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 known as East Liberty Market, is a cool old building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can find it at 5900 Baum Boulevard in the East Liberty neighborhood. Today, it's the main office for the Pittsburgh branch of the American Automobile Association (AAA). They even own the building!
The outside of the building is easy to spot. It has a huge blue dome made of steel and covered in tin. The walls are made of bright yellow bricks. Inside, it looks like an old factory with a big open space called an atrium. You can see the steel beams, and lots of light comes in from the skylights above.
Contents
History of Motor Square Garden
Building a Market House
The building was paid for by the rich Mellon family from Pittsburgh. They built it between 1898 and 1900. It was first meant to be a city market, called the East Liberty Market House. The Mellons decided to build it after they had trouble selling houses in one of their neighborhoods.
The famous architectural company Peabody and Stearns from Boston, Massachusetts designed the building.
From Market to Auto Shows
The market didn't do very well as a place to shop. So, in 1915, a new group called the Pittsburgh Automobile Association bought it. They used it to host exciting car shows!
A Place for Sports and Cars
In the 1920s, Motor Square Garden became a popular sports spot. Many boxing matches were held there. It was even used sometimes as the home court for the University of Pittsburgh's basketball team. This continued until 1925, when a new court opened inside Pitt Stadium.
By the 1940s, the building changed again. It became a place where people could buy new cars.
AAA Takes Over
In 1988, the AAA bought the property. They hired a company called Landmarks Design Associates to turn it into a fancy shopping mall. But the mall didn't work out.
So, AAA decided to use more of the building for their own offices. They also have a tenant, which is the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing.
| Preceded by Trees Gymnasium |
Home of the University of Pittsburgh Basketball Trees Gymnasium/Motor Square Garden 19?? – 1924 |
Succeeded by Pitt Pavilion |
Images for kids
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A view of the East Liberty Market.
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The unique dome of Motor Square Garden.
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Motor Square Garden is now home to AAA and the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing.
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The large, open atrium inside with skylights.
