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.
Historical InterpretationMonuments, 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. 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. Owned by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and operated by the Senator John Heinz History Center administers the museum, which is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An admission fee is charged for those 6 and older. 412-281-9284 Fort Pitt Museum 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. Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.
Access for People with Disabilities
The main park entrance, walkways, restrooms and water fountains are ADA accessible.  If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.
The Nature of PointOver two acres to the north and south of the Great Lawn are planted with 54,000 native plants that represent the plants that would have been on the site in the mid-18th century. Using historically correct plants is a defining feature of the original 1953 landscape design for the park. The Woodlands are edged by natural boulders to retain a one-foot level above the lawn and to protect the loose soil needed for the plants to thrive. Some plants that can be seen include dogwood, redbud, honey locust, blueberry, hydrangea, wild phlox, mayapple, wild geranium and hay-scented fern. Native plants can also be found at the Overlook. Areas like the Woodlands and lawns at Point provide important open and natural space among the urban environment. Urban green spaces, such as this one, provide a natural setting in a built environment, while also providing ecological benefits. The trees and plants at Point reduce pollution as they absorb carbon dioxide, which is emitted from vehicles on the nearby highways. This green space can even cool down the city of Pittsburgh in the summer heat. In cities like Pittsburgh, asphalt, concrete and buildings absorb solar radiation and reemit it as heat, causing air temperatures to rise. Trees and plants reduce and shade these urban surfaces and help to reduce this heating effect known as the ‘urban heat island.’ These natural areas attract wildlife even in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. Native plants, like those in the woodlands, provide the right food and shelter for Pennsylvania’s wildlife to survive. At Point, visitors may see squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks and birds such as sparrows, woodpeckers, chickadees, orioles and warblers. FountainThe 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 a.m. to 11 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 RiversPoint State Park is at the meeting place of rivers, which is called a confluence. The Monongahela River, which originates in Fairmont, West Virginia, flows northward over 128 miles to Pittsburgh and drains southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. The name of the river is derived from the American Indian name Menaungehilla which means “high banks breaking off and falling down at places” and is descriptive of the often-muddy appearance of the water. The Allegheny River derived from the American Indian name Alligewihanna which translates to “stream of the Alligewi” in reference to the tribe that lived in the region. The river begins 325 miles upriver from Pittsburgh near Coudersport, Pennsylvania and drains northwestern Pennsylvania and part of New York. These two rivers meet at Point State Park, beginning the Ohio River. The Ohio River flows 981 miles to Cairo, Illinois where it joins the Mississippi River which reaches the Gulf of Mexico by New Orleans, Louisiana. Early inhabitants and explorers to the region considered the Ohio and Allegheny rivers to be one river. It was named Ohi-io by the Seneca meaning “River Beautiful” and listed on maps by French explorers as La Belle Riviere meaning "Beautiful River".
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.''
Keep in TouchAdd yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general. Volunteering Like to spend time in the outdoors, meet friendly people and help make Pennsylvania State Parks great? Volunteering at a park might be for you.
Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy. - Sign up to be a Conservation Volunteer
OR - Contact your local state park directly and ask for the Conservation Volunteer coordinator - you'll be hooked up with an interesting and appropriate project in Pennsylvania's natural resources.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Believing that each generation is responsible for leaving behind a better legacy of good conservation, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) was created in 1999 to give supporters and users of Pennsylvania's parks and forests a positive way to contribute to the conservation of our publicly-owned properties. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation welcomes the support of individuals and businesses who share a commitment to conserving, protecting, and enhancing the natural, scenic, and recreational areas of this commonwealth. www.paparksandforests.org
Make a DonationTo a park - find this park's address below To a park or the Bureau of State Parks - Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation www.paparksandforests.org Through a purchase at a park gift shop Thank you for your support! Education ProgramsWe love when young people ask us how to get involved!  DiscoverE has programs for young people ages 4 to 17, provided by Pennsylvania State Park educators. By combining recreation and education, we hope to motivate children to learn more and return often, leading to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment and conservation leadership.
In Watershed Education, teachers and students assess water quality of a local stream on a quarterly basis and develop strategies to solve local water quality problems. ECO Camp - Exploring Careers Outdoors - is a week-long residential camp for a cross-section of high school youth from across Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Participate in action-packed, hands on activities and recreational adventures in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that expose youth to conservation, recreation and careers in natural resources. Learn how people make a living working in the outdoors. Explore education for more information on these and other programs. Explore the Calendar of Events to find a program near you. iConservePA Do you take conservation personally? iConservePA is a Web site managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources whose vision is to inspire citizens to value their natural resources, engage in conservation practices and experience the outdoors. Take conservation personally.
Come Work with UsPennsylvania State Parks and the Department of Conservation and Natrual Resources offer a wide range of civil service and non-civil service jobs, from foresters, to rangers, to engineers, to educators, to botanists and so much more. Learn what is currently available. Tell us What You ThinkContact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park. Point State Park
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.
Information on nearby attractions is available from the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau. www.visitpittsburgh.com
Maps and Downloadables
 Below are many of the maps and publications for this park. You can read them or download them and might need special software (all free) to view the publications.
You must have the free Adobe Reader to view the maps and brochures that are in pdf format (.pdf).
Alternate versions of the text of the brochures are in rich text and text formats. Click on the files to view them. To download (.rtf) files:
For Windows users, right click on the link then left click on "Save target as" to download the file to your computer. For Mac users, hold down the "Options" button and click on the link, then select "Save" to download the file to your computer.
Recreational Guide
Point State Park Map (.pdf) (221 kb, 3/11)
Point State Park Recreational Guide (.pdf) (469 kb, 3/11)
large print version of the guide text (.rtf)
Interactive GIS Map
The interactive map uses Geographic Information Systems to create a map that does not need to be downloaded and features driving directions, searchable park amenities and customizable maps. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources.
Interpretive Plan
Point State Park 2009 Interpretive Plan (.pdf) (3,207 kb, 3/11)
The 36-acre park is located at 101 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh.
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 for a fee. 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 a.m until 2 p.m. 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.
Driving Directions: The Interactive GIS Map has turn-by-turn driving directions to the park office from the Park information Window.
Point State Park
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