This was the last place I visited on my way out of Pittsburgh this go around. I didn't know when I would get a chance to come back this way and wanted to get this historic site in.
This, as the name implies, is the childhood home of August Wilson. A very well know man from the city's Hill District. The front of the lot was a grocery store in the neighborhood, the residence was a two room apartment behind the store. Those footprints on the sidewalk lead you towards the home.
Wilson was known for his series of ten plays called 'The Pittsburgh Cycle' which included two plays, 'Fences' and 'The Piano Lesson' that each won him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The plays show experience and heritage of the African-American community during the 20th century.
The house was built during the 1840s, served as the home for Wilson for 12 years, continues on as a business/residence for years, eventually fell into disuse. In 2008 it was added to the List of City of Pittsburgh Historic Designation. In 2013 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. And finally a full restoration of the building was completed in 2022 with it reopening as an arts center in the neighborhood.
Along with the building they have rehabbed the lot next to it and it is a community space. And please do as the signs say, clean up after yourself and/or pets as it is a community space. read more