From the ancient Adena, to the mysterious Mound Builders and Hopewell, to competing tribes of Haudensaunee Lenape and Shawnee, to competing European powers maneuvering for supremacy in the Ohio Valley, to English supremacy, to American supremacy, Pittsburgh has transformed itself over the centuries to become a diverse, storied, historic, and complex city at the confluence of three rivers.

Our initial claim to national (and international) supremacy, remains our strongest and most notable: providing the raw materials to revolutionize American city infrastructure to build stronger, taller, further, and larger. The coal-rich foot hills of the Allegheny Region fueled the furnaces and foundries that churned out iron, steel, and glass for generations, forging Pittsburgh’s reputation.

Fast forward to 1958, when J. Gordon Lippincott and Walter P. Margulies (of Lippincott & Margulies) finalized the ubiquitous logo we see today, to represent the prowess and quality of steel products. This icon was adopted by the AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) by way of US Steel, and is also featured in the branding of the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a final touch, the featured icon adorning our state outline covers the space of the Greater Pittsburgh area, spanning seven counties.