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- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Virgin Mary Shrine of South Oakland
Deep in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of South Oakland, home to many of the University of Pittsburgh's students, is a supposedly miraculous shrine to the Virgin Mary. Overlooking the Parkway, Route 376, the shrine has been erected in someone's backyard around a reportedly miraculous spring, possessed of healing powers.
I have heard two different stories about the origin of the shrine: the first is that a statue of the Virgin was put on the site after a deadly car accident on the Parkway by an older woman, who also planted flowers around the statue. Concerned with how she was going to routinely water these flowers, she prayed and was rewarded with a spring that began to flow out of the rocky outcropping surrounding the statue, which later proved to have healing powers. The second story is that the shrine was the site of the miraculous appearance of the Virgin to a steelworker on his lunchbreak.
In any case, the spring and statue are still present, as are later additions to the shrine, such as stations of the cross. The Catholic Church doesn't recognize the site, but it's a lovely little grotto to visit for the faithful and non-faithful alike. And the owners of the backyard don't mind people tramping through their property at all. So come to Pittsburgh and get healed.
[Sabrina Spiher, 08/22/2004]Our Lady of the Parkway:- Address:
- Wakefield St., Pittsburgh, PA
- Directions:
- Shrine of the Blessed Mother. Exit 376 East at the Oakland exit. Go up the hill and turn right onto the Boulevard of the Allies, and then make an immediate right onto Ward Street. At the end of the street, turn left and then make an immediate right down the small alley. The alley turns right and goes sharply downhill. At the end of the street is a wall; beyond the wall is the backyard shrine.
These three fish were outside in the parking lot. When the wind blows, they move. There are other sculptures to see as well. I really enjoyed these.
[annette, 10/02/2014]Three That Got Away:- Address:
- 10 Children's Way, Pittsburgh, PA
- Directions:
- The fish are perched atop poles in the parking lot of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.
- Admission:
- Free
Above the parking lot of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh twirl three nearly 15-foot-long, 400-pound bass. The fish-out-of-water sculptures whirl on poles more than 14 feet in the air as the wind blows, keeping watchful eyes on museum visitors. Named "Al, Mo, and Oh: The Three That Got Away," for the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers that converge in Pittsburgh, this piece of public art was designed by Elizabeth and Chris Siefert, and came ashore on July 29, 2005.
[Bill Schlageter, 09/12/2005]- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Stephen Foster's Lucky Toes
When is it appropriate to rub the big toe of a statue? When it's lucky, and you can double your luck burnishing TWO big toes. Statue was taken down April 27, 2018.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
University of Pittsburgh
- Directions:
- On Forbes Ave., across the street from The Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Next to the dinosaur.
- Hours:
- Statue was taken down April 27, 2018.
- Status:
- Gone
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Stephen Foster Statue
At the former Stephen Foster statue site, the city of Pittsburgh has put up a sign asking for suggestions for a new statue. They've also posted a few pictures of women they feel would be good candidates for the new statue.
[signmanjoe, 09/18/2018]
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