Only recently incorporated as a city, Pittsburgh is beginning to grow. Ironically, the War of 1812 was a boon to the city. With most European goods off limits, the country was forced to increase its manufacturing capacity, and this proved a catalyst in Pittsburgh's industrial emergence. The iron, construction, ship building and glass industries flourished.

In the early part of the 19th century, Pittsburgh was a renowned ship building center. Lewis and Clark came to Pittsburgh in 1803 to have their keelboat built. They set forth from Pittsburgh on their epic journey to explore the western lands. The first steamboat on western waters, the New Orleans, was built on the Pittsburgh waterfront in 1811.

Later in the same century, Pittsburgh had a place in naval prominence even in the Civil War. The foundries in Pittsburgh provided the majority of artillery canons for the Union. The guns of the historic naval ironclad, the Monitor, were cast here in the Steel City. Pittsburgh was the unequaled king of steel during most of the 20th century. Now, as the city enters the 21st century, Pittsburgh is striving to be in the forefront of the technology revolution, with Carnegie-Mellon University leading the way in Robotics engineering.