Pittsburgh Chinatown Earns Its Historical Marker

April 4, 1979: These buildings were all that was left of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown in the late 1970s, when Chinese newcomers were assimilating into the community rather than being confined to a ghetto-like area.
(Credit: Ed Morgan/The Pittsburgh Press)

Pittsburgh’s Lost Chinatown Finally Gets Its Historical Marker (Pittsburgh Magazine)
Short Excerpt: Following three denials, Pittsburgh’s Historic Chinatown’s historical marker application was finally approved last year. In the late 1800s, Pittsburgh had a thriving Chinese community centered between Second and Third avenues and Ross and Grant streets downtown. However, the community was destroyed following the construction of the Boulevard of the Allies.

The Fight to Recognize Pittsburgh’s Lost Chinatown (Pittsburgh Magazine)
Short Excerpt: Pittsburgh’s Chinatown neighborhood started taking shape following the arrival of Chinese workers from New Orleans in the 1870s and immigrants from China’s Toishan-Canton region. Prior to the construction of the Boulevard of the Allies, Chinatown supported approximately 500 residents.

Upcoming Event

Join the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in partnership with OCA-Pittsburgh to commemorate the official Historical Marker of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown! Marian Lien, SHUC’s previous executive director, was instrumental in pushing through the arduous process of gaining historical landmark recognition for Pittsburgh’s Historic Chinatown and planning for the upcoming commemoration. View the invitation below.

DAM Meeting: Permanent Light Pole Banners along Fifth & Forbes | Mon, Oct 12, 5:30 PM

Oct 12, 2026 | 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Please join us for the virtual DAM meeting that will cover CMU’s plans to leave street-light banners on its campus permanently, which requires a Development Activities Meeting (DAM) and Public Art and Civic Design Commission (PACD) approval.

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SHUC Booth at the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market (Rescheduled from Sept.)

Oct 18, 2026 | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

The Squirrel Hill Farmers Market runs every Sunday through mid-December at the Beacon-Barlett Parking Lot. The SHUC booth will be there on the fourth Sunday of each month (September date was rescheduled to October 18th, and will join our regularly scheduled visit on October 25th).

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Preserving, Improving, and Celebrating the Quality of Life in Squirrel Hill

For over fifty years, the Coalition has been an active and important link in the community. It has served as a sounding board for new ideas, as well as a “watchdog” in the areas of public safety, education, residential quality, the business district, and parks and open space. With its focus on the quality of life in the 14th Ward, SHUC continues to monitor activities and future developments in the community through a range of standing committees.

Pittsburgh Chinatown Earns Its Historical Marker

Upcoming Event

Upcoming DAM Meeting: Permanent Light Pole Banners along Fifth & Forbes | Mon, Oct 12, 5:30 PM

Indigenous People's Day (Columbus Day) (SHUC Office Closed)

DAM Meeting: Permanent Light Pole Banners along Fifth & Forbes | Mon, Oct 12, 5:30 PM

SHUC Booth at the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market (Rescheduled from Sept.)

SHUC Annual Board Meeting

SHUC Booth at the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market

Preserving, Improving, and Celebrating the Quality of Life in Squirrel Hill

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