Pittsburgh City Council Grants Three Sisters Bridges Historic Designation
Written by Amanda Buchman
On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Pittsburgh City Council unanimously granted a historic designation to the city’s Three Sister Bridges. Named after Pittsburgh icons Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson, these are the only known trio of identical self-anchored suspension bridges in the world.
In 1917, a federal mandate demanded rivers become more navigable for the purpose of transporting goods and war materials. In response, Allegheny County set aside $29.2 million in bonds to construct new bridges, roads, and buildings. Between 1924 and 1928, 41 bridges were constructed—the Three Sisters Bridges included.
The proposal for the bridges’ historic designation included clips from the Pittsburgh Press and Pittsburgh Sun in January and March 2025, respectively. The newspapers showed the first renderings of the bridges and called them “masterpieces of design.” At the time, the only two similar structures were located in Cologne, Germany and Budapest, Hungary.
The Three Sisters represent the city’s history of innovative workmanship, marking the first use of the cantilever method for a self-anchored suspension bridge. Most of the original structural elements remain intact, demonstrating the strength of its engineered design.
A restoration project made possible by Michael Baker International took place from 2016 to 2023. The company gave the bridges a fresh coat of Aztec gold paint and added over 600 thousand synchronized color-changing LED lights for special events.
Today, the Three Sisters see plenty of activity, a symbol of the thriving community in Downtown Pittsburgh. Events like Picklesburgh and Oktoberfest draw vendors and attractions to its main road, while the pedestrian paths often serve as walkways to football and baseball games, and are the perfect place to stop and gaze out onto the stunning Allegheny River.
It’s no wonder the iconic yellow bridges are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Not only are they a sight to behold, but their three namesakes were recently inducted into the brand new Pittsburgh Walk of Fame.
Next time you walk to the North Shore from downtown, take a minute to appreciate the beauty of the Three Sisters Bridges. The ground you walk on isn’t just a sidewalk; it’s a historic landmark.
