Bushy Run Battlefield

Like an earlier reviewer said, Bushy Run Battlefield isn’t exactly the first place most tourists would visit. Very few people really know about this battle, yet it is pretty significant in the history of colonial America.
The culminating battle of Pontiac’s Rebellion, Bushy Run was a huge victory for Henry Bouquet and quite possibly saved the British colonies from being overrun by a large confederacy of Native Americans.
Bushy Run Battlefield today is a small and peaceful state park located in rural Jeannette, just outside of Pittsburgh. A visit should last between 1 – 2 hours and is recommended for students of history or those interested in colonial America.
Start with the small museum where you can watch a brief video highlighting the battle and view artifacts from the conflict. The museum does a great job devoting attention to both the British and Native Americans who fought here.
Grab a walking brochure and hike the short loop around the battlefield. There are several spots of significance and on a nice day, a walk through the woods will be enjoyable. Spend some time at the last stop, the location of the «flour bag» redoubt upon Edge Hill. A granite monument marks the spot.
Overall, the battlefield is well worth a visit for those who are interested. One can still see how the topography helped determine the outcome of the battle.
The battlefield is somewhat difficult to find if you are not from the area, so make some preparations before hand. If you are seriously interested in colonial history or the French and Indian War in particular, I would highly recommend visiting Fort Necessity, Braddock’s grave, the site of Braddock’s defeat, Fort Pitt Museum, Point State Park, and the Pittsburgh Regional History Museum in addition to this site. All are located within a reasonable driving distance. Also, check out Allen Eckert’s «The Conquerors,» which describes Pontiac’s Rebellion and the Battle of Bushy Run in more detail.

What do you mean you’ve never heard of the Battle of Bushy Run?
Having grown up on Bushy Run Road and spent many a-​summer at Girl Scout day camp at the park, I can tell you that the Battle of Bushy Run was fought during Pontiac’s War (after the French and Indian War). And that’s about it, other than that the Indians didn’t stand a chance against those Brits with guns. I did always think it was pretty neat that a local landmark showed up in our history books when I was a kid.
It’s been awhile since I’ve been back, but I will always hold a fondness for this state park. There’s a small museum with artifacts from the battle that have been uncovered over the years: muskets, arrowheads. Under the giant wooden pavilion I was treated for my first bee sting and learned how to cook grilled cheese sammiches on the grill. It was at this park where I first discovered my love of hiking and learned the «look but don’t touch» philosophy of state parks. And if it weren’t for this park, I may not have ever held a musket ball in my hand and thought how much it would have sucked to have been shot with one.