Right here is the Pittsburgh area. Here are some other things Pittsburgh is known for.
Banana Split: Latrobe — 1904 The banana split was invented by Dr. David Strickler, a pharmacist, at Strickler’s Drug Store in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.Sources: The Pittsburgh Press, 5 September 1986, p. B1;Undercover Club Newsletter, August 1993, p. 4.
Big Mac: Uniontown — 1967 Created by M. J. “Jim” Delligatti at his Uniontown, Fayette County, McDonald’s. Thereafter introduced “to three of his other McDonald’s in Pittsburgh. After test marketing, the item began appearing on every McDonald’s menu nationwide by 1968.”Source: The Tribune-Review, 5 May 1993, p. B1
The First Internet Emoticon – 1982 The Smiley 🙂 was the first Internet emoticon, created by Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Scott Fahlman.
First Mr Yuk Sticker – 1971 Mr Yuk was created at the Poison Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh after research indicated that the skull and crossbones previously used to identify poisons had little meaning to children who equate the symbol with exciting things like pirates and adventure.
First Pull-Tab on Cans – 1962 The pull-tab was developed by Alcoa and was first used by Iron City Brewery in 1962. For many years, pull-tabs were only used in this area.
First Polio Vaccine – March 26, 1953 The polio vaccine was developed by Dr. Jonas E. Salk, a 38-year-old University of Pittsburgh researcher and professor.
First Zippo Lighter – 1932 George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter in 1932 in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The name Zippo was chosen by Blaisdell because he liked the sound of the word “zipper” – which was patented around the same time in nearby Meadville, PA.
First U.S. Commercial Radio Station – November 2, 1920 Dr. Frank Conrad, assistant chief engineer of Westinghouse Electric, first constructed a transmitter and installed it in a garage near his home in Wilkinsburg in 1916. The station was licensed as 8XK. At 6 p.m. on Nov. 2, 1920, 8KX became KDKA Radio and began broadcasting at 100 watts from a make-shift shack atop one of the Westinghouse manufacturing buildings in East Pittsburgh.
First Air Brake – 1869 The first practical air brake for railroads was invented by George Westinghouse in the 1860s and patented in 1869.
Read about more Pittsburgh first and history at some of these cool websites:
http://www.carnegielibrary.org/research/pittsburgh/history/pghsts3.html
http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/aboutpittsburgh/a/facts_2.htm
