Fort Pitt Block House

Point State Park was designated as one of the top 10 outdoor spaces in the country and the Fort Pitt Block House shines in the center of the park. At 250 years it is a testament to the strengths of our city and of our country and hopefully will be there for future generations to explore and learn. History has made us who we are and must be preserved.

What city in America can boast about a historic structure that is 250 years old? The Fort Pitt Blockhouse, amazingly, through the hard work and efforts of the DAR, still stands, and is a testimony to the role that our great city placed in our country's founding. Imagine, like I do, all of the history that this building has witnessed and the famous people who have walked on its grounds. My MOST FAVORITE part of Pittsburgh.

Ed Urban

I live a few blocks from the Block House and visited last fall with my wife. I was astonished at the accessibility and relevance of the property to Pittsburgh's history. The docent was able to inform without interfering with our enjoyment of the visit, and to handle the needs of multiple sets of visitors at once (everything from manning the merchandise sales to answering architectural questions, explaining historical context, and describing preservation practices!). Really impressive, and the Ft Pitt Museum is about 15 feet away!!

nice place to check out in Pitts. And wonderful people to help up.

Fabulous architectural witness to Pittsburgh history with lots of stories to tell, and the docents at Fort Pitt Block House are eager to engage and share those tales. Great experience!

I have been a volunteer on the Ft.Pitt Board for many years. I was involved with the dig several years ago when many artifacts were found under the floor of the Fort Pitt Block House. We are soon to have the"gun loops" refurbished, and the satisfaction of being connected with the Block House is a parallel to the upkeep in your own home.

What a treasure Pittsburgh has in the Fort Pitt Block House!! As a volunteer docent, I can attest to the large number of visitors to this historical gem. So many of the visitors are from out-of-town. Thanks to the DAR and the Fort Pitt Society, this building will be around for many, many years to come for all to enjoy!

Although small, the Fort Pitt Block House is one of the most important, if not the most important historical structure in Western Pennsylvania. As Pittsburgh's oldest building (1764) it has stood witness to the city's transformation from wilderness outpost, to industrial giant, to "green" innovator, and the extremely knowledgeable staff can share stories from each of these eras. Although originally a military building, the Block House's most fascinating stories come from the post-military period, illustrating how the building and it's residents adapted to the changing face of the city and local environment. ADMISSION IS FREE, SO NO VISITOR TO DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH SHOULD MISS THIS REMARKABLE GEM!

I have been working with the Fort Pitt Block House for over a year, and in that short time I have learned so much about this fascinating structure and its significance to the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding region. When you think of everything that a city like Pittsburgh has been through in the last 248 years, it is hard to imagine that such a tiny building like the Block House could still be standing. Originally part of one of the largest British forts in 18th century North America, the Block House has witnessed Pittsburgh change over time from a frontier fortification to a major industrial center to the beautiful and modern city that it is today. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the Fort Pitt Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Block House remains with us today - a testament to the past; a reminder of our earliest history and of how this region came into being. The Fort Pitt Society continues to serve as the steward of the Block House, a role it has played for the last 118 years. The Block House may be just a tiny building, but it has a very large and important past. We need to preserve our history here in the Greater Pittsburgh region, and the Block House is very much a part of that preservation. It is the oldest authenticated structure west of the Allegheny Mountains, the only structure remaining of Fort Pitt, and part of a National Historic Landmark. It is a symbol of our beginning here in Western Pennsylvania.

Very Cool place....never knew that Pittsburgh had such history....

The Fort Pitt Block House is a National Historic Landmark and it is a significant building in Point State Park. It has been carefully conserved and preserved by the Directors of the Fort Pitt Society. Being a member of this Society has educated me on the history of Pittsburgh and the role this tiny building played in the growth of our city. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Block House, the Directors have chosen events to celebrate in 2013 and 2014. These events will be publicized locally and nationally. What an exciting time for all of us! Joanne Ostergaard

I have been involved with the Fort Pitt Block House since January of 2012 in helping with their fund raising, but as a native Pittsburgher I have known about the Block House for years. I will admit that I didn't truly understand its historical significance nor did I appreciate the incredible dedication of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Pittsburgh Chapter, who on their own saved the Block House from destruction and since 1894 have preserved and protected this incredible structure. To step inside this building is to step back in time and to imagine a completely different landscape and way of living. The Curator, Emily Hoover, does a fantastic job making history come alive for all visitors - from children on a school field trip to international visitors coming to Pittsburgh for the first time. As compelling to me as the story of the Block House, is the story of the women who have been the stewards of this national treasure for all these years. Hopefully when you visit you will run into one of the ladies of the DAR and they can share their story as well as the story of the Block House.