do you ever wonder what you didn’t learn in school? Here are 11 things about Pittsburgh you might not know.
- Emojis started right here in Pittsburgh in 1982.
Flickr/Forsaken Fotos The emoji craze might never have happened if not for Carnegie Mellon University Professor Scott Falman, who simply used a few symbols - : - ) – to illustrate that his email was humorous.
- Mister Rogers’ middle name is McFeely.
Flickr/wpsuphotos Mister Rogers Neighborhood has entertained and educated generations of kids with his neighborhood of friends – including mailman Mr. McFeely. Mr. McFeely’s name came directly from Fred McFeely Rogers.
- Pittsburgh has more bridges than any other city in the world.
Flickr/Matthew Dalley Pittsburgh, with its 446 bridges, beats out even Venice, Italy, which tallies 409 bridges.
- Pittsburgh also boasts the steepest public street in the United States.
Flickr/spumerbike Want a real physical challenge? Head to Canton Avenue, the steepest public street in the United States, in Beechview and walk or bike up it.
- The Big Mac was invented in Pittsburgh.
Flickr/Elliott Plenty of kids flock to McDonald’s after Friday night football games, but how many know that the Big Mac – the fast food joint’s iconic sandwich – was invented in Pittsburgh by Jim Delligatti?
- Amelia Earhart once crash-landed in Pittsburgh.
Wikipedia/Public Domain Yes, you read right. Amelia Earhart crash-landed her plane at the former Rodgers Field – the current site of Fox Chapel High School - on August 31, 1928. She miscalculated her landing, coming in too quickly and ended up in a ditch at the end of the runway. She spent the next two days in Pittsburgh while her plane was repaired.
- Thank a Pittsburgh institution for pulling the tab on your pop or beer can.
Flickr/MoneyBlogNewz Next time, you pull open a cold pop or beer, give a little nod of thanks to Iron City Beer. It was the iconic company that introduced the tab way back in 1962.
- Children’s Hospital’s Poison Center invented the Mr. Yuk sticker in 1971.
Flickr/Kurt Faler How many Pittsburghers remember Mr. Yuk’s green face glaring from products under the sink or other places our nosy little hands went when they were supposed to? Because of the Poison Center at Children’s Hospital, Mr. Yuk became a household name.
- Doctors in Pittsburgh performed the world’s first kidney, liver, and heart transplant.
Flickr/Dr. Boll The doctors at Presbyterian-University Hospital made history on December 3, 1989 when they successfully performed the world’s first kidney, liver, and heart transplant.
- The first bingo game was called right here in Pittsburgh.
Flickr/Michael Cote C’mon. Everyone loves bingo, especially when there are prizes at stake. Hugh J. Ward deserves a nod of recognition for his invention of the game, which was first called in the early 1920s in Pittsburgh.
- St. Anthony’s Chapel in Pittsburgh holds a pretty impressive record.
Flickr/Britt Reints St. Anthony’s Chapel has the most Christian relics – at 5,000 – in the world, second only to the Vatican in Italy.
How many of these 11 things about Pittsburgh did you learn in school? And, if you grew up in Pittsburgh, you might want to check to see if you suffer from any of these 13 weird side effects.
Flickr/Forsaken Fotos
The emoji craze might never have happened if not for Carnegie Mellon University Professor Scott Falman, who simply used a few symbols - : - ) – to illustrate that his email was humorous.
Flickr/wpsuphotos
Mister Rogers Neighborhood has entertained and educated generations of kids with his neighborhood of friends – including mailman Mr. McFeely. Mr. McFeely’s name came directly from Fred McFeely Rogers.
Flickr/Matthew Dalley
Pittsburgh, with its 446 bridges, beats out even Venice, Italy, which tallies 409 bridges.
Flickr/spumerbike
Want a real physical challenge? Head to Canton Avenue, the steepest public street in the United States, in Beechview and walk or bike up it.
Flickr/Elliott
Plenty of kids flock to McDonald’s after Friday night football games, but how many know that the Big Mac – the fast food joint’s iconic sandwich – was invented in Pittsburgh by Jim Delligatti?
Wikipedia/Public Domain
Yes, you read right. Amelia Earhart crash-landed her plane at the former Rodgers Field – the current site of Fox Chapel High School - on August 31, 1928. She miscalculated her landing, coming in too quickly and ended up in a ditch at the end of the runway. She spent the next two days in Pittsburgh while her plane was repaired.
Flickr/MoneyBlogNewz
Next time, you pull open a cold pop or beer, give a little nod of thanks to Iron City Beer. It was the iconic company that introduced the tab way back in 1962.
Flickr/Kurt Faler
How many Pittsburghers remember Mr. Yuk’s green face glaring from products under the sink or other places our nosy little hands went when they were supposed to? Because of the Poison Center at Children’s Hospital, Mr. Yuk became a household name.
Flickr/Dr. Boll
The doctors at Presbyterian-University Hospital made history on December 3, 1989 when they successfully performed the world’s first kidney, liver, and heart transplant.
Flickr/Michael Cote
C’mon. Everyone loves bingo, especially when there are prizes at stake. Hugh J. Ward deserves a nod of recognition for his invention of the game, which was first called in the early 1920s in Pittsburgh.
Flickr/Britt Reints
St. Anthony’s Chapel has the most Christian relics – at 5,000 – in the world, second only to the Vatican in Italy.
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