Information
Landmark: Point State ParkCity: Pittsburgh
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Point State Park, Pittsburgh, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
Point State Park spreads across 36 acres in Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle,” where the Allegheny meets the Monongahela and their waters join to form the Ohio.Named a National Historic Landmark, the park protects the narrow point where 18th-century forts once stood, and today it invites visitors to stroll shady riverfront trails, relax on open lawns, and watch the city’s iconic fountain spill water into the air.In 1754, French troops raised Fort Duquesne on the site, its fresh timber walls braced against the damp air of the French and Indian War.In 1758, the British army seized the point and built Fort Pitt, a massive frontier stronghold with thick stone walls towering over the river.In 1763, Fort Pitt held firm through a fierce siege in Pontiac’s Rebellion, its walls echoing with musket fire.In the 1920s, the point was a maze of clattering rail yards, and preservationists pushed hard for a public park.In 1974, Point State Park finally opened after decades of urban renewal, its paths winding past stone remnants from both forts set into the landscape.The Fountain shoots a 150-foot stream of water into the air at river mile 0 of the Ohio, driven by an underground pump room that pulls cold, clear water from an aquifer 54 feet below.The length and glow of night lights shift with the seasons, sometimes casting a faint golden hue in winter.Built in 1764, the Fort Pitt Block House is the oldest building still standing in the region, now run by the Fort Pitt Society as a free museum where the scent of old timber lingers.Fort Pitt Museum sits inside a rebuilt stone bastion, its two floors packed with exhibits on frontier life, the fur trade, and Native alliances-and yes, there’s an admission fee.Paved riverwalks line both the north and south banks, linking into the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage, where the scent of fresh water drifts up from the current.The Great Lawn spans six acres of open grass, perfect for picnics, soccer games, or sprawling festivals like the Three Rivers Arts Festival and the Fourth of July fireworks, where the air fills with music and the scent of food trucks.Kayak and SUP launches sit on floating docks along the Allegheny, giving paddlers easy access to the river’s calm, green water.Interpretive Ruins – Low brick outlines mark where the walls of Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt once stood, and nearby panels share the military layout and archaeological finds, down to a rusted musket ball.Visitor Information (2025): We’re open every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the fountain splashes to life from about April through October, as long as the weather plays along.Admission’s free-you can wander the park grounds, stroll the riverwalk, and stand by the fountain as the water splashes softly.You’ll only pay fees at the Fort Pitt Museum, where the brass door handles gleam in the afternoon light.Parking’s easiest at the Gateway Center Garage, a 1,700‑space lot tucked beneath the park’s east side.A few metered spots line the nearby streets.Restrooms are open all year near the museum, while portable units pop up on the Great Lawn during big events, just steps from the picnic tables.All main paths and the museum entrance are wheelchair-accessible, and courtesy beach wheelchairs-perfect for rolling down to the river launch-are available with 48 hours’ notice.Spring brings plenty to do-Pittsburgh Earth Day fills the streets with music and food, and Venture Outdoors kicks off kayak season on the river.Summer brings the Three Rivers Arts Festival in early June, the Fourth of July “Flashes of Freedom” fireworks lighting up the night, weekly yoga on the lawn, and free concerts that drift into the warm evening air.In fall, you can cross the Pittsburgh Irish Festival’s finish line, watch sleek boats race down the river, and stroll beneath golden leaves along the tree-lined promenades.Winter brings the crackle and burst of New Year’s Eve fireworks, and when the snow’s deep enough, you can rent snowshoes from our partner outfitters.The park marks the western end of the Great Allegheny Passage, a 335‑mile bike trail that winds to Cumberland, Maryland, before following the C & O Canal Towpath all the way to Washington, D. C., where the scent of river water drifts through the air.It’s just a short stroll over the Fort Duquesne Bridge to the North Shore stadiums, and the T light rail’s Gateway Station sits a block to the east, past a row of old brick storefronts.If you’re visiting, get there about an hour before the sun dips-perfect time for golden light on the fountain and the city skyline.Bring a blanket for lunch on the Great Lawn, and enjoy the smell of sizzling tacos from the food trucks lining the promenade on summer weekends.Pair a museum stop with a relaxed two‑mile loop that winds past Point, along the North Shore, and over the bright yellow span of the Roberto Clemente Bridge.When big events hit, grab your bike or hop on the light rail-skip the gridlock and those long garage lines.At Point State Park, you can wander through layers of history, paddle or picnic by the water, and take in sweeping views where the three rivers meet-making it a must-see for anyone exploring Pittsburgh.
