Palo Alto Street

From Pittsburgh Streets
Palo Alto Street
Neighborhood Central Northside
Origin of name Battle of Palo Alto

Palo Alto Street is named for the Battle of Palo Alto, fought in 1846 during the Mexican–American War.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]:60

In addition to the Mexican–American War etymology, Bob Regan also includes Palo Alto Street in a list of streets named after cities, presumably referring to Palo Alto, California.[8]:65 However, Palo Alto Street appears in street directories as early as 1857,[9] some 37 years before the city of Palo Alto was incorporated in 1894. The Battle of Palo Alto was named not for a city but for the tree-covered hills that surrounded the prairie on which the battle was fought.[10] Clearly the suggestion that this street was named after a city is in error.

References

  1. George T. Fleming. "Names recall Civil War heroes: Soldiers of national and local fame well commemorated in Pittsburgh: Battles also live." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 30, 1915, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85758872. [view source]fleming-civil-war
  2. George T. Fleming. "Mexican names for local streets: Events of 70 years ago and parts taken by Pittsburghers are recalled: Interesting tales." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, July 9, 1916, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85766354. [view source]fleming-mexican
  3. Annie Clark Miller. Early Land Marks and Names of Old Pittsburgh: An address delivered before the Pittsburgh Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution at Carnegie Institute, Nov. 30, 1923, p. 23. Pittsburgh Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, 1924. Historic Pittsburgh 00awn8211m; Internet Archive earlylandmarksna00mill. [view source]miller
  4. Gilbert Love. "What's in a name? A lot!: Titles of city streets recall persons famed in U. S. history: From Golden Triangle eastward, thoroughfares list great and near great of colonial and revolutionary days." Pittsburgh Press, Feb. 12, 1944, p. 9. Newspapers.com 147946752. [view source]love-titles
  5. Margaret Carlin. "How our streets got their names." Pittsburgh Press, Feb. 6, 1966, Pittsburgh's Family Magazine, p. 10. Newspapers.com 149098376. [view source]carlin
  6. Joe Browne. "Streets are index of local history." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 28, 1983, p. 37. Newspapers.com 89790718. [view source]browne-streets
  7. Franklin Toker. Pittsburgh: An urban portrait, p. 161. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, Penna., 1986, ISBN 0-271-00415-0. LCCN 85-71786. [view source]toker
  8. 8.0 8.1 Bob Regan. The Names of Pittsburgh: How the city, neighborhoods, streets, parks and more got their names. The Local History Company, Pittsburgh, 2009, ISBN 978-0-9770429-7-5. [view source]regan
  9. George H. Thurston. Directory of Pittsburgh and Vicinity, for 1857–'58. George H. Thurston, Pittsburgh, 1857. DonsList.net PGH1857CDM; Historic Pittsburgh 01a894773s. [view source]thurston-1857
  10. "Palo Alto Battlefield." National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/paal/learn/historyculture/paloalto.htm. [view source]palo-alto