No other city in the United States is home to more Slovaks than
Pittsburgh. Through historical photographs, Slovak Pittsburgh celebrates
the rich heritage there.
It is estimated that close to 100,000 Slovak immigrants came to the area
in the 1890s looking for work and the chance for a better life. The
hills and valleys of this new land reminded newcomers of the farms,
forests, and mountains they left behind. They lived in neighborhoods
close to their work, forming numerous cluster communities in such places
as Braddock, Duquesne, Homestead, Munhall, the North Side, Rankin, and
Swissvale. Once settled, Slovak immigrants founded their own churches,
schools, fraternal benefit societies, and social clubs. Many of these
organizations still enjoy an active presence in Pittsburgh today,
serving to pass on the customs and traditions of the Slovak people.