The 2025 badge contest ended in a tie. I was alternating the badge but I kept losing track. You’re free to use the combined badge or either Teagan’s or Ritva’s individual badge.
Several weeks ago, I mentioned that I would be beginning a long series of posts from a then recent visit to Pittsburgh. I tried to run this series before, but I realized that my photos were not very good, so I abandoned the effort. There are 31 rooms, so if I proceeded, one-by-one, we’d be here until March. Don’t worry. I’m sure I will take more than a few breaks, and I might combine a couple rooms into a single post, but I am committed to sharing these rooms and their doors.
Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, I enjoyed the many ethnic influences in the city. The University of Pittsburgh thought this cultural history was worth celebrating, and I agree.
I had the privilege of attending all of my graduate school classes in the Cathedral of Learning. I had classes in some of these rooms, and I worked with others in several of these rooms during group assignments. I cannot adequately describe the feeling of being in these rooms. It might be something that only someone from the city can truly appreciate.
I wanted to start with the Syria-Lebanon room for two reasons. First, it represents one half of my heritage. Second, the room is unique in that it’s the only room you cannot enter. So, I decided to combine the few pictures I have with those of the Cathedral of Learning, in which all the rooms are located, and some of the promotional material provided prior to our self-guided tour.
Much of the material below has been copied from various web pages maintained by the University of Pittsburgh.
The Nationality Rooms are a group of 31 classrooms in the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning depicting and donated by the national and ethnic groups that helped build the city of Pittsburgh.
pitt.edu
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The Nationality Rooms represent and celebrate the culture of the diverse communities of Pittsburgh. The Rooms are a community space where you’re invited to experience your heritage in a space that’s timeless and austere, yet dynamic and alive.
The rooms are also in use as University classrooms, giving students the opportunity to learn in a unique setting that gives them a hands-on experience with these rich heritages.
pitt.edu
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The Syria-Lebanon Room is unique for the fact that it is an 18th century interior from a Damascus home, transported to Pittsburgh via a New York gallery. The walls, ceiling and interior of the door are original elements to what was likely a reception room or otherwise a room in which to live and perhaps have guests.
Hospitality is shown with the cushioned seating, the collapsible table with tea cups, and the display shelves upon which a host would array objects for view and use. The hyphenated name of the Room refers to a time in 20th century history when the region was known under this moniker, post WW1 and into WW2.
pitt.edu
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The collapsible table mentioned above is familiar to me. My grandmother had that same table and set of cups and server. The serving vessel is known as a Dallah and although the official description of the room refers to tea, my experience would be that it was strong coffee, brewed from a very fine ground.
The following are the pictures I snapped through the door. It might be hard to tell, but there are doors in the back wall which I assume are concealed cabinets.
I hope you enjoyed these photos. I also hope you’ll check out the doors posted by the other participants.
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