Fort Pitt

Fort Pitt is a former British stronghold where the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers join to form the Ohio River within Point State Park. The site features thick earthen walls and angled fortifications designed to control passage along all three waterways.

British troops built the stronghold from 1759 to 1761 after seizing the site from French forces who had occupied Fort Duquesne. The new structure became a key military and trade post as colonial settlers pushed westward along the rivers.

The five-sided design includes bastions built to cover every approach to the river junction. Today the Monongahela Bastion serves as a museum where military gear and frontier objects remain on display for visitors.

The fort sits within Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh and is easily reached on foot from nearby streets. The museum occupies a restored section of the original walls and presents period weapons alongside reconstructed rooms.

The original layout formed a five-sided outline with each corner covering a different river approach and preventing attackers from finding cover. Only one of the original bastions survives above ground and now serves as the museum entrance.

Location: Pittsburgh

Inception: 1759

Website: http://fortpittblockhouse.com

GPS coordinates: 40.44110,-80.00900

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:24