Algonquian- and Iroquoian-speaking peoples were early inhabitants of the region. The conflict between the British and French over territorial claims in the area was settled in 1758 when General John Forbes and his British and colonial army expelled the French from Fort Duquesne (built 1754). Forbes named the site for the British statesman William Pitt the Elder (Pitt, William, the Elder). The British built Fort Pitt (1761) to ensure their dominance at the source of the Ohio. Settlers began arriving after Native American forces led by Ottawa chief Pontiac were defeated in 1763; an agreement subsequently was made between Native American groups and the Penn family, and a boundary dispute was ended between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Pittsburgh was laid out (1764) by John Campbell in the area around the fort (now the Golden Triangle). Following the American Revolution, the town became an outfitting point for settlers traveling westward down the Ohio River.

By the late 1970s and early '80s, the steel industry had virtually disappeared—a result of foreign competition and decreased demand. Many of the surrounding mill towns were laid to waste by unemployment. Pittsburgh, however, successfully diversified its economy through more emphasis on light industries—though metalworking, chemicals, and plastics remained important—and on such high-technology industries as computer software, industrial automation (robotics), and biomedical and environmental technologies. Numerous industrial research laboratories were established in the area, and the service sector became increasingly important. Pittsburgh long has been one of the nation's largest inland ports, and it remains a leading transportation centre.

Much of the Golden Triangle has been rebuilt and includes the Mellon Arena, Point State Park (containing Fort Pitt Blockhouse and Fort Pitt Museum), the Gateway Center (site of several skyscrapers and a garden), and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, University of) was chartered in 1787. Other educational institutions include Carnegie Mellon (Carnegie Mellon University) (1900), Duquesne (Duquesne University) (1878), and Point Park (1960) universities, Chatham (1869) and Carlow (1929) colleges, and two campuses of the Community College of Allegheny County (1966).

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (1893) is noted for its extensive greenhouses, covering 2.5 acres (1 hectare). The city's zoo, in the northeastern Highland Park neighbourhood, includes an aquarium. Two new sports venues opened in 2001 on the north bank of the Allegheny opposite the Golden Triangle: PNC Park is home of the Pirates (Pittsburgh Pirates), the city's professional baseball team, and Heinz Field houses the Steelers (Pittsburgh Steelers), its professional gridiron football team. The Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins), Pittsburgh's professional ice hockey team, play in Mellon Arena. Popular summertime attractions include riverboat excursions on Pittsburgh's waterways and Kennywood, an amusement park southeast of the city in West Mifflin.