Visiting Fort Necessity Battlefield in Farmington, Pennsylvania

I’m not a history buff, but I do enjoy learning about history from time to time. That’s why this weekend when my family was looking for something to do, we decided to visit Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Farmington, Pennsylvania.

Fort Necessity is only a few miles from my house, but yet it’s one place I’ve rarely ever been to. Up until this weekend, I only knew that George Washington and other troops fought a battle there in the French and Indian War. Other than those few facts, I barely knew anything about the fort.

Thankfully, Fort Necessity National Battlefield is one of the few national parks in the country to offer free admission. That free admission gets you access inside a unique (& educational) museum, a Fort Necessity replica, and the old Washington Tavern that is located next door.

The Fort Necessity Battle (What Happened)

The Battle of Fort Necessity has a fascinating story. It’s a story of one of the most famous battles that took place during the French and Indian War. It was the opening battle and it all started in the nearby Jumonville Glen when a shot was fired and the British troops killed many French soldiers and took others as prisoners.

On July 3, 1754, Fort Necessity became a battle that George Washington wasn’t even expecting. The small fort at Fort Necessity was only supposed to be a place for Washington and his troops to store ammunition and necessities.

But on that rainy morning, 600 French and 100 Indians approached the small fort. Four hours later, with Washington’s trench flooded and being exposed to the enfilade fire, many of Washington’s men were either dead or wounded. It was at dusk when the French commander offered terms and called a truce. With no other hope, Washington signed the surrender, not realizing that it was also a confession to having killed Jumonvill Glen in the previous battle.

Ultimately, after signing the surrender, Washington and his troops went back home to Virginia. Though he was embarrassed, Washington was still proud of his actions at the Battle of Fort Necessity.

Visiting Fort Necessity National Park

Located just 20 miles from the Maryland State Line, 11 miles from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, 34 miles from Morgantown, West Virginia, and 75 miles from Pittsburgh, Fort Necessity is great for a weekend visit.

While the park is open year-round, spring and summertime seem to be the best time to visit because you get more of an authentic experience. For instance, this past weekend we got to take pictures and ask questions of a British soldier. Though the soldier may not be there every day, it seems like on the weekend you may have a better chance of seeing him.

An Interesting Learning Experience at Fort Necessity Battlefield

A visit to the Fort Necessity Battlefield is great for all ages. The national park offers a playground, picnic area, and an educational piece of this country’s rich history.

When you arrive at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, you’ll quickly notice that the national park is more than just a memorial of the battle that took place there. Fort Necessity is also home to the National Road Heritage Corridor. Inside, you’ll find educational materials and hands-on activities that teach you all about the battle and the importance of the historic National Road, that runs nearby.

Once outside, kids can play inside a fort replica and a horse carriage playground and take pictures of themselves as real-life Indians and French troops.

Besides just playing around, Fort Necessity also has an outdoor picnic area that is only a small walk to the Fort.

Once at the fort, visitors can experience a real-life Fort replica, that is almost too picturesque. Located all alone in a big field, the fort can usually be experienced with minimal visitors. On days when the fort doesn’t have the British Soldier to answer questions, the park offers a free self-guided phone tour.

While the Fort Necessity Fort is only a replica because the original one got burned down, this replica is exactly like the original. The fort is built in the exact place and is the exact size of the original.

Once you visit the Fort Necessity National Battlefield, you can finish up your National Park visit with a small car ride next door to the Mt. Washington Tavern. (Though you can normally walk to the tavern, the park is currently undergoing field renovations, so visitors have to drive). 

Read my post on the Mt. Washington Tavern HERE!

While a visit to Fort Necessity National Battlefield won’t take you all day, you can easily spend 1-2 hours there and will learn so much. If you want to learn more about this battle and the fort check out the park on the national parks website.

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Last Updated on 3 years ago by Crystal Carder