A look at Pittsburgh’s 3 rivers in 1776

In July 1776, as a group of colonists in Philadelphia finalized a document cutting ties with the world’s greatest empire, about 300 miles west, the frontier was quiet, with not a yinzer to be found.

Actually, depending on which colonial charter you were using, Pittsburgh wasn’t even in Pennsylvania, with Virginia claiming the region as within its boundaries.

A map from 1776, however, shows no state lines, just the Ohio River, with labeled tributaries (one spelled “Monaungahela”), settlements and Fort Pitt. It’s a fascinating look at the past, especially knowing what was to come for the city and the nation.

– Dan Stefano, WordWrite