Founded by Mary J. Paradise, Preservation Pittsburgh's origins lay in efforts to stop the Syria Mosque Concert Hall's demolishment in 1991.

"[1] Although this group sparked "one of the fiercest preservation battles in the city's history," the land was eventually sold to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, or UPMC, which constructed a surface parking lot on the site (that still stands today).

[3] Preservation Pittsburgh also advocated for the adaptive reuse of the Civic Arena, a contentious site given that it was built by displacing residents in the Hill District, a primarily African American neighborhood, using eminent domain.

In October 2018, Neighborhood Allies and other community groups partnered with Preservation Pittsburgh to give a "Sacred Spaces Tour" of churches, mosques, and other historic sites along with art programming.

A second "Sacred Spaces Tour" was also held in October 2019, which allowed Wilkinsburg residents and others to watch artistic performances/exhibitions, participate in crafting workshops, and learn about religious sites’ history and architecture.