Wed., July 23
Good tour of the Fort Pitt Museum today. “The Point” (the physical heart of Pittsburgh where the Allegheny and Mon meet to form the Ohio River) and where the Fort Pitt Museum is located has historically been a site of great contention because of its strategic location. The Allegheny River had been the major trading highway for the French while the Mon River had been the major trading route for the English. Dominance of The Point dictated who would have control of trading further south, which included New Orleans.
It was in 1754 that a 21 year-old George Washington surprised the French when they woke up in the woods near The Point. He surrendered soon after that though recognizing that his troops were no match for the French. This was the showdown which eventually led to the French and Indian War, known to the rest of the world as the Seven Years War.
The French maintained their fort at the Point until the British led by General Pitt squeezed them out in 1762. As a result of the victory, the city was named “Pittsburgh” and even the colors of the city with its black and gold come from the Pitt family crest.
Good tour of the Fort Pitt Museum today. “The Point” (the physical heart of Pittsburgh where the Allegheny and Mon meet to form the Ohio River) and where the Fort Pitt Museum is located has historically been a site of great contention because of its strategic location. The Allegheny River had been the major trading highway for the French while the Mon River had been the major trading route for the English. Dominance of The Point dictated who would have control of trading further south, which included New Orleans.
It was in 1754 that a 21 year-old George Washington surprised the French when they woke up in the woods near The Point. He surrendered soon after that though recognizing that his troops were no match for the French. This was the showdown which eventually led to the French and Indian War, known to the rest of the world as the Seven Years War.
The French maintained their fort at the Point until the British led by General Pitt squeezed them out in 1762. As a result of the victory, the city was named “Pittsburgh” and even the colors of the city with its black and gold come from the Pitt family crest.
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