Let’s go time traveling today, Pittsburgh! Can you believe that we’re already almost two decades into the 21st century? That makes now the perfect time to look back at the rich history of Pittsburgh and how people lived in the early 20th century. These 11 candid photos give us a peek into what life was like in Pittsburgh in the 1930s and show us how drastically different life is today.
- The Pittsburgh skyline is seen from Homestead in 1938.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- Billboards and homes line the Boulevard of the Allies, near the Monongahela River, in July 1938.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- A man ponders going in to the “Men’s Doctor,” who offers free advice, in Pittsburgh. The photo, titled “Quack Doctor” was taken in May 1938.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- A young boy, the son of a Pittsburgh steelworker, waves to the camera in this July 1938 photo.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- Pittsburghers frolic in a homemade pool on a hot July day in the Burgh in 1938.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- Some things never change, like parking in parking lots alongside the river. Cars park along the Allegheny River in this July 1938 photo.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- A boat meanders down the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in September 1936.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- Pittsburgh steelworkers kick back and relax while soaking up the July sun in 1938.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- A Pittsburgher stands in front of her home’s window (notice the shoe on the railing) in this July 1938 photo.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- A Pittsburgh steelworker pours a test mold in a blast furnace in July 1938.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
- Kids play on the window ledges of an apartment building in the “slums” of Pittsburgh in July 1938.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
Which of these pictures from Pittsburgh in the 1930s are your favorites? Join the conversation in the comments! Then, click here to see 15 of the oldest photos ever taken in Pittsburgh.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
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