Fort Frederick State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Frederick State Park |
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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) |
| Established | 1922 |
| Administered by | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| Designation | Maryland 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 where history and nature meet! It's a park on the Potomac River in Maryland. The main attraction is the amazing Fort Frederick, a historic stone fort. This fort was super important during two big wars: the French and Indian War (1754–1763) and the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The park is near a town called Big Pool. You can also find the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal running right through the park. Because of its history, Fort Frederick was named a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
Contents
Fort Frederick's Story: A Look Back in Time
Building a Stronghold: The French and Indian War
Imagine a time when Maryland was a frontier! In 1756, the colony of Maryland decided to build Fort Frederick. This was during the French and Indian War. The governor, Horatio Sharpe, asked for money to build a fort to protect settlers. The Maryland Legislature approved £6000 for the project.
The fort was named after Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore. It was finished in 1757. Its design was like forts built by a famous French engineer named Sebastien de Vauban. He is known as the father of modern fortification.
This big stone fort was mainly a safe place for people living nearby. Between 1757 and 1758, small attacks by Native people made settlers run eastward for safety. Soldiers from the 60th Regiment of Foot and local militia guarded the fort. They sent out patrols to watch the area and stop attacks.
The fort was not built to stop cannon fire. People knew the French couldn't bring heavy cannons to such a faraway place. The fort worked well in 1763 during Pontiac's Rebellion. However, the fort was never directly attacked.
A Prison for Soldiers: The American Revolutionary War
Later, Fort Frederick was used for a different purpose. From 1777 to 1783, it became a prisoner of war camp. After the Battles of Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781), many British and German soldiers were captured. Up to 1,000 of these prisoners were kept at Fort Frederick.
Guarding the Canal: The American Civil War
The fort was sold in 1791 and left empty for many years. But it became important again during the American Civil War. When the war started, soldiers used the fort to protect the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. They also guarded the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which ran next to the canal.
In December 1861, the 1st Maryland Infantry (US) was stationed there. Company H of this regiment even fought a small battle at the fort on Christmas Day, 1861, against Confederate raiders. The regiment left in February 1862. Later, in October 1862, a small group from the 12th Illinois Cavalry briefly stayed there. By 1862, the fort was no longer needed for military use.
Becoming a Park: The 20th Century
In 1922, the State of Maryland bought the property. They wanted to turn it into a state park. The fort's walls were old and damaged, but some parts still stood up to 8 feet (2.4 m) high.
Experts studied the fort and found its original building plans. This helped them completely rebuild it. Much of the restoration work in the 1930s was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This group helped people find jobs during tough economic times.
What Fort Frederick Looks Like
The fort is a big stone square with strong towers called bastions at each corner. Each side of the 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 bastions stick out about 100 feet (30 m). They are 4.5 feet (1.4 m) thick at the base and were filled with earth to create a platform for soldiers. The main entrance is in the middle of the south wall. Two of the three original barracks (buildings where soldiers lived) have been rebuilt. The west barrack looks like it did in 1758. The east barrack has cool displays about the fort's history. The north barrack, also known as the Governor's House, has not been rebuilt.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Fort Frederick State Park offers lots of activities for visitors! You can take tours of the fort and see its displays and exhibits. The park also has a campground if you want to stay overnight. You can go fishing in Big Pool Lake or enjoy a picnic. There's also a nature trail to explore. The 23-mile (37 km) Western Maryland Rail Trail starts right next to the park, perfect for biking or walking!
See also
