III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 452 

Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Naming of Pittsburgh as 

the culmination of the Forbes Campaign across Pennsylvania and the 

significance this event played in the making of America, in the settlement 

of the continent, and in spreading the ideals of freedom and democracy 

throughout the world. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2008 

Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Naming of 

Pittsburgh as the culmination of the Forbes Campaign 

across Pennsylvania and the significance this event 

played in the making of America, in the settlement of 

the continent, and in spreading the ideals of freedom 

and democracy throughout the world. 

Whereas the Forks of the Ohio at today’s Pittsburgh should 

forever be remembered as the place where an army of 

British and Colonial soldiers took control of Fort 

Duquesne from the French, a turning point in the 

French and Indian War, the first world war; 

Whereas the British victory in the French and Indian War 

sowed the seeds of Colonial discontent with British rule, 


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•SRES 452 ATS 

beginning the chain of events that led to the American 

Revolution; 

Whereas the British Army under the leadership of General 

John Forbes built the first road across the Allegheny 

Mountains, thus securing the Gateway to the West for 

British and later American settlement; 

Whereas General Forbes and Colonel George Washington 

named the location Pittsburgh, in honor of William Pitt 

the Elder; 

Whereas Fort Pitt provided a safe haven for peoples from 

around the world to follow in Forbes’ and Washington’s 

footsteps to travel to Pittsburgh to settle the continent 

and to pioneer advancements in industry, science, technology, education, the environment, and the arts; 

Whereas Pittsburgh went on to become the Crucible of the 

Industrial Revolution, producing glass, steel, and aluminum that have a place in every skyline in the United 

States, and perfecting the technologies that made it possible for alternating current to illuminate the Nation; 

Whereas the people of the Pittsburgh region pioneered modern philanthropy, implemented the first smoke control 

regulation, developed the polio vaccine, and conquered rejection of transplanted organs, improving countless lives 

worldwide; 

Whereas Pittsburgh is today a global leader in such emerging 

fields as materials science, regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, electro-optics, robotics, data storage, computer science, and commercial nuclear power; 

Whereas Pittsburgh is home to more than 100 multi-billion 

dollar global corporations that improve the lives of people 

around the world; 


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•SRES 452 ATS 

Whereas Pittsburgh provides a high quality of life to its residents, offering unparalleled arts and cultural opportunities for a city of its size; 

Whereas, in 2007 and in 1985, Pittsburgh was named America’s Most Livable City, the only city in the United States 

to earn that honor twice; 

Whereas Pittsburgh is commemorating its naming and its impact on the world with Pittsburgh 250, a year-long celebration involving communities in 14 Pennsylvania counties, parts of 7 States, and the District of Columbia; 

Whereas Pittsburgh 250 has connected Washington, DC to 

Pittsburgh by supporting the completion of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, the longest hiking and biking trail 

east of the Mississippi and the most accessible great trail 

experience in the world, providing an important new outdoor recreational asset to the people of the Mid-Atlantic 

United States; and 

Whereas Pittsburgh has accomplished all of these things with 

an unparalleled history of public and private partnership: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 250th anniversary of the 

3 Naming of Pittsburgh, known as a significant event 

4 in United States history; 

5 (2) recognizes that Pittsburgh 250 is organizing 

6 the commemoration on behalf of 14 counties in 

7 southwestern Pennsylvania; 

8 (3) encourages participation for all Americans 

9 to learn how the Forbes Campaign, the opening of 


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1 the Gateway to the West, the industrialization of 

2 America, and the environmental transformation of 

3 Pittsburgh helped to make America; and 

4 (4) commends the contributions of those who 

5 have followed trails to Pittsburgh for 250 years to 

6 shape the world we live in and the Nation we have 

7 become. 

Æ 


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