Fort Frederick State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Frederick State Park |
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 Fort Frederick State Park
Location in Maryland
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| Location | Washington County, Maryland, United States |
| Nearest town | Big Pool, Maryland |
| Area | 722 acres (292 ha) |
| Elevation | 472 ft (144 m) |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Established | 1922 |
| Administrator | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Fort Frederick State Park |
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Fort Frederick
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Rendering of Fort Frederick as it
may have appeared in the 18th century |
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| Location | Washington County, Maryland, USA |
| Nearest city | Big Pool, Maryland |
| Area | 287 acres (116 ha) |
| Built | 1756-58 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000939 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
Fort Frederick State Park is a cool place to visit! It's a park by the Potomac River that protects the old Fort Frederick. This fort was really important during two big wars: the French and Indian War (from 1754 to 1763) and the American Revolutionary War (from 1775 to 1783).
You can find this park south of Big Pool, Maryland. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal also goes right through the park. In 1973, the fort was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very special place in American history.
Contents
History of Fort Frederick
French and Indian War (1754-1763)
Fort Frederick was built by the colony of Maryland. This happened between 1756 and 1757. In 1756, Maryland's government decided to spend £6000 to build a fort. This was requested by Governor Horatio Sharpe. The fort was named after Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore. It was finished the next year.
The fort's design was based on ideas from Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. He was a French military engineer. Many people call him the father of modern forts.
The fort was made of large stones. Its main job was to be a safe place for settlers in the area. Between 1757 and 1758, Native American groups sometimes raided nearby settlements. When this happened, settlers would run to the fort for safety. Soldiers from the 60th Regiment of Foot and local militia also stayed at the fort. They would patrol the area to try and stop raids.
The fort was not built to stop cannon attacks. People thought the French couldn't bring heavy cannons to such a faraway place. The fort was useful in 1763 during Pontiac's War. But the fort was never directly attacked.
American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Fort Frederick was used as a prisoner of war camp during the American Revolutionary War. From 1777 to 1783, many captured British and German soldiers were held there. About 1,000 prisoners were kept at the fort. They were captured after big battles like the Battle of Saratoga (1777) and Battle of Yorktown (1781).
American Civil War (1861-1865)
The fort was sold in 1791 and then left empty for a long time. But it was used again when the American Civil War started. Soldiers were stationed there to protect important things. These included the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
In December 1861, the 1st Maryland Infantry (US) was at the fort. Company H of this group fought a small battle there. They fought against Confederate raiders on Christmas Day, 1861. The soldiers left in February 1862. Later, in October 1862, a small group from the 12th Illinois Cavalry briefly used the area. After 1862, the fort was no longer needed for military use.
20th Century Restoration
In 1922, the State of Maryland bought the fort. It became Maryland's very first state park. The fort's walls were old and broken in many places. But parts of them were still standing up to 8 feet (2.4 m) high.
Scientists studied the area and found the fort's original building plans. This helped them rebuild the fort completely. Much of the restoration work happened in the 1930s. It was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was a special group that helped people find jobs during tough times.
What the Fort Looks Like
Fort Frederick is a big stone fort. It has a square shape with strong towers called bastions at each corner. Each main wall, called a curtain wall, is about 179 feet (55 m) long. These walls are 17.5 feet (5.3 m) high and 3 feet (0.91 m) thick at the bottom.
The corner towers stick out about 100 feet (30 m). They are 4.5 feet (1.4 m) thick at the bottom. These towers were filled with earth to make a strong platform. The main entrance to the fort is in the middle of the south wall.
Inside the fort, there were three barracks buildings. These were places where soldiers lived. Two of these buildings have been rebuilt. The west barrack looks like it did in 1758. The east barrack has displays and exhibits about the fort's history. The third barrack, called the Governor's House, has not been rebuilt yet.
Things to Do at the Park
Fort Frederick State Park offers many fun activities. You can take tours of the fort and see the displays and exhibits. The park also has a campground if you want to stay overnight.
You can go fishing in Big Pool Lake. There are also places for picnicking. If you like walking, there's a nature trail to explore. The 23-mile (37 km) Western Maryland Rail Trail starts right next to the park. It's a great place for biking or walking!
