The Fight Over How to Spell Pittsburgh
It's Pittsburgh's birthday week! To celebrate, we're diving into some history about how our city spells its name. Today, we all agree that Pittsburgh ends with an H, but in our earlier days, people were very split on the issue. We’re bringing back a conversation between host Megan Harris and historian and author Virginia Montanez to learn about the basic rules of how we spell things (really), why Pittsburgh was so bad at it (shocking), and how newspapermen and intellectuals made everything worse (¯\_(ツ)_/¯).
**This episode originally aired on July 22, 2024.
Learn more about the sponsors of this November 24th episode:
Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.
Want more Pittsburgh news?
- Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter.
- We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh.
- Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Did Disney Do Us Dirty? Plus, Guerilla Crosswalks & Capo's Investigation
A new collaboration pairs Disney characters with every NFL team, and the choice to represent the Steelers has been… controversial. Did Di...

Your Guide to Making Friends in Pittsburgh
It can be daunting to make new friends in Pittsburgh. Lots of people are still tight with their buddies from kindergarten, and it's not a...

Is Flooding Getting Worse in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is on track to have its wettest August on record, which is especially concerning since flooding is our most frequent natural d...

Taco Bell Lawsuit, Unsafe Sidewalks & Cryptid Dance Party
Is a local woman suing Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over cyclosporiasis? Is Downtown finally getting a grocery store in the form of Trader...

Where To Eat Late in Pittsburgh
Back-to-school season means late nights are back — and sooner or later, you’re going to get hungry. We’re revisiting our 1,000th episode,...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Portland Made Its River Cool — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
How often are you out in nature in Pittsburgh? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban...

Pablo Pledgescobar, Impounded E-Scooters & Shapiro’s Data Center Play
Penn State frats are facing yet another scandal –– this time a cocaine trafficking ring that investigators say involved students, alumni,...

Allegheny County’s Giant Tax Reset, Explained
Allegheny County has been ordered to reassess every residential and commercial property in the county — about 550,000 — for the first tim...

The Bartenders' Guide to Pittsburgh Dive Bars
Who knows a great bar better than the people who’ve worked behind one? Pittsburgh bartenders Aubrey Halliburton and Lisa Considine, co-ow...

Can Butler County Flip? Plus TikTok Trouble & North Side Cats
A special election in Butler County could be a bellwether for Pennsylvania Democrats ahead of the midterms in November. Host Megan Harris...

