Fire in the Valley- Carnegie Steel and the Town That Built America
4.5
Fire in the Valley- Carnegie Steel and the Town That Built America
By DeBolt Unlimited Travel
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Certified guide
- Private transportation
- Extraordinary extensive personal narration the length of the Experience
What's not included- Gratuities
- Landing and facility fees
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Option 1Duquesne Incline, 1197 W Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USAWe can meet you in the parking lot for the Duquesne Incline between West Carson Street and West Station Square Drive next to the River.
- Option 2Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pittsburgh West - Green Tree, an IHG Hotel, 875 Greentree Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15220, USAWe can meet you at the front entrance to the Hotel.
- Option 3Panera Bread, 3401 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USAWe can meet you at the entrance to the restaurant.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 12953P3- Most travellers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 12953P3
From
â‚ą11,094.24
per group (up to 4)
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- redxdress0 contributionsUnforgettable and unmissable Pittsburgh experience!My husband and I were on a trip with my parents, so our group ranged in age from 40s to 70s. However, I am sure this experience would be great for visitors of all ages, both older and younger than we are. I had been in touch with George (the guide and owner/operator) in advance. Throughout the whole experience, he was cheerful, enthusiastic, helpful and justifiably proud of his town. I was really looking forward to the tour, and can honestly say it still exceeded my expectations. The views we enjoyed, the knowledge we gained, and the fun we had - even on subjects that are not my specialty - George made it all memorable and delightful. I would recommend this trip to ANYONE who wants to get to know Pittsburgh, and can agree with George that it is "the koolest!"Written 11 January 2025
- erikp5710 contributionsGeorge Deserves His Own StatueI want to thank Mr. George for the great tour provided during my visit to Pgh. Mr. George is passionate about his city, and it shows. So much so, that he deserves a statue of his own in the city or next to Mr. Rogers. I would say, however, that there are two things that need an update on his tour. 1) Flight 93 departed from New Jersey, not Ohio airport, and 2) there is a video of the Immaculate Reception as captured by the film crew. Thank you for the great stories, and I hope you continue to provide such great memories for folks visiting your city for many years to come.Written 26 December 2024
- 570shelleyk0 contributionsTailored tour that we all loved!Personable and clever, George gets to know a bit about his passengers so that he can tailor the tour to their liking. We’re big sports fans so he shared his knowledge and history of the many Pitt teams and star figures. We now have a much better appreciation of the city, past and present. All four of us loved the tour. Thanks George!Written 13 December 2024
- Newks00 contributionsPittsburgh TourThis hour is 2 hours of chat, and by the end, you felt as though you’d know the guide for years. George was an outstanding, informative guide. Brilliant service..Written 7 December 2024
- BlaineO_110 contributionsAmazing tour and educationThank you George for an amazing afternoon and most importantly your passion for Pittsburg! Your personal attention to our desire to learn about the city to help our daughter in her decision to attend PItt next year was superb. We also appreciate you going out of your way to bring our items left in your vehicle to our hotel. We look forward to staying in touch! Blaine, Theresa and MadelynWritten 1 December 2024
- 678elitap0 contributionsYinzer’s viewGeorge was very engaging and it was clear that he loves his city. He provided a historical perspective that isn’t readily available to casual observers. We chose the right time of the evening to see the wonderful views of all the lit buildings and surroundings. The tour of the incline was very impressive given the age of the entire systemWritten 16 November 2024
- margareth3500 contributionsGorgeous!My husband and I visited Fallingwater and if you are in the area don’t miss it. Frank Lloyd Wright built this getaway home for a rich business owner from Pittsburg. The setting is spectacular especially as we visited in October when all the trees were turning. The house is built over a waterfall in a rocky forested secluded area. You need to buy a timed entry and they sell out so make your reservation way ahead of time. You walk from the visitors center with a guide and tour the house. There is a great souvenir store in the visitors center and a small cafe. Driving there can be tricky so plot it out before hand and bring a printed copy because you will lose cell service and not have gps. GPS is not always accurate either! Read their website. It’s worth the trouble!Written 11 November 2024
- Kristan C0 contributionsDo not miss out on this tour!This was the most amazing tour! My husband and I visited Pittsburgh for the Steelers v Giants game. We did this tour during the afternoon of game day. It’s like an Uber guide around the city with George as our tour guide who is probably the best ever. He’s lived in Pittsburgh all his life so he knows everything. He’s fun, energetic, and interactive. Everyone knew him wherever we went. It really made the tour feel comfortable, like we knew we were getting our monies worth. The history and photo ops were so cool. You have to include the Duquesne Incline! We typically would do something like a pub crawl or brewery tour. But since we were only spending two days in a city I’ve always wanted to visit I thought something a little more “grown up” would be better. I couldn’t have been more right. This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Don’t hesitate to book this! And make sure George is your guide. You’re going to love it! 10/10. I’d do it every time I visit.Written 4 November 2024
- JonH760 contributionsRoadtrip 2024Always a fascinating place to visit and see. A very unique building that any body that likes architecture should see. Nor cheap though and book ahead.Written 27 October 2024
- Sunshine2168380 contributionsCanceledI can only give it one star because our trip was canceled before we even got to Pittsburgh. So we took our own tour of the city and did the train up the mountain for FREE!Written 23 October 2024
- Mobile452301970990 contributionsMost memorable tour ever!Best. Tour. Ever. George is a one of a kind human being, and I mean this in the best way possible. From the experience in his car with the push buttons on the dashboard when you get questions answered right or wrong, to his knowledge of all things Pittsburgh, he makes you feel like the only thing that matters during his 2-hour tour. I was visiting Pittsburgh for the Steelers-Cowboys game with my daughter for her 16th birthday. At the top of the incline, unbeknownst to me, George surprised my daughter with hostess cupcakes and candles, and started singing happy birthday to her and the entire line of people waiting for the incline joined in. This is just how George operates, an experience of a lifetime for us.Written 6 October 2024
- 174salj0 contributionsGeorge was Awesome!!The tour given by George was Awesome!! My wife was here to help celebrate her birthday on Sunday when we would see the Steelers play. When George found out we felt we were given VIP treatment. The tour was customized for us with great sports facts and places and things to personally experience. The four hours of the tour were not enough to see it all. We would highly reccomend George for a tour 100%.Written 30 September 2024
- Kathyaa820 contributionsExceptional Frank Lloyd Wright Experience!The Frank Lloyd Wright iconic architectural gem, Falling Water, lived up to the accolades. The building, setting and staff were all worth a 10 hour drive from Connecticut. In addition, family had visited in June with the recommendation to visit Kentuck Knob as well. We were happy to take their advice. Kentuck Knob has a different feel but has the same Wright integration with the landscape. If you go, please make the walk out to the knob hills and valley overlook. Spectacular view!Written 23 September 2024
- thedailykaily0 contributionsBest 2 hours spent in PittsburghGeorge was a superb tour guide. He was full of knowledge and so passionate about his city. We had a marvelous time learning about what makes Pittsburgh great! It was an honor to take George’s tour!Written 22 September 2024
- HoneyGirl880 contributionsGeorge is one of a kind!George took us to Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, and were happily educated and entertained for 8 hours! At first, we were a bit unsure of what to make of this gregarious older gentleman with an aging vehicle and worn binders full of pictures and information. But the bottom line is: George is a wonderful storyteller who deeply loves Pittsburgh and Frank Lloyd Wright and you'll learn more than you ever imagined. His enthusiasm is truly infectious. During the 90-minute drive to Fallingwater, we scarcely had a moment to look outside because George had us looking at maps and flipping pages of a binder as he regaled us with the story of Wright and the Kaufmanns and the genesis of Fallingwater. George also happens to know every single person who works at Fallingwater (and which chocolate bar they like best!) which absolutely benefitted us. My traveling companion had decided to join me in Pittsburgh at the last minute, and all Fallingwater tickets online were sold out. But George was able to speak to the front desk person and voila! Fortuitously, there was a cancellation and a ticket was found for my friend. I have no doubt that the staff made a special effort just for sweet George. The drive back to the city was just as fun and interactive and informative, except it was all about Pittsburgh, history to modern day. (George is also a great driver, and I felt safe the whole time.) Thanks for an unforgettable day, George!Written 9 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
61 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
4
Average
1
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Terrible
3
jtgrevin
Knoxville, TN32 contributions
May 2021
Phenomenal tour of Pittsburgh! Superseded all our expectations. George’s knowledge of Pittsburgh is quite extensive. He LOVES his city and shares many unique facts that you’d never know otherwise. The family stories George shares of his father and grandfather add a personal level of insight you won’t get anywhere else. Our group enjoyed learning about the origins of the Steel Valley and the city’s rich history. Truly a “One of a Kind Tour” that shouldn’t be missed!
Written 26 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicia R
5 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
This tour is only for people who want an enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guide born and raised in Pittsburgh and passionate about his city. If you can’t appreciate the maps and photographs that George provides and the lesser known but highly relevant places he takes you to see -then stay away. We were 3 generations of women ages 26, 63 and 88 and we all enjoyed George’s presentation. You can see photos in a museum and read about the steel mills in books, but driving around with and learning from George is way more FUN!
Written 16 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
frequenttraveljunky
Orlando, FL61 contributions
Sept 2022
Nice tour that takes you back to when Pittsburgh was the steel capital. In another 10 years it will be hard to even recognize where the local mill works was located. George is very entertaining and does go to great lengths to organize the tour and touch things of interest that would only be applicable to the attendees - such as he knew we were baseball fan's and he made sure to point out items of significance about baseball in our travels. I booked late so we weren't able to go at the time we wanted, but we were able to make things work out.
Written 12 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excursion199577
New York City, NY1 contribution
Jul 2022
George was very enthusiastic, clearly he LOVES Pittsburgh. He was very accommodating to pick us up at the airport and the car was large enough for all our luggage. However, the tour that he took us on did not match the itinerary listed in this description. He had notebooks full of photographs and printed handouts of the steelmaking process for us to look at as we drove along and listened to his commentary. But there were only two stops, one at the one of the Incline railways to look over the city skyline, one at a statue of St. Joseph the Steelworker at a church. The rest of the tour consisted of driving along the highway, barely glimpsing a few buildings that used to be part of the steel industry. He didn't take us to any of the stops listed in the itinerary.
Written 15 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle J
Murrysville6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
My aunt and I thought this would be fun for my 12 and 13 year old since they watched The Men Who Built America for school last year. George even suggested we re-watch Season 1 Episode 4 (The Battle of Homestead) the night before because we would be seeing it on our tour. Except we didn't. We didn't go to the last 3 stops on the itinerary and had to specifically ask about the battle on our way back. We did learn a lot so I would have given a higher rating if we'd visited the stops expected and the transportation was better. George was 10 minutes late to our meeting spot, was not organized (pulling binders and wrinkled papers with footprints on them out of his trunk), and his vehicle was not at all what I would have expected for a private tour. It was very crammed and uncomfortable for 4 people, especially shuffling around binders, maps and papers. I was so distracted by the dust and noise from the car that it was difficult to truly enjoy the experience.
Written 18 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SDScottYbo
San Diego, United States33 contributions
May 2022
We were in town to see the Padres play the Pirates and wanted to learn more about a city that helped build America. The Fire in the Valley Tour was much different and much more than we could have expected. George gives you the history of Pittsburgh with personal stories he learned from his family. You will see and learn things no other tour could provide.
George himself made the tour. He makes it interactive, humorous and extremely interesting. We learned so much about the history and a lot of tidbits about modern-day Pittsburgh.
He is an excellent tour guide and an extremely nice man. My wife lost her phone on the tour and he was getting ready to backtrack the route after his last tour, before I contacted him and told him we located it.
George thank you! The tour was the highlight of our trip and we will definitely be back to your beautiful city.
George himself made the tour. He makes it interactive, humorous and extremely interesting. We learned so much about the history and a lot of tidbits about modern-day Pittsburgh.
He is an excellent tour guide and an extremely nice man. My wife lost her phone on the tour and he was getting ready to backtrack the route after his last tour, before I contacted him and told him we located it.
George thank you! The tour was the highlight of our trip and we will definitely be back to your beautiful city.
Written 3 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review Scott. It was my pleasure. Your compliments slightly assuage the sting of the Padres winning two out of three at home. And St. Joseph told me he was going to call about the phone but his battery was low. Looking forward to your return.
Written 4 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tianna H
Pittsburgh, PA12 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We’ve been living in Pittsburgh for 15 years or so and we were really surprised how much we learned about the city in the tour! It was fascinating to hear how this (relatively small) city has been so pivotal in expansion, industry, technology. George was a wonderful and friendly tour guide and had great photographs we could look at while we were exploring the city to enhance the storytelling. It was nice to hear the oral history stories from his family as well. Who knew steelworkers had their own patron saint commissioned by the pope? Just one of the many gems you’ll discover on the tour!
Written 22 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Curiosity29529827137
Springfield, IL1 contribution
George is so knowledgeable and gregarious! He tailored the tour to our interests and had engaging stories and an interactive approach. This is no "rote memorized lecture" tour- he has binders of historical maps and pictures and he asks and answers questions freely and thoroughly. It's like having a distant relative who is a history buff take you on a tour of their favorite city. Highly recommend!
Written 18 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review and for letting me serve as your "distant relative" for the day. YOUR engagemnt and interaction made my job not only a breeze but delightful as well. Thank you for sharing your appreciation of my service. Warm regards to the rest of our "family".
Written 19 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ronald M
3 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
If you are visiting Pittsburgh for your first time, this is the excursion you need to take. George, an amazing tour guide, will take you up Mt. Washington to give you an overview of the city and explain so much of the history upon which Pittsburgh is founded. He will teach you about rivers, tunnels, industry, steel, glass, aluminum, iron, immigrants, etc. etc. You won't have a dull moment, as George uses every moment of his excellent tour to speak in a voice, audible for all in your group, that describes events and facts about Pittsburgh in a very interesting way. We were impressed by his knowledge about Pittsburgh, as well as his interest in all four of us in the group. As George explained historical people and facts, he zeroed in on each tour participant's specific knowledge and interests, making all that he taught us so relevant to understanding Pittsburgh's great part in building the U.S. George was never a history teacher; what a shame! Thousands of students would have been enthralled with his lessons.
Written 30 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew B
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
George is the greatest ambassador for Pittsburgh! You will never meet a person who knows the history of his hometown. He expresses it with so much passion and enthusiasm, that by the end of the tour he makes you wish Pittsburgh was your hometown too.
Written 23 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.