Founded and built in here in Pittsburgh, PastFinders is an interactive app to discover and explore local history through self-guided walking tours.
As Pittsburgh prepares to welcome more than half a million visitors for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, much of the spotlight will be on the city’s stadiums, skyline, and sports culture. But beyond the headlines and fanfare lies another side of Pittsburgh, one layered with history, hidden stories, and remnants of the past that many visitors might otherwise miss. That is where PastFinders comes in.
PastFinders is a history driven mobile app designed to transform the way people explore cities, offering curated walking tours and interactive maps that uncover the stories behind everyday places. While the app now spans multiple cities and even offers virtual experiences, its roots are deeply embedded in Pittsburgh.
The concept grew out of a smaller passion project called “Pittsburgh Remains to be Seen” by Virginia Montanez, which mapped out the physical remnants of structures long gone but not entirely forgotten. These include unique artifacts scattered across the city, such as the portal sculpture from the former Manchester Bridge on the North Side or preserved architectural elements from the former St. Francis Nursing School now incorporated into Lawrenceville’s streetscape. What began as a niche historical mapping project quickly revealed a larger opportunity.
Recognizing its potential, David Jardini (who now serves as CEO) partnered with the Virginia to expand the idea into a scalable platform. Together, they envisioned a tool that would make these historical discoveries more accessible to the public. With the addition of developer Harlan Shober, PastFinders evolved into a fully functional mobile app, allowing users to follow mapped routes and explore history through guided walking tours.
And through its development, various consultants with The IEE’s PantherlabWorks worked with the PastFinders team to bring the platform from its initial concept to a viable product. Whether it was first steps with business plan development to higher-level guidance on areas such as market validation—helping define the brand, find their customer, etc.—the PLW team provided PastFinders with information, resources, and know-how over an 18-month period to refine and optimize the platform for launch.
Today, PastFinders has grown far beyond its original scope. While Pittsburgh remains a central focus, the app now features tours in cities like Philadelphia and Boston, with ambitions to expand nationwide. Through integration with the Historical Markers Database, users can access historical points of interest across the United States and Puerto Rico. The addition of virtual tours has further broadened its reach, allowing users to experience history from anywhere.
One of the app’s most compelling use cases, especially for visitors attending the NFL Draft, is its ability to turn a casual walk through Pittsburgh into a rich, self-guided historical experience. Whether exploring between draft events or extending a weekend stay, visitors can use PastFinders to discover stories embedded in the city’s neighborhoods, landmarks, and even its cemeteries. It offers a deeper, more meaningful way to engage with Pittsburgh beyond the typical tourist itinerary.
PastFinders is also carving out a niche by supporting historical societies, particularly in smaller communities that may lack the resources to develop their own digital tools. By offering a platform for mobile and virtual tours, the app helps these organizations bring their local histories to life for broader audiences.
The company’s early adopters reflect its versatility and growing credibility. Organizations such as the Duquesne Club, the Pittsburgh Film Office, Christ Church in Philadelphia, and Allegheny County have already embraced the platform. There are also plans to collaborate with universities, potentially offering campus tours that prospective students can experience both in person and virtually.
Behind the platform is a small but dedicated team of five, including a focus on growth and user experience, all working toward an ambitious vision. With 2026 positioned as a pivotal year, PastFinders is aiming to scale its impact while staying true to its mission of making history accessible, interactive, and engaging for everyone.
For those visiting Pittsburgh during the NFL Draft, PastFinders offers something different, an opportunity to see the city not just as it is today, but as a living archive of stories waiting to be discovered.