Ewart Building
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Nine stories of rough-hewn granite rise above three storefronts on Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's downtown Golden Triangle. Samuel Ewart, a wholesale grocer, bought the lots in 1891 and soon afterward built the present building on part of the original site of Fort Fayette. Its front facade is 67 feet 7 inches wide, with three tall arches springing from a two-story base and a pediment in the center bay that carries the carved name EWART. The sides are of brick, with paired windows in each bay. The building is an example of Richardsonian Romanesque, the leading style in Pittsburgh for about a quarter century after 1880. The nomination describes it as one of a handful of remaining Romanesque Revival commercial buildings on Liberty Avenue. Its surviving facade is presented as a reminder of the city's commercial prosperity in that era, and as a building whose preservation would help renew the surrounding blocks. Ewart's sons ran the business until 1925, and the family kept the building until 1969.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its architecture, as a Richardsonian Romanesque commercial building of the kind that was the leading style in Pittsburgh for about a quarter century after 1880. It also cites its role as one of few remaining Romanesque Revival commercial buildings on Liberty Avenue, where it is presented as important to the revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002159, listed August 9, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 921, 923 and 925 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | August 9, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002159 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891 |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is described as being in remarkably good state of preservation, with alterations not detracting from its integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Within district | Penn-Liberty Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 40.44353, -79.99751 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002159.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5418930
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.