It is composed of multiple late eighteenth-century buildings which illustrate "Pittsburgh's emergence during that period as a preeminent industrial and business center," according to Hyman Myers, the former chair of the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board.

[2] Bounded by Wood Street, Forbes Avenue, Grant Street, and Liberty Avenue, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1985.

[1] Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1985, the original Pittsburgh Central Downtown Historic District was composed of twenty-six buildings, twenty of which were considered contributing, including a few small former residences built in the mid-19th century.

[1][3] The Frick Building and U.S. Post Office and Courthouse are contributing properties and were also listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places.

[1][3] Other notable contributing properties include the Gulf Tower, the William Penn Hotel, the Oliver Building, Mellon Square, the August Wilson Center, the Federal Reserve Bank Branch, the Frank & Seder Building, the Koppers Building and Trinity Cathedral.