Speaker Saturday: Braddock’s Defeat

Join the Fort Pitt Museum's Living History Coordinator for a fascinating look at an unusual chapter of local history. This presentation explores how the battlefield of Braddock's Defeat—site of a significant 1775 battle between British forces and French-allied troops—became an unexpected destination for curious visitors drawn by its grim past. For decades after the fighting ended, soldiers' remains lay improperly buried at the location, turning it into an early example of what historians call "macabre tourism." This is a perfect outing for families interested in history with a spooky twist, especially during the fall season. The program takes place in the Fort Pitt Auditorium on the museum's first floor and is included with your regular museum admission—no extra ticket needed. It's a chance to learn about the Battle of the Monongahela and understand how this pivotal moment in the struggle for control of the Forks of the Ohio left a lasting mark on the region's story.