Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Fifth Avenue and Parkman Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Cathedral of Learning, centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh main campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stands tall at 535 feet, 42 stories of higher learning. The university building is the tallest educational building in the western hemisphere, and is second tallest in the world, after Moscow State University's main building. Built in 1926, the Cathedral of Learning is renowned for its melding of classic gothic style with a modern skyscraper look, an accomplishment successfully achieved with no small thanks to the efforts of Charles Klauder, one of the United States' foremost Gothic architects of the time. The tower has more than 2,000 rooms, and over 2,500 windows! The actual construction of the building was also unique – after the frame was built, the walls were constructed from the top down! University legend has it that John Bowman, the university chancellor who commissioned construction of the building, feared that the project would be cancelled after his death, and therefore made sure that construction could not be halted until the entire building was completed.
One of the most impressive features of the Cathedral of Learning is the Commons room, a half acre large hall that extends upwards four stories, reaching higher than fifty feet! In a feat unique to Gothic architecture, no steel supports were used in the construction of its arches – every arch is fully supportive of its own weight.
The stonework depicts native plant life from the region, and is made of green Vermont slate, and Indiana limestone, for the walls. Try to visit in the winter, when the enormous fireplaces are lit!
The nationality rooms are also a must-see at the Cathedral. Twenty seven classrooms in the building are dedicated to different countries and nationalities around the world, including Latin American, Finnish, Italian, and Israeli. All are representative of their region as it appeared prior to 1787, the year of the signing of the American Constitution. Guided tours are available, as well as pre-recorded.
Entry is less than five dollars, with a discount for children.
From I-376 take the Forbes Ave exit, and watch for the building to be on your left. It's the tallest building for miles, so you can't miss it!