Telling the Story of Pittsburgh on its Anniversary

The Point of Pittsburgh Blog

To commemorate Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary, historian Charles McCollester’s new book on the history of Pittsburgh and singer-song writer Mike Stout’s latest CD about Pittsburgh heroes and are being jointly released under the title “The Point of Pittsburgh”.

The "Point of Pittsburgh" assets that what happened in this city and to this city reveals a great deal about what is country was and what it has become. This history of Pittsburgh is a unique history of production and struggle that shaped the course of the nation and the world.

For Charles McCollester and Mike Stout, the Point of Pittsburgh is the unconquerable spirit of the people of Pittsburgh who forged the modern world. During its 250 year history Pittsburgh’s inventors, industrialists, abolitionists, union activists, musicians, sports heroes, educators, doctors, and blue-collar workers fought and struggled to improve life on this planet. The contributions of leaders, crusaders, and innovators such as Martin Delany, George Vashon, Crystal Eastman, George Westinghouse, Stephen Foster, Jonas Salk, Phil Murray, Earl “Fatha” Hines, and Kenny Clarke and many others changed the world.

With rarely told gripping stories about the struggles of Pittsburghers and its many surprising characters McCollester and Stout evoke a renewed sense of pride and awe at what Pittsburgh and its inhabitants have meant to the world through history.

"The Point of Pittsburgh flips the stock storyline of the Steel City on its head" - Poet Pete Oresick, Chatham University

"...in reading the McCollester manuscript, I was impressed with the many facts and stories - especially on labor - that I had not uncovered in my research.  His book will be an invaluable resource in the future not only for historians but for readers seeking a wider view of Pittsburgh's remarkable, tangle story." - Clark M. Thomas Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Senior Editor (retired) and author of three books on Pittsburgh history.

"I applaud Mr. McCollester's efforts, and its product enormously, for this is a history that has not been written before.  I urge Pittsburghers - and Americans - to read it." - William Serrin author of Homestead: The Glory and the Tragedy of an American Steel Town.

In this blog we will tell the stories of the working people who left their mark on Pittsburgh and the World's History

Enjoy Mke Stout's new song "Happy Brithday to Pittsburgh" with images of Pittsburgh's past and present

The first installment of the blog features the story of Martin Delany - Pittsburgh's Renaissance Man