Fort Pitt Museum facts for kids
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Museum exterior in 2014
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| Established | 1969 |
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| Location | Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States |
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Fort Pitt Museum
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Part of | Pittsburgh Renaissance Historic District (ID13000252) |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 2013 |
The Fort Pitt Museum is a cool place to visit in downtown Pittsburgh. It's an indoor and outdoor museum run by the Senator John Heinz History Center.
The museum is located right where two big rivers, the Monongahela and Allegheny River, meet to form the Ohio River. This special spot is called the "Point." It was super important for controlling the land in western Pennsylvania long ago.
The museum is built inside a recreated part of Fort Pitt. This fort was first built by the British in 1758. The museum teaches you all about Fort Pitt's role in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. You can also learn about the Whiskey Rebellion and how Pittsburgh got started.
The museum was closed for a short time in 2009 due to money problems. But the Heinz History Center took over, and it reopened in April 2010.
Contents
History of Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt was a very important fort built in 1758. It was built during the French and Indian War by the British. It stood right next to where the French had built Fort Duquesne.
Fort Duquesne was a key spot because of its location by the rivers. In 1755, a British attempt to capture Fort Duquesne failed badly. But in November 1758, the British, led by General John Forbes, finally approached. The French destroyed their own fort and left before the British arrived.
General Forbes's mission succeeded partly because of the Treaty of Easton. In this agreement, local Native American tribes, like the Delawares and Shawnees, agreed to stop helping the French. They thought the British army would leave after the war. The Native Americans wanted a trading post there, not a British army base.
However, the British built a new fort on the site instead. They named it Fort Pitt, after William Pitt the Elder, a famous British leader.
Pontiac's Rebellion and Fort Pitt
Because the British stayed, the local Delawares and Shawnees joined Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763. This was an effort to push the British out of their lands. The Native Americans started to attack Fort Pitt on June 22, 1763. But the fort was too strong to be taken by force.
During the attack, the commander of Fort Pitt gave two Delaware messengers blankets that had been near smallpox patients. He hoped this would infect the Native Americans and end the attack. It's not clear how much this helped, as smallpox had already caused many problems for Native Americans for years.
On August 1, 1763, most of the Native Americans stopped their attack. They left to fight a British force led by Colonel Henry Bouquet. This led to the Battle of Bushy Run. Colonel Bouquet won the battle and reached Fort Pitt on August 10, ending the attack.
Fort Pitt After the Wars
After Pontiac's War, the British didn't need Fort Pitt as much. They left it to the local people in 1772. At that time, both Virginia and Pennsylvania claimed the Pittsburgh area. Virginians took control of Fort Pitt for a short time in the 1770s. They called it Fort Dunmore, after Virginia's Governor Lord Dunmore. The fort was used during Dunmore's War in 1774.
During the American Revolutionary War, Fort Pitt was a main base for the western part of the war. After the Revolution, Fort Pitt slowly fell apart. It was finally left empty in 1792 when a new fort, Fort Fayette, was built. People in the growing town of Pittsburgh used parts of the old fort to build their homes.
The Fort Pitt Blockhouse
A small brick building called the Blockhouse is still standing today. It's actually a type of small fort called a redoubt. It's the only original part of Fort Pitt that remains. It was built in 1764 and is thought to be the oldest building in western Pennsylvania.
For many years, the blockhouse was used as a home. Now, the Daughters of the American Revolution own and protect it. They open it to the public so people can visit. Some of the old foundations of Fort Pitt have been dug up. Parts of the fort have even been rebuilt. This helps visitors to Point State Park understand how big the fort once was. The Fort Pitt Museum is located in one of these rebuilt sections, called the Monongahela Bastion.
During the American Civil War, the Fort Pitt Foundry was a very important place. It made weapons for the government.
The Museum and Park Today
The Fort Pitt Museum is part of Point State Park. In 2006, there were plans to spend $25 million to make the park and museum even better. The goal was to improve the green areas, add more fun activities, protect historical spots, and update old facilities.
Some parts of the park had become run down over the years. The walkways were cracking, and some areas were messy. The plan was to make the park a great place for everyone to visit again.
Many improvements have been made. New pumps and pipes were put in the fountain. There's now a seating area around the fountain and a shallow wading area for kids. The river walk has been fixed with steps leading to the river. There are also kiosks for information and snacks, and updated restrooms. The docks for water taxis were also renovated.
The Fort Pitt Museum is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM. It is closed only on major holidays like Christmas, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Easter.
Images for kids
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Museum exterior in 2014
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"A Plan of the New Fort at Pitts-Burgh", drawn by cartographer John Rocque and published in 1765.
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"Fort Pitt in 1795", from Durant's 1876 "History of Allegheny County"
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The Blockhouse.
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Part of the excavated fort.
