The automobile transformed the American landscape, and in doing so, it changed the lives of Black Americans. Two million African Americans courageously fled the South during the first wave of the Great Migration from 1916 to 1945. Pittsburgh neighborhoods like the Hill District became a haven for Black communities to thrive.
Buying a car was one of the first steps many took as they transitioned into the middle class. For Black Americans, buying a car in the mid-20th century was more than a symbol of making it; the automobile provided freedom of mobility.
Pittsburgh and the Great Migration: Black Mobility and the Automobile will feature well-known favorites such as the 1914 Ford Model T Touring Car and a 1922 Lincoln Model L. You'll also step back in time with period costumes and memorabilia.
To purchase tickets:
Talks & Tours
Guided Tours
Every Tuesday-Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
Now available: the exhibition book!
Buy the Book
Buying a car was one of the first steps many took as they transitioned into the middle class. For Black Americans, buying a car in the mid-20th century was more than a symbol of making it; the automobile provided freedom of mobility.
Pittsburgh and the Great Migration: Black Mobility and the Automobile will feature well-known favorites such as the 1914 Ford Model T Touring Car and a 1922 Lincoln Model L. You'll also step back in time with period costumes and memorabilia.
To purchase tickets:
- Call 412-371-0600
- Buy online here
- Visit the Grable Visitors Center at the Frick Pittsburgh
Events
Talks & Tours
Free with exhibition admission
Guided Tours
Every Tuesday-Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
Now available: the exhibition book!
Buy the Book
Program Information
Pittsburgh and the Great Migration: Black Mobility and the Automobile
Sponsored by
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Sponsor This Exhibition
Pittsburgh and the Great Migration is also made possible by the generosity from our exhibition sponsors
PartnersBob Hernandez and Karen Blumen
The Family of W. P. Snyder IV
Nancy D. Washington, in memory of my father
Supporters
Barbara and David Burstin
Mr. William Donovan and Mrs. Lisa L. Donovan
Judy Horgan and Steve Pavsner
Contributors
Elizabeth E. Barker, Ph.D.
Debbie James
Ms. Laura N.K. Miller, Esq. and Mr. David Miller
Bonnie and Tom VanKirk
Friends
Anonymous
Community Supporters
Elaine Effort
Alan James and Beverly Thornton
Regina and Stratis Kakadelis
D. McCaskill
Paul and Alison Oehler
Mr. Phillip Schuller
Ms. Sally Sherman and Ms. Dagny Felker
Dawne Sohn and Pix Sohn
Violette Ruth
Judith Touré and Roy Briere
Betsy and Charles Watkins
Community Members
Anonymous
Corrine Babson
William and Susan Cohen
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher A. Davis
Chloé Dixon
Cynthia L. Pennington and C.W. Donohue
D.E. McCormick & M.C. O'Neill
Cheryl Richardson
Aaron Stonecypher
Sara Weeks-Gloddy
We are grateful to the members of our advisory panel and expert historian consultants who helped shape the exhibition content and accompanying catalogue:
Ron Baraff, Rivers of Steel
Samuel W Black, Heinz History Center
Elizabeth A. Burns, The Burns Collection & Archive
Charlene Foggie-Barnett, Teenie Harris Archive, Carnegie Museum of Art
Laurence A. Glasco, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Jonnet Solomon, National Opera House
Gretchen Sorin, Ph.D., Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York
Joe William Trotter, Jr., Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
Mark Whitaker, author and journalist
The exhibition was organized by Kimberly Cady, former Associate Curator of the Car and Carriage Museum, and brought to completion by Dawn R. Brean, Chief Curator & Director of Collections, and Morgan Lawrence, Collections Manager. Thank you to Alonna Carter, Research Assistant, and Charles Clark III, Clark & Coleman Museum Consultancy for research support. Installation credit goes to Christina Cichra, Scott Hunter, Carolyn Jamerson, Duncan MacDiarmid, Kate Pirilla, Lauryn Smith, and Terry Young. Additional thanks to EngineHouse, Markantone Painting, Rapid Asset Recovery, Reliable Transportation, and graphics designer Greg Pytlik.
Above & Exhibitions landing page: Three People and Their Car. Dolores Hobley Collection, LaBudde Special Collections, UMKC University Libraries.
Car and Carriage Museum
May 6, 2023 - Feb 4, 2024
09/26/2023
May 6, 2023 - Feb 4, 2024
09/26/2023
Pittsburgh and the Great Migration: Black Mobility and the Automobile
Car and Carriage Museum
09/26/2023 2:00 PM
09/26/2023 2:00 PM
Guided Tour of Pittsburgh and the Great Migration at 2:00 p.m.
Car and Carriage Museum
09/30/2023 11:30 AM
09/30/2023 11:30 AM
Guided Tour of Pittsburgh and the Great Migration at 11:30 a.m.
The Frick Art Museum Auditorium
10/08/2023 2:00 PM
10/08/2023 2:00 PM
Film Screening: We Knew What We Had
The Frick Pittsburgh
10/14/2023 10:00 AM
10/14/2023 10:00 AM