Franco Harris

Statues at PIT Airport Now on View for All

Photo by Beth Hollerich

Among the amenities at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) are three statues.

The lineup includes legendary traveler and early investigative journalist Nellie Bly, founding father George Washington, and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris.

All three statues are here on loan from Pittsburgh’s Heinz History Center. And they are popular stops for selfies. But because the statues have been located lost post-security in the Airside Terminal, only ticketed passengers could pay the statues a visit.

Not anymore.

This week PIT moved all three historical to the pre-security Landside Terminal so that all travelers and all visitors can see the statues.

The relocation of the statues was prompted by the recent passing of Franco Harris. He died on December 20, just days before he and football fans were to mark the 50th anniversary of Harris’ now-legendary football play that became known as the “Immaculate Reception.”

After Harris died, “fans flocked to his lifelike figure in Pittsburgh International Airport’s Airside Terminal to pay their respects,” said PIT spokesman Bob Kerlick. “We received a lot of requests after Franco passed away for non-travelers to visit the statue which we could not accommodate. Now the statues are open to all.”

Want to see Nellie Bly, George Washington, and Franco Harris at Pittsburgh International Airport?

You’ll now find them behind the Information Desk near the primary TSA checkpoint in the Landside Terminal.

If you go, take a selfie and send it along to Stuck at the Airport and we’ll add it here.

Help PIT Airport Mark the 50th Anniversary of Franco Harris’ “Immaculate Reception”

Football fans making their way through Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) love seeing the statue of former Pittsburgh Steeler fullback Franco Harris posed making the iconic “Immaculate Reception” on December 23, 1972, in a playoff game against the Oakland Raiders.

That game – and the play voted the biggest play in NFL history – was 50 years ago. And when the now-Las Vegas Raiders visit Pittsburgh to play the Steelers this year on December 24 – five decades and a day after that famous catch – the play will be honored during the game’s halftime and the Steelers will retire Franco Harris’ jersey.

To celebrate the play and the milestone, the NFL and PIT Airport are encouraging people to Franco” in front of the airport statue by mimicking the catch and sharing the photos on social media with the #Francoing tag.

Here are PIT’s firefighters “Francoing.”