Fort Ligonier's history chronicled in new mural

Standing outside Fort Ligonier, Steven Patricia is dwarfed by the mural he created for the restored 18th century British bastion that tells the story of the French and Indian War.

An architect, historian and artist, Patricia worked to create a design "that would not overpower the old," he says.

The mural starts with construction of the fort in 1758, shows the plans for the fort, and concludes on Oct. 12, 1758, when French soldiers and native scouts arrived to attack the outpost.

It covers what was formerly a blank wall, following a major reconstruction project at the fort.

Can you find it? Come see some brand new artwork at the Fort today!!! #art #fort #ligonier #fun #educate #LaurelHighlands pic.twitter.com/88yfOTA2pL

" Fort Ligonier (@Fortligonier58) July 18, 2017

Museum staff hired Patricia to give visitors an introduction to the site's history.

A registered architect with a master's degree in archaeology, Patricia has worked for clients including the U.S. National Park Service, Art Institute of Chicago, Meadowcroft Museum of Rural Life and the Culinary Institute of America.

"I love seeing my work out on a site. It makes you feel like you've got a stake in it. It becomes your place as well," Patricia says.

He and his wife, Helen, reside on a historic farmstead in Ligonier Township, believed to date to 1785 and the site of digs by University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg archaeology students.

The mural project arose after he spoke with Annie Urban, executive director at Fort Ligonier, about a planned wayside interpretation effort. They walked outside and noticed the blank wall fronting the museum, Patricia says.

The two talked about people coming at off hours, not sure what the museum was about or if they might want to visit.

"I saw it right away. I saw exactly what I needed to do," Patricia says.

Each of the three panels, fabricated and recently installed by Greensburg's Blue Sky Sign Company, depicts "a continuum of time," he says.

Patricia was amazed at the idea of hundreds of people, animals, wagons, supplies involved in constructing the fort by manual labor alone. There would have been an infirmary, blacksmiths, hunters.

"What was that like? And to be looking over your shoulder all the time," he says.

He's not sure if the mural is complete.

"I'm working with Erica (Nuckles, fort director of history and collections) to see if we can put any graphics on the panels," he says.

"We felt like, once the (reconstruction) project was done, there just needed to be something on that space," Nuckles says. "When he showed us the first design we were amazed by it and how it captured the spirit of the fort,"

The mural was a personal gift from trustee Jo Rossi and husband Jim Rossi to the "Fortifying our Future" fundraising campaign, a $13 million expansion and enhancement project, Urban says.

"They specifically wanted to fund the creation and installation of the mural," Urban says.

The panels stand 4-feet wide and 9-feet high, says Bob Gonze, Blue Sky Sign Company owner.

After the eco solvent ink dried, the panels — aluminum sheeting with a plastic solid core — were laminated with an anti-graffiti surface that will help with cleaning and protect the mural from ultra-violet light, he says.

"There will be no rot, no degradation," Gonze says.

Fascinated by history, Patricia recently authored an illustrated book on World War I called "And the World Went Dark." He consulted published diaries and online research to create the book, available online and in some area bookstores.

"I want to tell stories that engage people to the point they don't walk away and say, 'So what?'" he says.

Mary Pickels is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MaryPickels.