Fort Boonesborough State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Boonesborough State Park |
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Fort Boonesborough
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| Location | Madison, Kentucky, United States |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) |
| Established | June 14, 1963 |
| Governing body | Kentucky Department of Parks |
| Website | Fort Boonesborough State Park |
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Fort Boonesborough Townsite Historic District
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Reproduction
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| Nearest city | Richmond, Kentucky / Winchester, Kentucky |
| Area | 352 acres (142 ha) (NR-listed area) 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) (NHL area) |
| Built | 1775 |
| Architect | Richard Henderson Daniel Boone |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000303 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1994 |
| Designated NHL | June 19, 1996 |
Fort Boonesborough was an important frontier fort in Kentucky. It was started by Daniel Boone and his group after they crossed the Kentucky River on April 1, 1775. The settlement they created, called Boonesborough, Kentucky, is the second oldest European-American settlement in Kentucky.
This fort was a key outpost during the American Revolutionary War. It remained active into the early 1800s before people eventually left it. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark and part of Fort Boonesborough State Park. The site is one of the best-preserved places showing how early settlers moved west. You can find it in Madison County, Kentucky, off Kentucky Route 627.
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What You Can See at Fort Boonesborough
Fort Boonesborough State Park is located southeast of Lexington, Kentucky. It sits on the west bank of the Kentucky River in a rural part of Madison County. The park has a rebuilt version of Fort Boonesborough. This recreation is like a working fort, with cabins, bunkhouses, and old-style furniture.
The park offers fun history programs with the Fort Boonesborough Foundation. During certain times of the year, the fort has real artisans. These include blacksmiths and potters. They show visitors what daily life was like for pioneers in early Kentucky.
The Kentucky River Museum is also located in the park. It's in the old home of the lock operator. The museum teaches about how the river affected local families and businesses. It also explains the history of the locks and dams from the 1900s.
The Story of Fort Boonesborough
Long before European settlers arrived, Native Americans lived in the Fort Boonesborough area. A small village of Fort Ancient people lived there around 1400 AD. Daniel Boone explored the area that is now Kentucky as early as 1769.
How the Fort Was Built
Later, a man named Richard Henderson and his Transylvania Company wanted to settle this land. Henderson hired Daniel Boone to create a road into the territory. Boone and his group arrived near this spot in early April 1775. Henderson followed later that month. He oversaw the building of Boonesborough and its defenses.
The first type of representative government in Kentucky happened here in May 1775. By that summer, Boonesborough had 26 one-story log cabins. It also had four strong blockhouses for defense.
The Great Siege
The fort saw a lot of action during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1778, the fort faced a big attack. Native American warriors attacked the fort. This event was later called "The Great Siege." The fort and its defenders successfully held out against the attack.
After the War
After the war ended, the settlement became a stop for settlers moving west. It also became a key spot for the growing tobacco trade. However, by 1820, the fort was no longer very important. Eventually, people left the area.
Archaeologists did not fully explore the area until the 1980s. They found important parts of the site. These included Daniel Boone's original station and the Fort Boonesborough defenses. They also found several water springs and the remains of old tobacco warehouses. The ancient Fort Ancient village site was also discovered.
Most of the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It was recognized as a historic district important for its archaeology. The site of Fort Boonesborough was named a National Historic Landmark in 1996.
