Explore the Revolution in the West.
As part of the ongoing commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Fort Pitt Museum will host the 1776 Symposium: The Revolution in the West, a full-day program exploring the people, conflicts, material culture, and pivotal moments that shaped the American Revolution and the western frontier.
The symposium will feature presentations from leading historians, authors, and historical interpreters examining the events of 1776 and their impact on the Revolutionary frontier.
Guests will hear from visiting speakers and Fort Pitt Museum staff throughout the day, with opportunities between sessions to explore the museum’s exhibitions, including Pittsburgh’s Revolution, which explores Western Pa.’s role in the founding of our country through rare artifacts, compelling stories, and Revolutionary-era objects.
David Preston
Dr. David L. Preston, General Mark W. Clark Distinguished Professor of History at The Citadel, will explore the fragile western borders of the British Empire in North America and the growing tensions that led to their collapse by the 1770s. Specializing in the complex relationships between French, British, and American Indian communities during the 18th century, Preston will examine how conflict, diplomacy, and frontier warfare shaped the Revolutionary era in the West.
Joel Bohy
Author and researcher Joel Bohy will discuss groundbreaking archaeological and forensic research surrounding the opening day of the American Revolution. Drawing from his book “Bullet Strikes From the First Day of the American Revolution”, Bohy examines surviving musket balls, battle damage, and physical evidence from the conflicts at Lexington and Concord to better understand the experiences of soldiers and civilians on April 19, 1775.
Jim Mullins
At the beginning of the American Revolution, Congress established a secret diplomatic committee tasked with securing international support for the American cause. By 1776, the committee successfully arranged shipments of thousands of surplus French muskets and military supplies that proved critical to the war effort. Historian Jim Mullins will explore how these covert shipments helped sustain the Continental Army and shaped America’s path to independence.
Gabriel Neville
Two companies of Col. Peter Muhlenberg’s famous 8th Virginia regiment were raised in what is now southwest Pennsylvania. Gabriel Neville, author of “The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution”, will tell how 150 men from places like Pittsburgh, Brownstown, and Connellsville fought for Independence while calling themselves Virginians.
Admission
Admission is $20 for History Center members, $15 for students with valid ID, and $30 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided.
