Whiskey Rebellion Education & Visitor Center

In 1791 the young government of the United States, in a move to  pay off debts from the Revolutionary War, passed a tax on whiskey. This was strongly opposed by farmers who found that whiskey was easier to transport to market and more profitable than harvested grain. The tax was to be paid in cash which rural farmers rarely had. If taxes weren't paid and stills weren't registered the farmers were required to travel to federal court in Philadelphia. All of this was met with resistance by the farmers who refused to pay and often harassed tax collectors until they left town. 

In 1794 a group of Washington county farmers, led by Washington attorney David Bradford, marched towards Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attacked and burned the home of a tax inspector. With uprisings against the tax increasing, the federal government decided that a show of force was needed. George Washington personally led an army of 13,000 militiamen to western Pennsylvania and gave orders to suppress the rebellion and arrest the leaders. Most escaped into the mountains but the raid ended the violence. 

David Bradford fled south to present day Louisiana and lived there for the rest of his life. His house is across Main Street from the visitor center and open for tours but not accessible.

The small visitor center covers the rebellion from the causes to the aftermath. 

The visitor center is accessible.

There's an accessible on-street parking space in front of the museum where RVs will fit as long as the space behind it is empty.  Visitor Center  40.16811, -80.24459

 

Workhouse Arts Center

 For 91 years the workhouse, originally known as the Occoquan Workhouse, was a prison. It was planned as a self-sustaining facility where non-violent inmates could learn job skills in the cannery, foundry, tailor shop, bakery, electrical, farm, and culinary arts departments. The red brick prison complex with a grassy center courtyard was constructed by the prisoners of bricks made in the kilns that they also built. A festival was being held on the grounds the day we visited. 

 By the 1970s the prison had become overcrowded and dangerous as prisoners guilty of serious crimes were moved to the complex. Starting in 1995, inmates were gradually transferred to other facilities. The last one left in November 2001 and the property was sold to Fairfax County, Virginia. The buildings on the main prison campus now house art studios, art galleries, class spaces, and a small museum. A golf course has been constructed on the grounds and another prison complex has been renovated into one and two bedroom apartments. 

We visited the small Lorton Prison Museum which has exhibits about the changes of the prison over the years plus an exhibit on an unusual group of prisoners - dozens of suffragists who were arrested in 1917 after picketing the White House. They were kept for two weeks in unsanitary conditions with inadequate food and violent guards. The museum is free but for a few dollars visitors can take a guided tour of a cell block. There's not a lot to see in the cell block but the stories are interesting. 

We also visited the galleries at the Arts Center. 

Buildings W-5 through W-10 house artist's studios. They're opened to visitors if there's an artist on site so we checked one out. The art is beautiful with a wide range of mediums and techniques. All the studio doors stay open so we could peek in. 

Most of the service buildings are in disrepair and are not being used but visitors are welcome to explore the grounds. The paved paths and roads are accessible but wheelchair users may need assistance on hilly or uneven sections.  

The buildings are all accessible with sidewalks and paved paths in the courtyard.

 

The parking lot is large enough for any vehicle. Museum  38.69945, -77.25428

 

  

Fort Ligonier

In the summer of 1758, the British built Fort Ligonier, the western most British fort along the newly constructed Forbes Road which was about 220 miles long and ran from Carlisle, Pennsylvania to the French Fort Duquesne. (now the site of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). The British hoped to conquer Fort Duquesne and force the French out of the Ohio River Valley, an area that the French had been steadily moving into and claiming for France. 

 The British attempted but failed to take Fort Duquesne in 1754. Instead of negotiating a peaceful settlement, both countries sent troops to North America. This was the start of the Seven Years War a battle for control by England and France that became a world war with fighting in India, North America, Europe, the West Indies, the Philippines, and coastal Africa. Great Britain, Prussia, Portugal were allied on one side and France, Spain, Austria, Russia, Sweden on the other. A good portion of the museum explains the Seven Year War in detail. Exhibits also cover the building of Fort Ligonier and Forbes Road. 

The fort has been reconstructed in the original location following 18th century plans and clues found by archeologists. Buildings include barracks, officer's quarters, store rooms, a hospital, smokehouse, sawmill, bake ovens, and a blacksmith's forge. Wagons and artillery are on the grounds.

When we visited there were only two reenactors- a hat maker and a wash woman. Both were friendly and knowledgeable. 

The museum is accessible. Paved paths circle around the grounds. The fort is located up a very steep hill. The website states:   "Arrangements can be made for those guests who are unable to walk to the Upper Fort." We did not ask but most likely they use a golf cart that is not accessible. Most of the buildings have steps but it is possible to peek into them. 

The parking lot is unlevel and uphill from the museum however there are two accessible spaces in the level area near the museum where short RVs will fit. Fort  40.24142, -79.23872

 

Maridon Museum

The Asian art in this museum is the culmination of forty years of collecting by Mary Hulton Phillips. Even though she never traveled farther than Atlantic City, NJ. Mary fell in love with the intricate carvings in ivory and jade and chose each of the over 800 pieces from local or New York City dealers who would save pieces that they thought she would like. 

   

Before Mary died in 2009 she hired an architect and had the museum built to house the collection that had previously filled her modest Butler, Pa home. The museum is small with four galleries displaying a wide range of art from 2000-3000 BC  to the early 20th century.

     

Everything is accessible.  

Parking is on the street or in the alley that runs along the south side of the museum.  Museum  40.86417, -79.89413

 

Trout Island Trail

This quiet, pretty, and shady 5 mile out and back trail travels through a forest of young trees. The dam is located about 3/4 of a mile in and a parallel paved path starts there. We walked/rolled along the path until we came to a couple of downed trees and had to turn around to continue on the main trail. When pavement ends, the trail continues as a narrow dirt path that may go all the way to Shenango Reservoir.  

The trail is fairly level except for the first section that goes down hill.It's paved and in good condition. The dirt section is not accessible.

 

The parking lot is short and only has two spaces. Large vehicles can be parked on the street. Trail   41.26456, -80.47423