Motor Square Garden facts for kids
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East Liberty Market
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 Location in Pittsburgh
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5900 Baum Boulevard, East Liberty, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1898-1900 |
| Architect | Peabody & Stearns |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001121 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1977 |
Motor Square Garden, also called East Liberty Market, is a famous building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. It is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can find this building at 5900 Baum Boulevard in the East Liberty area. Today, it's the main office for the Pittsburgh branch of the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The outside of the building has a big blue dome made of steel and covered in tin. It also has bright yellow brick walls. Inside, it looks very industrial with a large open space called an atrium. You can see the steel beams and skylights high above.
Contents
The Story of Motor Square Garden
Building a Market House
The building was constructed between 1898 and 1900. The wealthy Mellon family of Pittsburgh paid for it. They originally wanted it to be a city market, called the East Liberty Market House.
The famous architectural firm of Peabody and Stearns from Boston designed the building.
From Market to Auto Shows
The market didn't do very well as a shopping spot. So, in 1915, the Pittsburgh Automobile Association bought it. They used it to host exciting auto shows.
A Place for Sports
In the 1920s, Motor Square Garden became a popular sports venue. It was especially known for boxing matches. The University of Pittsburgh's basketball team even played some of their home games there. This continued until their new court opened in 1925.
Dance Marathons During Tough Times
During the early 1930s, the building became famous for hosting dance marathons. These were long, tough contests during the Great Depression. Many couples would dance for days, hoping to win a prize.
One very famous marathon happened in 1932–1933. Over 130 people danced for 838 hours straight, which is about 35 days! The winners, Florence “Flo” Franchina and Eddie Bonach, won $1,000. These events brought big crowds and offered hope to people during hard times.
New Uses Over the Years
By the 1940s, the building was being used as a dealership for new cars.
In 1988, the AAA bought the property. They hired Landmarks Design Associates to turn it into a fancy shopping mall. However, the mall didn't succeed. So, AAA expanded its offices to fill the building. The UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing also became a tenant there.
Gallery
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East Liberty Market
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Motor Square Garden
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Motor Square Garden is currently the home of AAA East Central and the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing.
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Interior Atrium and Skylights
