Duquesne Incline (Upper Station), Pittsburgh (must see)

The upper station of the Duquesne Incline rests along the crest of Mount Washington, where one of Pittsburgh’s best-known viewpoints opens across the city below. From the observation area beside the station, visitors can see Downtown Pittsburgh, the meeting of the rivers, and the dense network of bridges that define the skyline. The overlook is especially popular in the late afternoon and evening, when shifting light reflects across the water and the city begins to glow.

Opened in 1877, the Duquesne Incline was originally powered by steam and built to connect hillside communities with the industries and riverfront districts below. Inclines became a practical transportation solution, carrying workers, residents, and goods between the hilltop and the city. Several similar railways once operated across Mount Washington, though most disappeared as roads and automobiles became more common.

The Duquesne Incline survived while many others closed, though its future became uncertain in the early 1960s. After shutting down in 1962 due to needed repairs and declining ridership, local residents organized a preservation campaign to save it. Their efforts led to the incline reopening in 1963. Today, it remains one of only two operational inclines in Pittsburgh, alongside the Monongahela Incline.

Inside the upper station, visitors will find exhibits, photographs, and mechanical displays that explain how the incline operates and trace the history of Mount Washington’s hillside communities. Riding the restored wooden cable car down the steep track remains part of the attraction itself. As the car descends, the changing angle of the skyline, rivers, and neighborhoods offers a gradual introduction to Pittsburgh’s geography and industrial past.