All of your Planning at the Park! George Westinghouse’s 175th Birthday Celebration

This year is the 175th birth anniversary of George Westinghouse, and the celebration continues into the present! Whether you’re looking to connect with your community through clean-up initiatives or spend your day exploring the environment with Tree Pittsburgh, the next few months will be packed with events for everyone. Here at Fireman Creative, we’re gearing up for a great next couple of months at our neighbors down the street. By George, there are many things you can attend to commemorate the 175th birthday anniversary!

June marked the premiere of the Quantum Theatre’s performance of The Current War, hosted right in Westinghouse Park! The Current War tells the story of the rivalry between Pittsburgh’s own George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison at the dawn of the 20th century. With a turn-of-the-last-century aesthetic, this world-premiere musical made the metaphorical boxing ring battle between Westinghouse and Edison literal and electrified. In the end, George won! 

Even though this performance has passed (with fully sold-out crowds!) there are many more exciting events in July to attend. On July 31st, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Operation Better Block will host their 50th-anniversary celebration at Westinghouse Park! Featuring emcee Kiki Brown, with entertainment by Calvin Stemley & STEMTECS BAND, multiple food vendors to enjoy, bounce house, Italian ice, and more. This event is FREE with pre-registration! Donations are welcome to further drive the mission of Operation Better Block, focused on strategizing, organizing and mobilizing—block by block—to benefit the Homewood Community.

Sign up on Eventbrite here!

August is the perfect time to enjoy Westinghouse Park Arboretum! With such a rich history of Westinghouse Park’s environment (both the natural scenery and an in-tact underground tunnel), the park designates itself as a must-visit hub for enthusiasts of all kinds. In August, Westinghouse Park Arboretum, Tree Pittsburgh, and the Westinghouse High School tree tenders plan to label the array of trees within the park. As Tree Pittsburgh continues experimenting with planting trees that may be more suitable for our region as the climate continues to change, Westinghouse Park is the perfect place to further distinguish the park as a historical landmark. 

It wouldn’t be Pittsburgh without some friendly competition! Planned for September (date soon to come), the 5th annual Garbage Olympics kicks off in neighborhoods around the ‘burgh! The citywide event kicked off in 2017, pitting neighborhoods against each other in a playful way to see which team can pick up the most trash. In 2020, the numbers of trash collected skyrocketed, with:

• 724 volunteers
• 1,129 bags of garbage
• 670 tires
• 254 TVs
• Five mattresses
• Six couches
• 12 shopping carts
• Five refrigerators
• Four lawnmowers
• Two satellite dishes
• One jukebox

In September, be ready for Point Breeze and Westinghouse Park to sweep the recycling sweepstakes. 

October 6th marks the official date of George Westinghouse’s 175th birthday! Wednesday, October 6, 2021, will mark the 175th anniversary of the birth of George Westinghouse Jr. In observation of his “dodransbicentennial,” efforts are underway to restore Westinghouse Park in Pittsburgh’s East End, formerly Solitude, the estate of George and Marguerite Westinghouse.

The creation of a comprehensive master development plan for the park is already underway, including the construction of a new community building and the implementation of a multi-year, archeological exploration of the historic site. In addition, a broader effort is taking shape through the 175th retrospective of George Westinghouse, his life, accomplishments, impacts, and legacies — all designed to better the neighborhoods Westinghouse once impacted himself. 

To round out a rally of events commemorating the 175th anniversary, Fireman Creative is proud to host a race for the rest of us. Our annual What’s the Point .5k on October 8th, run/walk/crawl/hobble/ride complete with a celebratory cake for George Westinghouse himself! In true What’s the Point fashion, both the first and last place winners will be awarded with cutting the cake! From 11 AM to 2 PM, enjoy the entertainment-filled race sponsored by Mini of Pittsburgh, CitiParks Art in the Parks, North Point Breeze Community Development, and Dana’s Bakery providing a mid-point Donut Stop. This year, in honor of Westinghouse’s 175th, we are raising funds for creating an Arboretum in Westinghouse Park. No matter your sprinting style, What’s the Point .5k is rounding out the celebration with a not-so-great race.

More details, including registration, coming soon!