The Source of the Ohio River

The beginning of the Ohio River is the spot at which two rivers, the Allegheny and the Monogahela, flow together to create a bigger body of water. These rivers meet at what is now Point State Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the heart of the city. (see reference 1, reference 2)

The Allegheny River is the northernmost of the two sources of the Ohio River. It begins in northern Pennsylvania, swings northwest into New York state, and then turns southwest on its way to Pittsburgh. The river is about 325 miles long, of which about 200 miles are navigable above Pittsburgh. (see reference 3, resource 2)

The southern tributary that helps form the Ohio River is the Monogahela River. At 131 miles long, it is by far the shortest of the three, arising in West Virginia, and taking a twisting, but mostly northern, path into Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh. Like the Ohio, it is also a major transportation route for commercial freight. (see resource 3, resource 4 in notes to editor)

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Point State Park is home to a museum and a restored portion of Fort Pitt, which the British built in the late 1750s to guard the source of the Ohio River from the French. The park also has a fountain, and biking and skating trails. The confluence of the rivers at Pittsburgh, immediately surrounding the park, is popular for kayaking and canoeing, since the views of the cityscape from the water are spectacular. (see resources 5 and 6 in notes to editor)

From the confluence of the Allegheny and Monogahela rivers, the Ohio stretches southwest along the borders of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois before it ends at Cairo, Illinois, where it joins the Mississippi River. The Ohio River Valley is narrow, with steep cliffs along it. Nevertheless, the entire length of the river is navigable. Consequently, it has become an important waterway for moving commercial goods. People also use the Ohio for recreational activities like fishing and boating.