Thousands celebrate Pittsburgh's bicentennial with Downtown parade
As the sun set on Pittsburgh's 200th birthday celebration Saturday, hundreds looked with hope toward the Point that first drew a young George Washington's attention.
A colorful morning parade and an evening of music, fireworks and a laser show capped the city's bicentennial celebration, marking the anniversary of Pittsburgh's 1816 incorporation as a city.
“We got here early to get the best seats, about 6 o'clock,” said Cathy Malsch, 62, of West Deer. She and her husband, Rick, had set up camp chairs at the very tip of the Point, overlooking the barge that would set off fireworks shortly after 9:30 p.m.
Behind them, hundreds of others took pictures around the fountain and claimed seats of their own, while boats drifted on the rivers. On the far side of the Portal Bridge — where a laser show shone dancing “200s” on the underside of the highway — music and food trucks filled the city-side lawn.
“When I was a kid, my dad would walk us along there, and we'd watch the trucks lined up while we sat on the piers,” said Rick Malsch, 65, who grew up on the North Side in a home demolished for Three Rivers Stadium. “Pittsburgh's awesome; I would never leave it.”
Pittsburgh Operations Director Guy Costa said about 50,000 people came Downtown on Saturday morning to watch or participate in the Bicentennial parade, where more than 2,000 marchers formed a “human timeline” representing the city's history.
“I think it's great, especially in light of what's happened over the past few days, just to see every different type of person not only watching, but participating,” said Tayler Hutton, 27, of Green Tree, who came with her 15-month-old son, Isaac.
Native Americans from the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center led the way, followed by French and Indian War and Revolutionary War re-enactors.
Five hundred descendents of Pittsburgh mayors from 1816 to the present attended, as were notable Pittsburghers such as Franco Harris and Bruno Sammartino.
More than 100 Pittsburgh organizations were involved, among them the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Rotary.
Theresia Ditto, 34, of the North Hills, who is Croatian, marched in the parade with her children, Luka, 9, and Katarina, 7. All were dressed in outfits representing different parts of Croatia.
“I think it's wonderful to get the city together and celebrating our diversity because there's so much diversity in Pittsburgh,” she said.
As families awaited the city's second fireworks show in a week, some hoped the better weather would help the Bicentennial top Independence Day.
“The last time was more smoky and foggy from all the rain,” said Carter Finney, 11, of Pleasant Hills. “This looks more clear. ... It's great.”
Madasyn Czebiniak and Matthew Santoni are Tribune-Review staff writers.
