Point State Park

Point State Park, located at the confluence of three rivers, is at the tip of Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle." It commemorates and preserves the strategic and historic heritage of the area during the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763). Once a busy industrial area, the area had deteriorated into a commercial slum by the 1940s . The development of a state park was authorized in 1945 and the first parcel of the 36-acre property was purchased in 1946. The park was completed and dedicated in 1974. It is now one of the nation's outstanding historical parks and tourist attractions and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

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Directions - Weather  - Recreation  - Historical Interpretation  - Calendar of Events  - Accessibility  - History  - Fountain  - Three Rivers  - Nearby Attractions  - Rules and Regs  - In an Emergency  - Contact Us  - Downloadables and Maps

Park Advisories

Directions

The 36-acre park is located at 101 Commonwealth Place. From the east, take I-376 west to the Stanwix Street Exit. Turn left at the light onto Fort Pitt Boulevard and bear right onto Commonwealth Place. From the south and west, take I-279 North through the Fort Pitt Tunnels and across the Fort Pitt Bridge. Take the Boulevard of the Allies Exit and make a right at the light onto Commonwealth Place.

From the north take I-279 South across the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Take the I-376 East Exit then take the Stanwix Street Exit on the left. Make a left at the light onto Fort Pitt Boulevard and bear right at the Y onto Commonwealth Place.

The park’s parking lot is located along Commonwealth Place (across from the Post Gazette building) and is operated by Boulos Parking Inc. The lot is open from 6 a.m. to11 p.m. daily. Weekday rates are $13 per day and $7 after 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday rates are $7 per day. To get to the park, visitors should walk out of the parking lot entrance, turn left and follow the sidewalk to the main entrance of the park (located across from the Hilton Hotel). There is some limited metered parking along Commonwealth Place near the park entrance as well as a pull-in visitor drop off area.

Several parking lots and garages are located within walking distance of the park. For the locations and the parking rates, contact the Pittsburgh Parking Authority at www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/pghparkingauthority/html/pittsburgh_parking_authority.html . Call ahead reserved parking is available for the Parking Authority garages and lots Monday through Friday from 10:00am until 2:00pm. Visitors must contact the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership at 412-566-4190 or reservations@downtownpittsburgh.com at least 24 hours in advance. There is no fee for the service, however parking rates still apply.

Visitors may wish to use public transportation to get to the park. Both the bus and the T light rail system (subway) are free to ride within the Golden Triangle. More information on bus service and the T is available at www.portauthority.org/paac/default.aspx.

Recreational Opportunities

Visitors walk along paved promenades on the riverfront and to overlooks for dramatic views of Pittsburgh, its busy waterways, scenic hillsides and many bridges. Natural landscaping and a 100-foot tall fountain enhance the beauty of this unique park at the “Forks of the Ohio”. Numerous benches are located throughout the park or visitors may choose to bring a blanket to picnic on the lawn areas. A stepped wall or stone bleacher along the Allegheny River section of the park provides seating for outdoor events. Cleats are available along the Allegheny or Monongahela Rivers for boaters to moor during the day at the park. Bicyclists can ride along the paved pathways through the park to reach various bike routes throughout the city that connect to the North Shore Trail, the South Side Trail and the Eliza Furnace Trail. In the near future, the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail which runs from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh will connect to the park.

The Fort Pitt Museum, the Fort Pitt Block House, plaques, markers and other features interpret the history and significance of the area.

Point State Park is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of State Parks. The park is operated and maintained by the City of Pittsburgh under an agreement with DCNR.

Fountain

The majestic fountain at the headwaters of the Ohio River was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on August 30, 1974, marking the completion of the 36-acre Point State Park which was 29 years in planning and construction. The fountain is operated daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. weather permitting, during the spring, summer and fall seasons.

When the fountain is in operation, there are over 800,000 gallons of water in the system. Three 250 hp pumps operate the main column of the fountain which reaches to 100 feet high. Three 75 hp pumps operate the three fan design water features known as peacock tails which symbolize the three rivers. Lighting around the fountain enhances the grandeur of this best known feature of the park.

The circular basin of the fountain is 200 feet in diameter and the water within the fountain is re-circulated. Water to replace the amount lost during fountain operations is obtained from a 54-foot deep well that penetrates sands and gravels under the park. These sands and gravels are below the groundwater table and are saturated with water that infiltrates from the adjoining rivers.

Three Rivers

Point State Park is at the meeting place of rivers, which is called a confluence. The Monongahela River, which originates in Fairmont, WV flows northward over 128 miles to Pittsburgh and drains southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. The Allegheny River begins 325 miles upriver from Pittsburgh near Coudersport, PA and drains northwestern Pennsylvania and part of New York. These two rivers meet at Point State Park, beginning the Ohio River, which flows 981 miles to Cairo, Illinois where it joins the Mississippi River which reaches the Gulf of Mexico by New Orleans, Louisiana.

Historical Interpretation

Monuments, plaques and markers throughout the park commemorate events and people of historic importance at the Forks of the Ohio.

The location of Fort Duquesne is marked by a granite tracery (outline) within the Great Lawn area. The center of the tracery contains a bronze medallion depicting the fort.

The locations of four of the five bastions (projecting parts of the fortification) of Fort Pitt have been delineated. The Flag Bastion and the Monongahela Bastion have been reconstructed of brick. The Flag Bastion overlooks the Monongahela River and the parking lot. The Fort Pitt Museum is housed in the Monongahela Bastion. Both the Music Bastion located in the city-side lawn area and the Ohio Bastion located in the plaza across from the museum and block house are marked by granite traceries. The traceries of both Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt are lit by LED lights for a spectacular view from above at night.

The original location of the rivers edge during the mid-1700s is depicted by a granite tracery within the Great Lawn area.

Wayside exhibits and interpretive programs are planned for the park and are listed within the Point State Park Interpretive Plan. Explore the interpretive plan (3 mb, 2/09).

Fort Pitt Museum

The museum focuses on the French and Indian War as well as the frontier period of local history and contains numerous displays and exhibits on the area's historic impact. A large diorama on the first floor contains a model of the fort. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission administers the museum, which is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. An admission fee is charged for those 6 and older.

Fort Pitt Blockhouse

Built by Colonel Henry Bouquet in 1764, the blockhouse is the oldest architectural landmark in Western Pennsylvania. Owned and operated by the Fort Pitt Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, the block house is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Free Admission. For more information on tours at the Fort Pitt Block House, call 412-471-1764.

Access for People with Disabilities

The main park entrance, riverfront wharf walkway, restrooms and water fountains are ADA accessible. For additional information about accessibility within Point State Park, contact the park office.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.

History

During a trip to negotiate with the French in 1753, Lieutenant George Washington, in the Virginia militia, passed through the land that would become Point State Park. He wrote about it in his journal.

As I got down before the Canoe, I spent some Time in viewing the Rivers, and the Land in the Fork; which I think extremely well situated for a Fort, as it has the absolute Command of both Rivers. The Land at the Point is 20 or 25 Feet above the common Surface of the Water; and a considerable Bottom of flat, well-timbered Land all around it, very convenient for Building: The Rivers are each a Quarter of a Mile, or more, across, and run here very near at right Angles: Aligany bearing N. E. and Monongahela S. E. The former of these two is a very rapid and swift running Water; the other deep and still, without any perceptible fall.

By George he was right!

During the mid-1700s, the armies of France and Great Britain vied for control of the Ohio Valley. Four different forts were built at the forks of the Ohio within a period of five years.

In 1754, French forces captured an outpost known as Fort Prince George at the Point that had been erected by a force of Virginians. George Washington led British forces to recapture the fort, but suffered his first and only surrender at Fort Necessity, 50 miles to the south.

The French then built Fort Duquesne at the Forks, which gave them control of the Ohio Valley. In 1755 General George Braddock led the British to capture the forks, but was defeated at the Battle of the Monongahela, eight miles from the fort.

In 1758, a British army of 6,000 lead by General John Forbes, marched west from Carlisle. Forbes stopped at Fort Ligonier, 50 miles to the southeast and made final preparations for the assault on Fort Duquesne.

The French, realizing they were badly outnumbered, burned the fort and departed two days before the British arrived on November 25, 1758. The British built a temporary fort called Mercer’s Fort which was used until construction of Fort Pitt began in 1759. Fort Pitt, named in honor of William Pitt, secretary of state of Britain, was to be the most extensive fortification by the British in North America.

The French were never to regain control as their other outposts in the region fell to the British. The only further action at Fort Pitt was in 1763 when it withstood American Indian attacks during Pontiac's Insurrection.

Fort Pitt was sold in 1772 and then reclaimed in 1774 by the Virginia Territory. In 1777, the Continental Army used it for its western headquarters. Troops and supplies were gathered here to defend the new United States. The first Peace Treaty between the American Indians and the United States was signed at Fort Pitt in 1778. Fort Pitt was finally abandoned in 1792 due to its deteriorating condition. It had served to open the frontier to settlement as Pittsburgh became the ''Gateway to the West.''

Nearby Attractions

Numerous events and attractions are available in and around Point State Park. The Venture Outdoors Festival, Three Rivers Art Festival, Three Rivers Regatta and the Richard S. Caliguire Great Race are some of the events held within the park.

For more information on year-round events and walking tours of the city contact the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-366-0093, www.visitpittsburgh.com.

In an Emergency

Contact a park employee or dial 911.
For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards or at the park office.

Nearest Hospital:
Mercy Hospital
1400 Locust Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-232-8111

For More Information Contact

Point State Park
c/o Park Region 2
Prospect, PA 16052-2013
724 865-2131
Manager: Frances Stein

E-mail: parkregion2sp@state.pa.us
An equal opportunity employer