diff --git a/examples/histogram.py b/examples/histogram.py
index 057abffd..d9d70d8b 100644
--- a/examples/histogram.py
+++ b/examples/histogram.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ win.resize(800,350)
 win.setWindowTitle('pyqtgraph example: Histogram')
 plt1 = win.addPlot()
 plt2 = win.addPlot()
+plt3 = win.addPlot()
 
 ## make interesting distribution of values
 vals = np.hstack([np.random.normal(size=500), np.random.normal(size=260, loc=4)])
@@ -27,11 +28,12 @@ y,x = np.histogram(vals, bins=np.linspace(-3, 8, 40))
 curve = pg.PlotCurveItem(x, y, stepMode=True, fillLevel=0, brush=(0, 0, 255, 80))
 plt1.addItem(curve)
 
+plt2.plot(x, y, stepMode=True, fillLevel=0, brush=(0,0,255,150))
 
 ## Now draw all points as a nicely-spaced scatter plot
 y = pg.pseudoScatter(vals, spacing=0.15)
-#plt2.plot(vals, y, pen=None, symbol='o', symbolSize=5)
-plt2.plot(vals, y, pen=None, symbol='o', symbolSize=5, symbolPen=(255,255,255,200), symbolBrush=(0,0,255,150))
+#plt3.plot(vals, y, pen=None, symbol='o', symbolSize=5)
+plt3.plot(vals, y, pen=None, symbol='o', symbolSize=5, symbolPen=(255,255,255,200), symbolBrush=(0,0,255,150))
 
 ## Start Qt event loop unless running in interactive mode or using pyside.
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py
index ab9c9911..a8c094a9 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/PlotDataItem.py
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ class PlotDataItem(GraphicsObject):
             fillLevel    Fill the area between the curve and fillLevel
             fillBrush    Fill to use when fillLevel is specified. 
                          May be any single argument accepted by :func:`mkBrush() <pyqtgraph.mkBrush>`
+            stepMode     If True, two orthogonal lines are drawn for each sample
+                         as steps. This is commonly used when drawing histograms.
+                         Note that in this case, len(x) == len(y) + 1
             ==========   ==============================================================================
         
         **Point style keyword arguments:**  (see :func:`ScatterPlotItem.setData() <pyqtgraph.ScatterPlotItem.setData>` for more information)
@@ -150,6 +153,7 @@ class PlotDataItem(GraphicsObject):
             'shadowPen': None,
             'fillLevel': None,
             'fillBrush': None,
+            'stepMode': None, 
             
             'symbol': None,
             'symbolSize': 10,
@@ -456,7 +460,7 @@ class PlotDataItem(GraphicsObject):
     def updateItems(self):
         
         curveArgs = {}
-        for k,v in [('pen','pen'), ('shadowPen','shadowPen'), ('fillLevel','fillLevel'), ('fillBrush', 'brush'), ('antialias', 'antialias'), ('connect', 'connect')]:
+        for k,v in [('pen','pen'), ('shadowPen','shadowPen'), ('fillLevel','fillLevel'), ('fillBrush', 'brush'), ('antialias', 'antialias'), ('connect', 'connect'), ('stepMode', 'stepMode')]:
             curveArgs[v] = self.opts[k]
         
         scatterArgs = {}