"Just 27 years after it was built," according to historians at the Carnegie Science Center, the mortuary "was moved approximately 297 feet to its current address on Fourth Avenue to make room for the County Office Building."

"[5][6] A measure to award historic status to the Allegheny County Mortuary was introduced at the June 18, 2002 meeting of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh.

[7] Presented by Ms. Burns to the Council of the City of Pittsburgh on June 18, 2002:[8] "Resolution providing for the designation as a Historic Structure under Section 513 of Chapter 1007 of the Code of Ordinances that certain structure located at 542 Fourth Avenue Street, known as the Allegheny County Mortuary, and all of the property designated as Block and Lot Number 002-J-044, in the 1st Ward, City of Pittsburgh.

WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has duly enacted Section 513 of Chapter 1007 of the Code of Ordinances, which protects and preserves Historic Structures, Districts, Sites, and Objects; and WHEREAS, Mr. Walter Kidney, a resident of Pittsburgh, has nominated this building for designation as a Historic Structure; and WHEREAS, the Historic Review Commission has held a public hearing to gather testimony from property owners and other interested parties concerning the appropriateness of this designation; and WHEREAS, the Historic Review Commission has voted to recommend that City Council DESIGNATE the Allegheny County Mortuary as a Historic Structure; and WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission has held a public hearing to gather testimony from property owners and other interested parties concerning the appropriateness of this designation; and WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission has voted to recommend that City Council DESIGNATE the Allegheny County Mortuary as a Historic Structure; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh has held a public hearing to gather testimony from the public concerning the appropriateness of this designation; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh finds that the aforementioned structure is a Historic Structure that should be preserved;

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 513.3 of Chapter 1007 of the Code of Ordinances, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby designates as a Historic Structure the structure located at 542 Fourth Avenue, and known as the Allegheny County Mortuary, and including all of the property designated as Block and Lot Number 002-J-044, in the 1st Ward, City of Pittsburgh.