#TBT Christmas in Pittsburgh: 15 photos of parties, decorations and merriment
See what’s changed — and what hasn’t — in more than 100 years.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to Historic Pittsburgh for letting us use their photos and captions, which were edited for brevity and clarity.
1906-1910
Girls dancing in a gym decorated for Christmas.
Dec. 23, 1915
Kids dressed for the Washington Park Christmas pageant.
1919
West Penn Park Christmas activities.
Dec. 23, 1925
Kids’ Christmas party at the Lewis Center.
Dec. 24, 1925
Santa makes a Christmas Eve appearance at the Washington Park Children’s Christmas Tree party.
Dec. 28, 1925
Santa makes a late appearance at the Crawford Center Christmas party.
Dec. 25, 1933
Visitors take a break from checking out the Christmas tree in the City-County Building portico to pose for the city photographer.
Dec. 4, 1940
F. W. Woolworth Company in East Liberty decked for Christmas.
Dec. 23, 1948
A choral group, directed by Mr. C. L. Murphy, performing Christmas music in the waiting room at the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Terminal Station in Pittsburgh (now the Grand Concourse).
1950-1970
Three nuns with a group of children holding Christmas gifts in front of a Christmas tree.
1950
Children and adults Downtown gathered around a Kaufmann’s window entitled, “To Grandfather’s House for Christmas.”
Dec. 18, 1952
A Christmas display located in the main lobby of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad station concourse ( … again, what is now Grand Concourse).
Dec. 2, 1955
Chatham sophomores make decorations for the Christmas dance, now known as the Holiday Ball. Pictured, left to right, are members of the class of 1958: Elizabeth MacFarland, Patricia Gregory, and Audrey Reuter. The sophomores presented “Christmas in Candlelight” Dec. 2, 1955 at the Hotel Webster Hall, and music was provided by the Lee Kelton Orchestra.
Dec. 7, 1958
A truck hauling the Mellon Park Christmas tree, Downtown.
Dec. 23, 1970
Mayor Pete Flaherty giving his Christmas message. During his tenure, Three Rivers Stadium opened, the Pirates won the World Series (1971), and the Steelers won two Super Bowls (1974-1975).
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