Many of Pittsburgh’s historic homes are prominently located in well-trafficked neighborhoods. But others — just as architecturally significant, just as aesthetically remarkable — require a bit of extra digging like in Brighton Heights; after all, many of Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods were booming a century ago.
And on Oct. 3, you’ll have a chance to peek behind some very old doors.
Walk Through the Brighton Heights House Tour This October
The Brighton Heights House Tour, held regularly for the past 20 years, offers a look at one of the city’s most suburban-feeling neighborhoods. At the afternoon event, co-chairs Anne Perri Cole (who is also a contributor to Shady Ave) and Susan Pesselator will escort you through a series of remarkable homes.
Among the highlights is “a farmhouse that is one of the original homes [from] when the area became developed,” says Cole. Another house, once condemned, sits on Harbeson street — and was built more than a century ago by the Harbeson family. “They saved this house that could’ve been torn down. The owner … restored it himself.”
Cole promises plenty of surprises on the eight-property tour. “We have classic, foursquare houses that just have impeccable style but also whimsy. There’s also a house that has a Friends-themed bathroom.”
Discover What’s Under the Surface of Brighton Heights
It’s a chance to get to know a community that has often been overlooked, Cole adds. “I really, truly believe it’s a hidden gem. I started out as a renter, sort of unsure of the area; we loved it so much that after three years we bought a house that we hope is our forever home. We made so many friends; there’s so many amazing families then.”
It’s also an alternative event for those who acted too slowly on another major home event. The Shadyside House Tour, also scheduled for Oct. 3, sold out early; tickets for the Brighton Heights House Tour are still available.
The event will serve as an unofficial end-of-summer celebration, as the house tour — scheduled for Noon-4 p.m. — will flow straight into the neighborhood’s final Summer Series block party of 2026, featuring vendors, bands and more.
Cole says the Summer Series is emblematic of the neighborly spirit of the neighborhood. She also praises the “small but mighty” local business district, including the Allegheny City Brewing Taproom (which will offer a custom brew for the event), 50-year institution Tom Friday’s Market and neighborhood favorite Muns Pizza.
“What I love about Brighton Heights is there’s a real push for people to have families here,” she says. “It’s not like [other city neighborhoods] where people are going and living in their 20s, then they have kids and they move to the suburbs. BH is a family neighborhood — families of all types and shapes.”
About the Author
Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.
Photos Courtesy Brighton Heights House Tour