This building, which was once comprised of a set of commercial businesses, has been renovated to house the downtown branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, as well as the Library Center of Point Park College. The magnificent architecture inside the building makes it worth a trip on its own. Marble stairways and statues flank the walls, while stained glass casts a pleasant light on the library's extensive collections.
Brunot Island may be small in size, but it's history is larger than one might think. Planted directly in the middle of the Ohio River, the 129 acre island was named for Dr. Felix Brunot after he settled on the island with his family in the late 18th Century. The family hosted the Lewis and Clark expedition in the summer of 1803 as they continued to their departure point of St. Louis. The island also hosted a small dirt race track for about a decade in the early 20th Century until the land was purchased to construct a power plant, accessible only by rail line and elevated pedestrian walkway.
