This small brick structure built in 1764 is the oldest building in Western Pennsylvania and the only surviving part of Fort Pitt. The main fort was constructed by the British between 1759 and 1761 to control the strategically important Forks of the Ohio during the French and Indian War. When Fort Pitt was demolished in 1792, this small part of the fort had already been converted into a house and so escaped destruction.
The Blockhouse is now part of Point State Park, which also contains a reconstructed bastion of the original fort that now houses the Fort Pitt Museum. And nearby, at the point where the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers merge to form the Ohio River, stands a large fountain that shoots water 150 feet into the air erected in 1974. The fountain symbolizes the birth of the Ohio and also marks the terminus of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage hiking and biking trail.
Point State Park provides a green oasis in the center of the city, with views of all three rivers and the historic remains of both Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt. The family-friendly trails are paved and so suitable for biking, hiking, or riding a scooter. There are open areas where you can enjoy friendly games of soccer or basketball with your friends and family. The park also hosts major cultural events, such as the Three Rivers Regatta, Three Rivers Arts Festival, and the Venture Outdoors Festival.
