Fall, 2019 News From the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum

Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 July 2019 01:49

‘Double-Dip’ on September 28 - Cement City Walking Tour and Fall Festival

A unique double-dip opportunity in Donora to take in history, arts and crafts, and food, will occur on Saturday, September 28 when we host a ‘Cement City Home and Walking Tour’ on the same day as Donora’s ‘Fall Festival’.

Cement City

The second annual Fall Festival will be held at Donora’s historic 99 year old Palmer Park on Saturday, September 28 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to visit the Fall Festival before and after to take in the high-end craft vendors, music and/or to simply grab some foodfrom the food trucks and vendors.

After stopping at the Fall Festival, come see the inspiration behind the 2018 featured addition to the Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village!!

Cement City Home and Walking Tour
Our fall Cement City Home and Walking Tours and your chance to see Thomas Edison’s solution for worker housing created 102 years ago in 1917 and the inspiration for the featured addition to the Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village. Walking Tours are scheduled for Saturday, September28 and Sunday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m. (NO Steelers game this day.) The tours start at the Smog Museum at 595 McKean Avenue or at the intersection of Sixth and McKean in the heart of Donora with an in-depth photo, blueprint and artifact presentation. The photos were taken during the construction in 1916 and 1917 by Donora’s original photographer: Bruce Dreisbach, on glass plate negatives. You’ll get a firsthand look of how they built continuously poured concrete houses over 100 years ago.

Allow at least 2.5 hours for the entire presentation and tour. Space will be limited. The cost of the tour is $15 per person. You will pay at the door by cash or check. RSVPs are required. We expect attendees to visit from all over SW PA and have already been accepting RSVPs. Choose a date and RSVP by phone message or email.

If you have any questions about Cement City, one of our Home and Walking Tours or our project with the Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village, please consult our website and click the “Cement City” tab, or contact the Historical Society.

Smog Museum Listed in Book – ‘100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die”

The Smog Museum of the Donora Historical Society was listed in the book “100 Things To Do In Pittsburgh Before You Die” as #78. The book of bucket list items that people from Pittsburgh or visitors to Pittsburgh should accomplish before they, well, “kick the bucket.” The story of Pittsburgh’s transformation from a smoky steel town to a modern, high-tech city draws people from around the world to this corner of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Since 2008, the Donora Historical Society has given Donora a presence in the world through our Smog Museum. People seek out the Donora Historical Society primarily due to our history with the infamous 1948 Smog, Stan “The Man” Musial, our Cement City historic district and other topics. We’ve formed partnerships with various institutions; museums; universities; newspaper, magazine and book authors; documentary film crews; and students at the middle and high school levels, as well as college students and professors. Our outreach programs take us throughout southwestern Pennsylvania giving presentations at universities, historical societies, libraries and assisted living care facilities. Located in the heart of Donora at the corner of McKean Avenue and Sixth Street, the museum has permanent exhibits related to the founding of the town, town life, steel mills, the 1948 Smog tragedy, Donora schools and sports, social clubs and organizations, and a rotating exhibit whose artifacts change three to four times a year.

Put us on your “bucket list” and come visit us on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or by appointment and then you’ll only have 99 more things to do on the “100 Things” list.

Additional Info
If you have additional questions about the subjects mentioned above, the historical society, museum, presentations or possibly volunteering, feel free to stop by on Saturdays or by special appointment (with at least a week’s notice), email us at DonoraHistoricalSociety@gmail.com, call us at 724-823-0364 and leave a message, visit us on the web at www.DonoraHistoricalSociety.org, or follow us and Like Us on Facebook at “Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.”