Thousands of fans showed up hours before Tuesday’s parade, including a handful of hardy souls who were camped out on the route before dawn.

Six local high school bands marched in the parade, one for each championship won by the team.

“It was amazing to see the people. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, because I’m a senior,” Nicole Hennemuth, a trombone player in the South Fayette High School band. “There were tons of people everywhere, on top of buildings, in windows.”

Hennemuth was waiting behind the viewing stands at the end of the parade route, hoping to catch a glimpse of the players, particularly Ward.

Special feature 10 key offseason storylines Is T.O. done in Dallas? He's just one of several questions that need answered during the next few months NBCSports.com

The parade followed Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies, two of the widest streets downtown, instead of a narrower route used for most city parades. About 150 police were on hand to control the crowd and barricades were set up in the streets because the sidewalks were not wide enough to accommodate the overflow.

A huge black and gold banner hung in front of the City-County building, reading “Welcome to Steelers Country Super Bowl XLIII Champions.”

Down the street in front of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, a dinosaur statue held a Super Bowl trophy in one hand and had red feathers protruding from its mouth, what was left from its “Cardinal snacks.”

Phyllis Giardino, 61, took off from her job as a transcriptionist at St. Margaret’s Hospital, to be at the parade.

“They’re the heart and soul of the city,” she said, clutching a black-and-gold Steelers bag to her side, gold Steelers earrings dangling from her ears. “If the Steelers lose everyone’s grumpy the next day. We live and die by them.”

Vince Brown, 37, drove about four hours, in traffic, from his home in Clarksburg, W.Va. With his 9-year-old daughter sitting on his shoulders, he was standing with his family about 75 yards from where the parade was to end. He couldn’t see or hear much, but that didn’t matter.

“If I didn’t make it across the river, it would still be worth it,” Brown said.

More news

NBC Sports

'A fluid athlete with rare speed'

    PFT Live: Redskins coach Mike Shanahan tells Mike Florio why the team moved up in the draft to get Robert Griffin III.

NBC Sports

PFT Live: Is McNabb committed to a return?

    PFT Live: Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan talks about the future of former Redskins QB Donovan McNabb.

Headlines

• Label

PFT: NFL might release some bounty evidence

PFT: Namath: Sanchez 'much better' than Tebow

PFT: Bears' Marshall believes he's a 'target'

PFT: Jets QB coach touts Tebow's mechanics

PFT: Ricky Williams doubts concussion/brain damage link

PFT: Jones-Drew skipping OTAs, wants new deal

PFT: McFadden looks solid in Raiders' workouts

PFT: Seau's home burglarized just days after his death