In the rear of the classroom, a copy of “The Two Kings” by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, in which the titular kings stumble on a tiny Lithuanian village radiating Lithuanian culture to the world.
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Nationality Rooms: Lithuania
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Nationality Rooms: Germany
The German classroom is full of dark carved woodwork, and scenes from famous German fairy tales are depicted in the stained glass. Below: Little Red Riding Hood.
“Guten tag, Rotkäppchen, wo hinaus so früh?” (“Well, hello there, Little Red Riding Hood! Where are you going so early?”)
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Nationality Rooms: Austria
This is the sort of room in which one feels one ought to be negotiating a treaty. Modeled after the Haydnsall in the Esterházy palace in Eisenstadt, it includes copies of three of the famous ceiling murals by Tencalla, which depict the wedding of Cupid and Psyche. (The copies were done by the Pittsburgh artist Celeste Parrendo.)
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Nationality Rooms: China
A gilt dragon on the ceiling looks down on the Chinese classroom in a possessive way. Dragons are supposed to bring good luck, but this one looks as though he plans to make quite sure you are worthy first.
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Nationality Rooms: Syria-Lebanon
It is not necessary to tell a Pittsburgher what the Nationality Rooms are, but for the benefit of visitors from foreign parts we explain that they are a set of classrooms in the Cathedral of Learning (which itself is such a wonderful absurdity that it requires some explanation, but not here) decorated in the styles of Pittsburgh’s various immigrant groups. Each is a unique work of art, and none more elaborate than the tiny Syria-Lebanon Room, the only one of the lot not usually open to the public.
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Cathedral of Learning in Black and White
The Cathedral of Learning from Schenley Park, in front of Phipps Conservatory. This is not the first time Old Pa Pitt has published a picture of this view, and it will not be the last. It is a view worth seeing in many different lights and different seasons.
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Your WPA at Work in Schenley Park
In 1938 and 1939, the WPA put what today would be millions of dollars’ worth of improvements into the Schenley Park trails. Seldom have improvements been carried out with such simple good taste, and they will probably last for centuries.
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Panther Hollow Lake
Panther Hollow Lake in early spring, with the Cathedral of Learning in the background and a pair of Canada geese floating on the water.
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Cliffside Rowhouses in South Oakland
Tall, narrow rowhouses in South Oakland cling to the edge of Panther Hollow. Many of the houses have been converted to apartments.
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Cathedral of Learning from Greenfield
Greenfield is a hilly neighborhood whose peaks sometimes open up unexpected views of the city. Here we see two different views of the Cathedral of Learning in the distance.
