Whitehill-Gleason Motors
Also known as: Keystone Buick; Steel City Motors, et al
Why it's listed
Built in 1920 and 1926 on a triangular lot at Baum Boulevard, Friendship Avenue and St. Clair Street, this two-building complex in East Liberty was designed for automobile sales and service. The larger 1926 building, three stories with brick walls and limestone trim, was designed by Pittsburgh architect Maximilian Nirdlinger in the Art Deco style, and its cornerstone is inscribed with his name. The 1920 section was built for L.J. Kloos's Keystone Buick dealership, and an enclosed vehicle ramp was added about 1950. Its showroom retains a terrazzo floor and a two-story office section with plaster-sheathed columns. Baum Boulevard was the center of Pittsburgh's car trade for decades, and the complex is regarded as one of its most intact remaining dealerships. The site was home to a Gulf gas station from 1913, and the Whitehill-Gleason firm occupied the 1926 building until the Depression ended its business.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant for its Art Deco design and intact showroom interior, and for its role in Pittsburgh's early automobile trade along Baum Boulevard. It is presented as among the first Pittsburgh dealerships to combine sales and service in one building.
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 99000878, listed July 22, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5815 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | July 22, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000878 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1920-1949 |
| Architect / builder | Maximilian Nirdlinger (architect) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco; Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a car dealership until 1994; sold in 1996 for conversion into apartments, with rehabilitation in 1997-1998. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.45960, -79.93075 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 99000878.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7996054
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.