Broadcasting Museum announces proposed site development
November 3, 2023Most Pittsburghers – particularly those of us in broadcasting – know the date November 2, 1920. That is the date amateur-licensed 8XK became commercially-licensed KDKA.
On the 103rd anniversary of the occasion on Thursday, The National Museum of Broadcasting Pittsburgh announced their plans for a brick and mortar museum intended to showcase the origins of broadcasting and electronic media. Additionally, the organization has a long-term goal to make the museum as a focal point for tourism and education showcasing the Pittsburgh regions innovative contributions.
Such a museum will take millions of dollars and several years to construct, but the organization credits the support and partnership of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) and Pennsylvania State Senator, Jay Costa (D) 43 District. The proposed site for the museum is a vacant bank building in Turtle Creek just yards away from the site where the Harding-Cox election returns were announced on that day in 1920. The building boasts 10,000 square feet of space and 250 parking spaces. RIDC owns the property once occupied by Westinghouse and welcomes the museum which will have easy access from I-376 (The Parkway East), US Route 30 and I-76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike).
Following Thursday’s press conference, the NMB Board of Directors – including broadcasters board president Bill Hillgrove, Ron Klink, Susie Barbour, and Rosemary Martinelli – Senator Costa, and Hayley Haldeman from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission unveiled and rededicated the “Radio Station KDKA” historical marker to be placed down the street from the proposed site marking the spot where this beloved station and its medium began in 1920.
Jason Togyer contributed to this report.
SO glad to see this happening, not only because I spent 30+ years in radio, but because I revered that location. I worked for Dish Network in 2002-03 and our installation/marketing office was in the former Mellon Bank building. I often looked up at the shack on the old Westinghouse building and wished for it to become a shring. This is close enough.
Could you give us a Google maps location for the proposed new museum, for those of us unfamiliar with the site? Thanks!
KD was the first Commercial broadcast licensed radio station in town, but it was not the first radio station in town – KQV beat KD by at least 6 months – on the air.
If you wanted to be correct, you would build the museum at the site of the old brick garage in East McKeesport not The Keystone Commons -Westinghouse plant.
Why not start out by contacting some licensed hams and putting on a special event station down near D – Isle, hang a dipole antenna off the George Westinghouse bridge and have at it.
We should be happy that this project is finally further off the ground than it has been over the last nearly 30 years.