Fort Necessity National Battlefield

   In April of 1754, 22 year old George Washington was given command of part of a regiment of Virginians and sent from Virginia to the fork of the Ohio River, the site of present day Pittsburgh where the British had built a small fort. Washington soon discovered the French, who claimed the territory as their own, had taken over the fort. By May the men  were about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh and made a base camp in a large meadow. After getting word that a small group of French soldiers were nearby Washington and 40 men marched through the night to confront them. A shot was fired and during the skirmish 13 Frenchmen and 1 of Washington's men were killed and 21 French soldiers were captured.

   Knowing that the French would retaliate Washington had his men build a circular palisade fort in the meadow. On July 3 600 French soldiers and 100 Indian allies surrounded the fort. Out numbered and unprepared for the ensuing battle, George Washington surrendered around midnight and he, along with his men, were permitted to go back to Virginia. This one day battle was the beginning of the French and Indian War also known as the Seven Year War after it spread to Europe with Great Britain, Prussia, Portugal allied against France, Spain, Austria, Russia, and Sweden.

   The visitor center has nicely done exhibits explaining the events that led up to the battle and the battle itself. A short trail leads to the meadow where the fort has been reconstructed. Part of Washington’s orders were to build a road as he marched to Pittsburgh. The road followed a natural route through the mountains and was improved in the early 1800s, deteriorated when train travel became popular and was revived by the success of the automobile. The Mount Washington Traven, a stage stop from 1828 to 1855, is located a short distance from the visitor center and is opened for tours when staffing permits.

   The visitor center is accessible. The trail to the fort is paved and accessible. A cleverly disguised ramp goes from the tavern parking lot to the front of the tavern. It was closed during our visit and we did not see an accessible entrance.

   The visitor center lot has long bus/RV spaces. RVs will fit in the tavern lot if parked across the spaces. Fort 39.81388, -79.58541