Get to Know West Homestead

West Homestead is tucked between the borough of Homestead and the Pittsburgh neighborhood of New Homestead in the Allegheny Valley along the Monongahela River — also known as Steel Valley from its iron mill days. Homestead Steel Works operated there from 1881 to 1986 and was the site of one of the most impactful labor disputes in U.S. history — the Homestead strike of 1892 🎧 Learn more with today’s City Cast Pittsburgh podcast.

This area was also the home base for the Homestead Grays, a professional Negro League baseball team formed in 1912 with stars like future Hall of Famer Josh Gibson. The Heinz History Center has an awesome collection on the legacy of Negro League Baseball in Pittsburgh.

West Homestead also brought up another Pittsburgh star: actor Jeff Goldblum. For the past eight years, Squirrel Hill genealogist Tammy Hepps has been researching the history of Jewish immigrants in Homestead through “Homestead Hebrews” — a community often historically underrepresented. (She even did some digging into Jeff Goldblum’s family tree.) Mark your calendar for July 13, Jeff Goldblum day in Pittsburgh!

🍪 Eat & Drink

You can’t go to that side of the Mon without stopping into Nancy B’s Bakery. While the original owner, Nancy Bertram Runco, passed away at 77 last year, she lives on through her baked goods. Nancy began the business 39 years ago, and her enormous, delicious cookies have been devoured by many Pittsburghers and out-of-towners alike — including Snoop Dog.

🎞️ Go, See, Do!

Need relief from the summer heat? Cool off at Sandcastle Water Park or inside with AC at the AMC Waterfront movie theater. You can even book out an entire theater for a special event.

And while this isn’t located in the borough, you can support a local company at Voodoo Brewing Co.’s upcoming Good Vibes Beer Fest in Meadville, Pa. Buy tickets for the VIP Bottle Share on July 7 and the festival on July 8.