Pictured here is a circular plaque, commemorating the location of Fort Duquesne in 1774. Today not even ruins remain, but the location is memorable, lying at the tip of a spit of land called “the Point,” right at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in downtown Pittsburgh.
As can be surmised from the spelling, Fort Duquesne was originally built by the French: in the late 18th century, this part of North America was where British and French claimed territories. Their struggle erupted into the French and Indian War, aka the Seven Years War, a conflict fought in both North America and Europe. Eventually, of course, the French lost control over the area and Fort Duquesne was destroyed.
Location was a boon and a curse in these struggles — at the point where three rivers mesh, it makes sense that Fort Duquesne would be strategically important. Yet as visitors know, the land is situated on low ground — back then it was very swampy. Moreover, it is faced by cliffs to the south, making it particularly vulnerable.
What was bad for military positioning turned out to be fantastic for commerce, which is why — as you can see in the picture — the area made for an excellent downtown in the city of Pittsburgh.
