04/01/2026
Wrapping up our week of celebrating International Women’s Month by remembering seven extraordinary Pittsburgh women, today we honor a woman whose name you may recognize if you’ve ever driven to one our tours by taking the Rachel Carson Bridge!
A marine biologist and nature writer, Rachel Carson catalyzed the global environmental movement with her 1962 book Silent Spring. Outlining the dangers of chemical pesticides, the book led to a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides and sparked the movement that ultimately led to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Chemical companies sought to discredit her as a Communist or hysterical woman. Many pulled their ads from the CBS Reports TV special on April 3, 1963, entitled “The Silent Spring of Rachel Carson.” Still, roughly 15 million viewers tuned in, and that, combined with President John F. Kennedy’s Science Advisory Committee Report—which validated Carson’s research—made pesticides a major public issue. Carson received medals from the National Audubon Society and the American Geographical Society, and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
(text credit: National Women’s History Museum website)
Honoring the exceptional women of this city is a daily practice that is not confined to just one week or month! We’re proud to be a woman-owned business today and every day! Thanks for following this fun series of posts, and join us for a tour to learn more about some amazing Pittsburgh gals!
