The Schenley Farms Historic District: A Rich Tapestry of History in Pittsburgh
The Schenley Farms Historic District holds an special place in the heart of Pittsburgh. Famed for its late 19th and 20th-century revivals architecture, it hosts a substantial part of the University of Pittsburgh’s campus.
The Historic District Overview
The Schenley Farms Historic District, alternatively known as the Schenley Farms–Oakland Civic District, earned its place in the National Register of Historic Places. This distinguished district is nestled in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
City of Pittsburgh Historic Districts
The district embraces two separately designated City of Pittsburgh historic districts. The Oakland Civic Center Historic District comprises public and private institutional buildings, while the Schenley Farms Historic District primarily consists of an early 20th-century planned residential development.
Fun Fact: The Schenley Farms Historic District was designated a Pittsburgh Historic Landmark in 1976.
The District’s Boundaries
The district’s boundaries stretch from Forbes Avenue, including the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh on the south, to South Dithridge and North Bellefield on the east. It extends to include St. Paul’s Cathedral and Rectory on Fifth Avenue and North Craig Street. Bigelow Boulevard, Andover Road, and Bryn Mawr Road mark the northwest limit, while Thackeray Street through to Fifth Avenue bounds the southwest.
A Notable Architectural Haven
The district houses 154 contributing buildings, 31 of which are cultural or institutional buildings, and 123 are residences in the district’s northwest portion. These structures exemplify the community planning and development inspired by the City Beautiful movement. This movement guided city planning and urban design in the United States from the mid-1890s through the first decade of the 20th century.
The City Beautiful Movement
The City Beautiful movement favored boulevards, parks, and formal civic buildings in the beaux-arts style. In 1905, Franklin Nicola proposed a development plan for Oakland that followed the City Beautiful style. His proposal centered on a series of monumental buildings created in styles evoking ancient Greece and the Italian Renaissance.
Landmarks Born from The Plan
Although Nicola’s plan was not fully realized, it bore such landmarks as the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, the Masonic Temple (now the University of Pittsburgh’s Alumni Hall), and the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.
Major Landmark Buildings
Several significant landmarks were added to the historic district after Nicola’s designs had concluded. These include the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
Historic District Sites
There are numerous sites within the historic district that have historical significance. These include:
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The former Masonic Temple, now Pitt’s Alumni Hall
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The former Y.M.H.A., now Pitt’s Bellefield Hall
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The former Schenley Apartments, now Schenley Quadrangle residences at the University of Pittsburgh
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The former Schenley Hotel, now the University of Pittsburgh’s William Pitt Union
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The former National Union Fire Insurance Company building, now the University of Pittsburgh’s Thackeray Hall
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The University Club, now a building on Pitt’s campus
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The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, part of the Carnegie Institute complex
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The former Schenley High School which closed in 2008
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Pittsburgh Public School’s Board of Education building
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The Twentieth Century Club
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Bellefield Presbyterian Church
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First Baptist Church
The Schenley Farms Historic District is a testament to the grandeur of the past and the vision of city planners who sought to blend beauty and functionality. It remains a proud reminder of Pittsburgh’s architectural prowess and a fascinating destination for history and architecture enthusiasts.
