Mifflin Elementary School
Why it's listed
Built in 1932 as a three-story brick school on a terraced hillside above Mifflin Road in Pittsburgh, Mifflin Elementary was designed by the firm Link, Weber, and Bowers in the Art Moderne style. Its flat roof, rounded corners, and ribbon windows give it a horizontal, streamlined profile. The facade brickwork uses a variation on common bond, with incised wave patterns on alternate headers, and pilaster strips define the bays. The interior includes a 320-seat auditorium, a gymnasium with a folding divider, a separate kindergarten entry, and terrazzo hallway floors with marble wainscoting. Two stair-stair murals by Herbert H. Davis were partly funded by the Public Works of Art Projects in 1934. A 1956 two-story addition by Franklin, Douden and Associates is attached at the northwest corner. The school is regarded as one of the most accomplished Moderne schools in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the school as unique in Allegheny County for its Art Moderne styling and as one of the last schools designed by independent architects before the School Board established its own architectural department in 1934. Its unusual brickwork, understated ornament, and carefully planned interior spaces are cited as evidence of a high degree of stylistic sophistication.
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 86002692, listed September 30, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Mifflin Rd. at Lincoln Pl., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | September 30, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002692 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Link, Weber, & Bowers (architects) |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; operating as a school serving kindergarten through eighth grade |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 40.36981, -79.91486 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 86002692.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6844001
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.