Downtown in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Forks of the Ohio Fort Pitt Blockhouse
| | National Historic Landmark | |
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011
1. Fort Pitt Blockhouse Marker National Park Service
(Right side of entrance)
Forks of the Ohio Fort Pitt Block House has been designated a National Historic Landmark This site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America
(Left side of entrance)
Historic Landmark
Fort Pitt Block House
Constructed in 1764
Only Surviving Structure of Fort Pitt
Pittsburgh's Oldest Architectural Landmark
Erected by (left) Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (right) National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Forts and Castles • Landmarks • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1764.
Location. 40° 26.468′ N, 80° 0.581′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Three Rivers Heritage Trail System close to Interstate 279. Located in Point State Park. Mounted to gate pillars at entrance to block house. Touch for map. Marker
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Revolutionary War Patriots (here, next to this marker); Wall Section Through Rampart of Fort Pitt (a few steps from this marker); The Site of Fort Pitt (a few steps from this marker); Edith Darlington Ammon (within shouting distance of this marker); The Venango Path (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Point State Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Forks of the Ohio (within shouting distance of this marker); David L. Lawrence (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011
2. Fort Pitt Blockhouse Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Forbes Road (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011
3. Fort Pitt Blockhouse
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011
4. Fort Pitt Blockhouse Entrance
Photographed by Unknown, circa 1914
5. Bouquet's Redoubt/Blockhouse
Frontal exterior view of Fort Pitt Blockhouse
Notes:
A redoubt is a small, often temporary defensive fortification. Bouquet's redoubt is the last remaining redoubt of five built in 1764 and is one of the last vestiges of 18th century buildings in Pittsburgh.
Courtesy: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Photographed by Unknown
6. Fort Pitt Blockhouse, 1901
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016
7. Not Dedicated
Fort Pitt Society
Daughters of the American Revolution
Allegheny county, PA.
1966
This oddly worded plaque in the sidewalk in front of the Fort Pitt Blockhouse indicates that the blockhouse does not belong to Point State Park but to the Fort Pitt Society of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the DAR. There are 4 of them, marking the corners of the DAR property.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016
8. A*D*
1764~
Coll ~ Bouquet
1764~
Coll ~ Bouquet
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016
9. Royal Seal
on the door of the Blockhouse
on the door of the Blockhouse
"Shame on whosoever would think badly of it,"
Internet Archive
10. The Blockhouse Used as a Dwelling
Around 1795 the Blockhouse was incorporated into a dwelling house and remained so until 1894 when the property came to the DAR as a gift from Mary Schenley, "Pittsburgh's Fairy Godmother." Before the blockhouse became DAR property, the "Coll. Bouquet, 1764" plaque (visible in this image) was removed and installed in the wall of the staircase of City Hall. The DAR successfully petitioned the Council for the return of the plaque to its current location. Image from Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt, 1899 by the Pittsburgh DAR.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016
11. DAR Emblem
on the Blockhouse Fence
PPG Building Behind
on the Blockhouse Fence
PPG Building Behind
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,800 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 17, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on April 29, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on April 1, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 23, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 10, 11. submitted on November 1, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
