In downtown Pittsburgh, you’ll discover a stunning complex of judicial buildings designed by H. H. Richardson. Constructed in the Romanesque Revival style in 1888, the Allegheny County Courthouse is recognized as one of the most iconic buildings in the US by the American Institute of Architects. It is linked by the Bridge of Sighs across Ross Street to the old Allegheny County Jail, built between 1884 and 1886.
The jail is noteworthy for its role in one of the most romantic jailbreaks in US history. In 1902, the warden’s wife assisted two convicted murderers to escape. She provided the Biddle brothers with tools and weapons then joined them on their flight because she had fallen in love with Ed Biddle. However, on the road to Canada, they were successfully ambushed by police officers.
