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George Washington
Washington learned the "guerilla ways" of American warfare in what is now western Pennsylvania -
The Marquis Duquesne
The Marquis Duquesne ordered forts to be erected for the French army to use during battle. He ordered the building of Fort Duquesne at the "Forks of the Ohio" (currently where the Point State Park Fountain is located) The French later destroyed the fort after the British (who built Fort Pitt) defeated them. -
British General John Forbes
While on the march to Fort Duquesne, General Forbes conducted his army from a "litter" suspended between two horses (he died just under four months after his army defeated the French on November 25, 1758). It was he who named the land "Pittsborough" after William Pitt, the Prime Minister of England at the time. "Pittsborough" later translated to "Pittsburgh" when it was elevated from borough to city. -
Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt was the biggest and last of five forts built by the British. Fort Pitt survived battles between the French and the British but it did out survive the attacks of the Colonists, who destroyed the fort. One of the redoubts still survives today and is known as the Fort Pitt Blockhouse. You can visit it any Wednesday through Sunday April 1 to October 31st from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Blockhouse was used as an actuall house when houses started to come along. -
Pennsylvania and Slavery
In 1780, Pennsylvania was the first state to outlaw slavery. -
First Settlers
Isaac Craig and Stephen Bayard were one of Pittsburgh's first "settlers." The land that they bought was sold by the Penn family, who had asked Colonel James Campbell to make a street plan so houses could be built. The problem was that his plan only had four blocks. Twenty tears after Campbell, Colonel George Woods and Thomas Vickroy continued his plan. They added two streets (Penn and Liberty) and a public meeting place (Market Square) as a "gift" to the family. This started a boom in business. -
Elevated From Borough to City
On March 18th, 1816 Pittsburgh was elevated from borough to city. While this was happenening, Pittsburgh was getting bigger and bigger. -
James O'Hara Named First Mayor
On March 18th, 1816 Pittsburgh was "elevated" from borough to city. I assume also on that day James O'Hara was named Pittsburgh's first mayor. -
First Published History
Neville B. Craig was the author of Pittsburgh's first published history. He was born in the Fort Pitt Blockhouse. For 12 years, he was the editor for the Pittsburgh Gazette (Sorry about the blurry picture! This is the only one I could find of Neville B. Craig!). -
Canal Boats
(Year is a guesstimate, which means NOT EXACT!) Canal boats that were coming in from the east had to first go to Allegheny City, cross the river of the same name by aqeduct and arrive in Pittsburgh. -
The Cross-State Trip
Travelers from the state capital of Philadelphia could travel to Pittsburgh via train and then packet boat. Charles Dickens took this trip and said the accomidations were basic but he looked back on the the trip and said he enjoyed it. -
The Things We Lost In The Fire
A fire that engulfed started at (what is now) the corner of Stanwix and the Boulevard of the Allies destroyed nearly the whole city. When the fire happened, it was caused by a washerwoman's open fire. The courthouse (built in 1842) on Grant’s Hill survived the fire. -
The Rebuild
Many newspapers said that Pittsbught was "A Doomed City," but a day or two after The Great Pittsburgh Fire occured, Pittsburgh's residents started to rebuild, which brought the ringing sound of hammers all throughout Pittsburgh. Most of the buildings were made out of iron and stone. -
Martin Delaney and The Mystery
Martin R. Delany, an abolitionist, started his own antislavery newspaper in Pittsburgh and titled it "The Mystery." He started this newspaper to get his veiws and opinions out to the public.
