Famed Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson, who died in 2005, is best known for his series of 10 plays called the “American Century Cycle” — each set in a different decade of the twentieth century, weaving together Black history and culture. All but one take place in the Hill District.
Today, you can find his legacy preserved at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Downtown and the August Wilson House in Crawford-Roberts. The restored 1840s home isn’t just a museum — it's a creative hub that honors his legacy through theatrical productions, art exhibitions, literary workshops, and more.
Stay tuned for shows and exhibits at the renovated August Wilson House in the Hill District. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
You can also find Wilson’s work on the big screen with his plays that’ve been turned into films — like “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix), which follows a family in the 1930s that discovers haunting truths while fighting over the fate of an heirloom piano, and “Fences” (Prime Video), the story of a working-class Black father in the 1950s who navigates lost childhood dreams and complex family dynamics.
August Wilson’s given name was Freddy Kittel. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Before August Wilson was born in 1945, the Hill District buzzed with Black businesses, entertainment, and culture — like a storied Black newspaper, legendary baseball team, and renowned jazz club.
That all changed in the 1950s when this vibrant community was dismantled in the name of “urban renewal.” The city razed swaths of the Lower Hill and forced out 8,000 residents and 400 businesses to make room for the Civic Arena, the precursor to PPG Paints Arena.
By the time Wilson left in the 1970s, he had a love-hate relationship with the city. “This is my home and at times I miss it and find it tremendously exciting, and other times I want to catch the first thing out that has wheels,” Wilson once said.
Quotes from August Wilson’s plays decorate the stone wall at the August Wilson Park. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Discover more snippets of Wilson’s perspective displayed at August Wilson Park on Cliff Street. There’s a playground, basketball court, picnic tables, benches, and a beautiful city view. It's a peaceful spot to jot down Pittsburgh musings, like Wilson once did.
Excerpts in this article are from our Crawford-Roberts neighborhood guide.
