The war that started a revolution

AS LITTLE AS TWO decades before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the idea that the American colonies would unite and revolt would have been called preposterous. Ties were strong between Great Britain and its colonies. Trade flourished, and political and social connections ran deep. Even a young Virginia soldier named George Washington wanted nothing more than to be a British military officer.

The French & Indian War (known as the Seven Years War in Europe) would change everything, as England, France, and dozens of American Indian nations fought for control of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains--and the confluence of three mighty rivers at Pittsburgh (Allegheny, Mountains--and Ohio) were seen as the strategic key to victory. By war's end, France virtually had been ousted from the continent; the British empire at last ringed the globe; and American Indians faced the difficult task of defending their independence against a robust Anglo-American opponent.

Perhaps most significant, the war changed the American colonists' view of themselves and the world. Active participation in the British victory gave them a profound sense of their political and military strength. Parliament's decision to tax the colonies to cover the costs of victory quickly turned celebrations of British patriotism into cries of protest. The chain of events that led to the American Revolution had begun.

Some 250 years later, "Clash of Empires: The British, French & Indian War, 1754-1763" brings this historic conflict back to life. "There is perhaps no other event in American history that has had as much impact and is as little known as the French & Indian War," maintains Andy Masich, president of the Heinz History Center. "'Clash of Empires' is an exciting opportunity to step back in time, visit a surprisingly different North America, and learn about a war that continues to affect our lives today."

Utilizing more than 200 objects and works of art, dioramas, videos, and a series of life-like, historically accurate models, the exhibition puts visitors in the midst of the tumult that was the French & Indian War.

In the depths of history, remarkable individuals often are romanticized or simply forgotten. For "Clash of Empires," world-renowned model-maker Gerry Embleton has created a series of nine evocative figures to illustrate and anchor core exhibit sections. Among the characters visitors will meet:

* Colonial officer George Washington, who was promoted from major to colonel during the conflict, agonizing over the decision to sign a French surrender document after his defeat at Fort Necessity; the actual document will appear nearby. His was the opening battle of the French & Indian War as well as the first and only time Washington would surrender during his career.

* Seneca leader Tanaghrisson snuggling for a way to protect his people and their homes. Several 18th-century wampum belts used as diplomatic tools are on display, along with period leggings, pouches, and other unique items.

* An angry French officer, devastated by the fall of New France, burning his regimental flag rather than surrender it. Rare artifacts, paintings, and more will help bring the scene to life.

* African-American provincial soldier John Bush, carving an artfully decorated powder horn; more than 20 powder horns appear in the exhibit.

"Clash of Empires" tapped lenders from around the world to present many of the most important and revealing items of the period, including original uniforms, clothing, weapons, crafts, documents, and items of everyday life from European, colonial, and American Indian participants.

Visitors also can explore dioramas that put the wilderness landscape into perspective; walk under an authentic reproduction birch bark canoe being portaged by a Canadian and an Iroquois Indian; and touch a re-creation of Fort Necessity's wooden stockade, shot through with musket balls during recent ballistics tests.

Representing the period as seen by those who experienced it is a collection of 27 paintings, many of them masterpieces. Created at a time when the idea of depicting figures in contemporary garb rather than Roman robes was considered revolutionary, these images provide a fascinating lens on the war and the people who participated in it. Highlights include period paintings and portraits by Benjamin West, Dominic Serres, and Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Moreover, French & Indian War history and life on the frontier will be interpreted at several unique 18th-century forts in the city of Pittsburgh and the surrounding countryside. Sites of interest include Fort Necessity (the only national park on a French & Indian War battlefield) and Fort Ligonier (home of the extremely rare Washington autobiographical document, "Remarks," in which the future general of the Continental Army and president of the U.S. wrote of his harrowing experiences in the French & Indian War. Washington, incidentally, resigned his military commission before the war's conclusion in order to wed Martha Dandridge, later to become the U.S.'s "first" First Lady.). Fort Pitt, Fort Duquesne, and Bushy Run are of interest as well.