Saturday, May 9, 2020
Country road in Greene county, PA. Image by Brianna Horan.
National Travel & Tourism Week + Giving Tuesday

May is always an exciting time for Rivers of Steel. Normally, it's the tour season kickoff at the Carrie Blast Furnaces, while the Explorer riverboat is booked to the max with student scientists. Sure, this year is a bit different in those capacities, but there hasn't been a shortage of things to celebrate this week.

May 3 – 9 was National Travel and Tourism week, themed the Spirit of Travel. So we took that opportunity to dive deep into all the different things that make Rivers of Steel and southwestern Pennsylvania truly special, from driving tour itineraries of the region to spotlights on our storytellers and our collections.

This past Tuesday, folks around the region—and across the globe—rallied around our nonprofits, showing their support through a day of giving via Giving Tuesday and Give Big Pittsburgh. Rivers of Steel's board of directors put forth a challenge. The results were extraordinary. Many thanks to our community!
FEATURE STORY
Exploring the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area
Making plans for when you can travel again? But looking to stay closer to home?
Discover some surprises right in your own backyard with these driving tour itineraries for southwestern Pennsylvania.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO, AUGUST CARLINO
Giving Tuesday Gratitude
Dear Friends of Rivers of Steel,

The hardworking spirit of the people of southwestern Pennsylvania is legendary—and as I have said before it is only matched by their generosity toward one another. When times are hard, we lean on one another, so our resiliency is not surprising. However, the level of support that we received this week is truly extraordinary.
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Stories from Keith Clouse
Tour guide Keith Clouse recalls some of his favorite stories from Don Sullivan, a former guide who had worked at the Carrie Blast Furnaces as an ironworker. He also shares his own story about how and why he came to be a volunteer.
EDITORIAL
Celebrating our Industrial Heritage
Director of Historic Collections and Facilities, Ron Baraff, shares his thoughts on the role our industrial heritage is playing in the formation of our region's future.
MON VALLEY ARTISTS PROFILES
Creative Professionals in the Mon Valley
As we continue our Mon Valley Featured Artist Series, this week we are highlighting Curtis Reaves and Jarrod Russell.

Few creative professionals have invested more in the Mon Valley than Curtis. Through his work as a documentary filmmaker and fine art photographer, to his dedication to the community of McKeesport, Pennsylvania via C-Clear Empowerment, Curtis exemplifies a brand of true grit and perseverance so often found in artists from the Mon Valley Creative Corridor.
Travel upriver to the Mon Valley community of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania for a look at tattoo artist and pop-surrealist painter Jarrod Russell.