Most individuals know of Pittsburgh to be the “Steel City”, as the city has a long history and pride within their steel roots. However, what most do not know is that before Pittsburgh’s infamous steel industry started, it was actually considered “America’s Glass City” (Pittsburgh Glass Center). The first glass factories in the area were opened in 1797, and after the Civil War, the glass industry in Pittsburgh was at its height (Pittsburgh Glass Center). Unfortunately, between economic hardships including the Great Depression, as well as competition from other glass companies in the country, the Pittsburgh glass factories began to suffer. By the 1960s, many plants and factories began to close in the area (Pittsburgh Glass Center). Today, there are still a few glass factories and companies in the area, two of which are the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (more commonly known as PPG) and the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Though both of these companies still create glass works, their business focuses are extremely different, and they highlight the shift in Pittsburgh Glass from industry to art.
PPG was founded in 1883 by Captain John B. Ford and John Pitcairn, known as the first successful plate glass factory in the area though other glass factories existed at this time (PPG). The company was established in Creighton, PA, then in 1895 moved their headquarters into Pittsburgh (Encyclopedia). The business quickly expanded and created a plant in Barberton, OH. Following the expansion of the company, PPG started to manufacture both plate glass as well as paints, which they are still well known for today. Initially, PPG was creating glass for businesses and large buildings such as skyscrapers, however, as the automotive industry started to boom, they expanded into creating windows and windshields for cars (PPG). During this same period, PPG developed the ribbon method of making plate glass, from their previous batch method (Encyclopedia). From this time throughout the 1950s, PPG continued to flourish and expand with their supply growing to meet the increased demand in plate glass for both business and automobile use. In 1952, PPG opened their first business, allowing them to once again expand their output and reach new markets (Encyclopedia). After this time PPG continued to create plate glass, but also shifted their focus on to their coatings industry. Today, PPG is a well-known company in not just the Pittsburgh area but across the country.
Contrasting the industry side of glass works, the Pittsburgh Glass Center is located in the Garfield section of Pittsburgh. The Center was opened in 2001 with a focus on the glass as an art (Pittsburgh Glass Center). It was founded by two artists who were actually from the area Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett. It is a much smaller business than PPG and focuses on education and foundations of glass work compared to mass production. The Pittsburgh Glass Center features a gallery where anyone can stop in and visit, as well as classes for those interested in glass making. The Center also has residency programs for experienced artists who want to work and learn from other more knowledgeable artists that have been working in glass for a longer period of time (Pittsburgh Glass Center). Though lesser known, the Pittsburgh Glass Center is an inviting space that individuals from all ages can experience and enjoy.
While both PPG and the Pittsburgh Glass Center both create and emphasize glass works, both companies have very different visions and directions to their practices. PPG was founded with the intention of creating a large-scale, well-known company that had a great impact on the plate glass market. On the other side, the Pittsburgh Glass Center was designed to be a small, tighter knit company made to spread the knowledge of glass as art. PPG has become a commonplace name and company that pretty much everyone in the Pittsburgh area has at least heard of, even if they have no idea what they do or make. PPG has headquarters not just in America but in Europe, Latin America, and Asia while Pittsburgh Glass Center is stationed solely in Pittsburgh, however again this is due to the difference in company design (PPG). The Pittsburgh Glass Center was created with the goal of giving glass artists a place to practice and grow as an artist, as well as welcome new individuals to glass making. PPG was created with the vision of being one of the largest suppliers of plate glass not just in the Pittsburgh region, but in the country, and this goal was furthered when they added paint products and coatings to their product line (PPG). There was actually a shift in the company, and many individuals know more of PPG due to their paints than their glass. While both companies show community outreach, PPG and the PPG foundation give donations to various communities around the world, while the Pittsburgh Glass Center’s outreach is focused on individuals and allowing them to expand their knowledge by more focused learning. They also offer partnerships with individuals and companies to further allow their classes to be more affordable to a wide range of individuals (Pittsburgh Glass Center). While Pittsburgh Glass Center mainly advertises through their website and the events they host, PPG has a variety of different advertising types, including ads in newspapers, on television, and most well-known in Pittsburgh, they have their name on PPG Paints arena, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Both the Pittsburgh Glass Center and PPG are important companies that still contribute to the present day glass industry in Pittsburgh, though their design and interests as companies are very different. Though there is not really a way to visit PPG, unless you go to the arena for a hockey game, the Pittsburgh Glass Center is open seven days a week to the public, though the hours are different depending on what day you visit. For anyone looking to experience glass works as an art instead of the typical windows you see every day, the Glass Center is worth the visit.
Works Cited
“Home.” Pittsburgh Glass Center, 2018, www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/.
“Company History.” PPG, 2018, corporate.ppg.com/Our-Company/company-history.aspx.
Company.", "Pittsburgh Plate Glass. “Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.” Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, Encyclopedia.com, 2000, www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/pittsburgh-plate-glass-company.