Fort Pitt: Get to the Point of Pittsburgh History this Summer
Visitors to the Fort Pitt Museum can sharpen their throwing skills at the museum’s outdoor Tomahawk Toss range on Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting) from 1-4 p.m. through August.
The Fort Pitt Museum, part of the Smithsonian-affiliated Senator John Heinz History Center’s family of museums, will offer fun activities and exhibitions for visitors of all ages to enjoy this summer at Point State Park.
The Fort Pitt Museum explores the strategic role of Western Pennsylvania and the Point in key moments in American history, including the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, and the birth of Pittsburgh.
Tomahawk Toss: Saturdays and Sundays (1-4 p.m.)
In 18th-century America, both American Indians and European settlers carried tomahawks to use as tools and weapons. Now, visitors to the Fort Pitt Museum can sharpen their throwing skills at the museum’s outdoor Tomahawk Toss range. Participants will get a crash course in the history of tomahawks before learning safety procedures and throwing techniques.
The Tomahawk Toss, which will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting) from 1-4 p.m. through August, is $5 for five minutes of throwing. All participants will receive discounted museum admission. Follow the Fort Pitt Museum on Facebook for weather-related updates.
Experience Living History at the Point: Select Weekends this Summer
Visitors to Point State Park can see history in action during the Fort Pitt Museum’s summer season. On select weekends, costumed reenactors will demonstrate 18th-century life at Fort Pitt, perform marches and military drills, and fire the museum’s replica British six-pounder cannon. All outdoor living history programs are free and open to the public. Stay tuned to the Fort Pitt Museum website and Facebook page for updated information on living history demonstrations.
Fourth at the Fort: Sunday, July 4 (1-5 p.m.)
At 1 p.m., join the Fort Pitt Museum, boy scouts, and local officials for the annual Fourth at the Fort flag raising ceremony to help the City of Pittsburgh kick off the Fourth of July holiday by raising a 36-foot American flag in Point State Park. Following the flag raising ceremony, Fourth of July revelers of all ages can enjoy an afternoon of patriotic living history. Visitors can throw tomahawks, learn about Fort Pitt and Western Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution, and see costumed interpreters reenact 18th-century life at Fort Pitt.
“Pittsburgh, Virginia” Exhibition: Open through Dec. 31, 2021
Yinz would be y’all. Virginians would bleed black and gold. Pittsburgh would be for lovers, too.
The Fort Pitt Museum explores how Pittsburgh nearly became a permanent part of Virginia as part of its featured exhibition,Pittsburgh, Virginia.
From the 17th century through the American Revolution, Pennsylvania and Virginia had overlapping claims to much of present-day Western Pa. The Pittsburgh, Virginia exhibition focuses on the turbulent events of 1774, when the two colonies fought for control of Pittsburgh, while Lord Dunmore’s War put the fate of the Ohio Country and all of its inhabitants at stake. The exhibit features a selection of Monongahela Indian artifacts, which provide a glimpse into the predominant culture in the region prior to the arrival of Europeans.
One of the most affordable family-friendly cultural experiences in the region, regular admission to the museum is just $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $2 off admission for retired and active military, and $4.50 for students with a valid ID and children ages 6-17. Children under 5 and History Center members get in free.
For more information on the Fort Pitt Museum’s exhibits and public programs, please visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org/fort-pitt.
The Fort Pitt Museum, built in a recreated bastion of the British fort originally constructed in 1759, focuses on the critical role that Western Pennsylvania played during the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, and the founding of Pittsburgh. The Fort Pitt Museum is located in Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. The Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, operates the Fort Pitt Museum in partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). For more information, please visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org/fort-pitt.