On March 18, the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), the public
agency that owns and operates the Fort Pitt Museum, released
a report recommending
that the museum be closed.
(click
here to view the report)
Supporters of the museum, led by the Friends of the Fort Pitt Museum, believe that the report is flawed in its data and analysis – and that the Fort Pitt Museum plays a unique and vital role in preserving and interpreting an important historical era and key events that shaped the destiny of much of North America.
Indeed, we believe that “The Best Years of Fort Pitt Museum Are Still Ahead.” It tells a story that must be told. It tells a story that no one else can tell. And it is poised to tell that story even better than before.
PHMC will hold a public hearing on the closure, probably in Pittsburgh in April and make a final decision after that.
If you share our belief in the mission and value of the Fort Pitt Museum, please let us hear from you. Send an e-mail to me at savefortpittnow@yahoo.com or send a letter to the Friends of the Fort Pitt Museum, Box 22021, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-0021.
Thank you for your help.
Donn Neal
President, Friends of the Fort Pitt Museum
Fort
Pitt Museum is a member of
French and Indian War 250
1854 “Excavations” of the Point
In 1854 the Pennsylvania Railroad began construction of a freight depot at the Point in Pittsburgh. The work unearthed remnants of Fort Pitt and possibly portions of Fort DuQuesne. The discovery of these remnants coupled with the centennial of the beginning of the French and Indian War generated excitement among the people of Pittsburgh.
Click here to read more from the 1854 newspaper accounts
Situated in the re-created Monongahela Bastion at Point State Park, the Fort Pitt Museum commemorates the strategic importance of the Forks of the Ohio during the Great War for Empire in which British, French, Colonial, and Native American forces struggled for control of North America. Through exhibits and programs, the museum also addresses the important role of Fort Pitt during the American Revolution and the early development of the city of Pittsburgh. The site presents tours, exhibits, educational programs, and publications to broaden understanding of the significance of the area known as "the Point." In meeting this goal, Fort Pitt Museum closely examines the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the various military fortifications established on the site, the many cultures that influenced the development of the region, and the importance of the fur trade and other early commerce.
Fort Pitt Museum, one of twenty-six historic sites administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, contains more than 12,000 square feet of exhibit space, an auditorium, galleries, and a gift shop. Also on the grounds of Point State Park, visitors can tour the Blockhouse, a structure that was once part of the fortifications and is presently owned and operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution; the outline of the fort's Music Bastion; the Flag Bastion overlooking the Monongahela River; and the outline of Fort Duquesne, a French outpost that preceded Fort Pitt. The museum staff is assisted by the Friends of the Fort Pitt Museum, a volunteer support group.
Fort Pitt Museum, one of 26 historic sites and museums on the Pennsylvania Trail of History, is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. For a free copy of the Pennsylvania Trail of History visitor guide, call toll-free 1-866-PA TRAIL. For more information on Fort Pitt, phone 412-281-9285 or visit www.phmc.state.pa.us.