David L. Lawrence
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Pennsylvania's Governor, 1959-1963, was born in this area June 18, 1889. As a pioneer in urban renewal, he advocated the creation of Point Park as part of the redevelopment of the Golden Triangle.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Born in Pittsburgh in 1889, David L. Lawrence rose through the city's Democratic politics to become mayor and then Pennsylvania's governor from 1959 to 1963. He is best remembered for the postwar "Pittsburgh Renaissance," a sweeping effort to clear smoke, curb flooding, and rebuild the city's core. His push to redevelop the Golden Triangle helped turn the point where the rivers meet into Point State Park.
Why it matters
Lawrence's career made Pittsburgh a national model for mid-century urban renewal, showing how American cities might reinvent their smoke-choked industrial cores.
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Related people
- · David L. Lawrence
Related events
- · Pittsburgh Renaissance
- · Creation of Point State Park
Themes & tags
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