Washington's Landing
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Washington's Landing, perviously known as Herrs Island is an island in the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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[edit] Herrs Island
The island was originally named Herrs Island, after an early owner, Benjamin Herr. Herr used the island for farming. Later, the island was used extensively for industrial purposes, including stockyards, saw mills, soap works, and the Pennsylvania Railroad [1].
[edit] Washington's Landing
George Washington reputedly slept on the island after his raft capsized in the Allegheny River while on a diplomatic mission to the French at Fort Le Boeuf near Lake Erie during the French and Indian War. [2] This story led to the renaming of the island on October 24, 1987.
[edit] Rehabilitiation
As a result of the industrial activity, Herrs Island was a brownfield site. By the 1970s most industrial activity on the island had left. During the 1980s and 1990s a major redevelopment effort was undertaken.
The island is now a showcase project in the urban redevelopment of the city of Pittsburgh [3]. It now a mixed use community, home to townhomes and business parks, as well as a marina and the Three Rivers Rowing Association.
