Civic Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Although this unused Wonday Film Service of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania postcard is titled Civic Center, the photograph also includes the Mellon Institute in the foreground. The identifying code: 221-D-7 is found at the lower left corner on the reverse. There is a blurb at the upper left on the reverse: “Civic Center, Pittsburgh, Pa., showing Mellon Institute in the foreground. This view shows a part of one of the most costly and impressive civic centers to be found anywhere. From this point of view, one looks down on universities, libraries, memorials, art galleries, auditoriums, music halls, hospitals, athletic fields—and Carnegie Museum. Along with all this, magnificient churches, theaters, and hotels.” Some damage to the card can be detected on the photo at the lower right.
The Civic Center includes a group of buildings. It is likely this card was produced before the domed Civic Arena was built in 1961. Edgar J. Kaufmann, wealthy businessman and philanthropist, financed the Pittsburg Light Opera Company and donated $1.5 million to build the arena. The Civic Arena was used for concerts, circus performances, political and religious rallies, roller derbies, hockey, basketball, fish tournament weigh-ins, pro tennis, boxing, wrestling, lacrosse, football, ice skating championships, kennel shows, and soccer. That structure was demolished in 2012 and the space was converted for use as public parking. In March 2025 ground was broken for a new arena, Citizens Live at the Wylie, with a projected opening date in mid 2026.
The Mellon Institute of Industrial Research building is the white building with columns seen in the foreground. It was built in 1937 and added to the National Register of History Places in 1983. It was merged with the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1967 to form Carnegie Mellon University. After it ceased to exist as a distinct institution, the building bearing the name remains at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Bellefield Avenue in the city’s university district.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Arena_(Pittsburgh)
https://en.wikipedia/wiki/Mellon_Institute_of_Industrial_Research
https://en.wikipedia/wiki/Edgar_J._Kaufmann