Downtown in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Forks of the Ohio Fort Pitt Blockhouse

— National Historic Landmark —

Fort Pitt Blockhouse Marker National Park Service image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011

1. Fort Pitt Blockhouse Marker National Park Service

Inscription.
(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, 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 is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15222, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

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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 of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Forbes Road (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

Fort Pitt Blockhouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011

2. Fort Pitt Blockhouse Marker

Fort Pitt Blockhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011

3. Fort Pitt Blockhouse

Fort Pitt Blockhouse Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 17, 2011

4. Fort Pitt Blockhouse Entrance

Bouquet's Redoubt/Blockhouse image. Click for full size.

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

Fort Pitt Blockhouse, 1901 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Unknown

6. Fort Pitt Blockhouse, 1901

Not Dedicated image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016

7. Not Dedicated

Property of
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.

A*D*<br>1764~<br>Coll ~ Bouquet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016

8. A*D*
1764~
Coll ~ Bouquet

Plaque above the door of the blockhouse

Royal Seal<br>on the door of the Blockhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016

9. Royal Seal
on the door of the Blockhouse

Honi soit qui mal y pense
"Shame on whosoever would think badly of it,"

The Blockhouse Used as a Dwelling image. Click for full size.

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.

DAR Emblem<br>on the Blockhouse Fence<br>PPG Building Behind image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 15, 2016

11. DAR Emblem
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 1,798 times since then and 20 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.