Old Fort Harrod State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Fort Harrod State Park (Formerly Harrodstown) |
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The reconstructed fort at the center of Old Fort Harrod State Park
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 Old Fort Harrod State Park (Formerly Harrodstown)
Location in Kentucky
Old Fort Harrod State Park (Formerly Harrodstown)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Harrodsburg, Mercer, Kentucky, United States |
| Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Elevation | 873 ft (266 m) |
| Established | 1927 |
| Governing body | Kentucky Department of Parks |
| Website | Old Fort Harrod State Park |
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Pioneer Memorial State Park
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The mansion in 1940
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| NRHP reference No. | 88003377 |
| Added to NRHP | 1989-02-09 |
Old Fort Harrod State Park is a special park in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, United States. It covers about 15 acres of land. This park is famous for having a rebuilt version of Fort Harrod. This fort was the very first permanent American settlement in Kentucky.
The park was first opened in November 1934. It was called Pioneer Memorial State Park back then. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Governor Ruby Laffoon officially dedicated it. The fort itself was named after James Harrod. He was a leader who brought early settlers to Kentucky.
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Things to See and Do
Old Fort Harrod State Park has many interesting things to explore. You can see a copy of the old fort, visit a museum, and even see a special tree.
The Rebuilt Fort
The main attraction is the rebuilt Fort Harrod. It looks just like the original fort from the 1700s. Inside, you'll find several log buildings. These buildings show what life was like for pioneers.
- Military Blockhouse: This was a strong building used for defense.
- Family Blockhouse: Another strong building, likely for families to live in safely.
- Pioneer Cabins: These show how early settlers lived and worked.
- Blab School: A cabin where children learned their lessons out loud.
- Minister's Cabin: Where the fort's religious leader lived.
- Leader's Cabin: The home of the fort's leader, like James Harrod.
It's interesting to know that the actual spot where the first fort stood is now under the park's parking lot!
The Mansion Museum
The Mansion Museum is a beautiful old house. It's built in a style called Greek Revival. Inside, you can find many cool things from history.
- Items from the American Civil War.
- A collection of old guns.
- Paintings and important old papers.
- Music collections.
- Things related to Abraham Lincoln.
- Artifacts from Native American cultures.
Lincoln Marriage Temple
This is a brick building that holds a very special cabin. It's the rebuilt log cabin where Abraham Lincoln's parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, got married. It's a piece of history about one of America's most famous presidents.
George Rogers Clark Monument
You can also see the George Rogers Clark Federal Monument. This monument was designed by architect Francis Keally and sculptor Ulric Ellerhusen. It honors George Rogers Clark, an important figure in early American history. Remember, this is different from the park in Indiana named after him!
The Big Ole Tree
The park is home to a giant tree called the 'Big Ole Tree'. It's an Osage Orange tree and is the largest one of its kind in the entire United States!
Park Events
In 2023, the park hosted a fun event called "Sleepy Hollow Experience." It was a haunted exhibit that brought the famous ghost story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman to life.
History of the Fort
The story of Old Fort Harrod goes back a long time. It starts with the very first steps of settlement in Kentucky.
Early Beginnings (1773–1774)
The history of Fort Harrod began in 1773. That year, Captain James Harrod cut down the first tree. This act marked the start of people living in the Kentucky area. The fort itself was built in June 1774. James Harrod led a group of about thirty men. This group included Abraham Hite, Jacob and James Sandusky, General James Ray, and Captain William Pogue.
For the fort and the town of Harrodsburg, they planned everything carefully. Each man received a small lot inside the fort walls. They also got five acres of land outside the walls. After building cabins on these plots, they gave them out using a lottery system.
County Changes (1780s–1790s)
By 1780, the Kentucky area was divided into three counties. Harrodsburg became part of Lincoln County. Later, in 1785, the counties were divided again. Harrodsburg then became part of Mercer County, where it still is today.
Important court meetings were held in the Harrodsburg courthouse. These meetings took place between 1789 and 1790. Some well-known court members included Samuel McAfee and Samuel McDowell.
Fort Design
The buildings inside the fort still look the same. However, some things, like the springs, are in different places now. This is because the fort was moved and rebuilt.
Fort Harrod covers an area of 264 square feet. The walls are made of tall pickets. These pickets are 14 feet high and more than a foot wide. They are buried 4 feet into the ground. This means the walls stand about 10 feet tall. There are gates on the North and West walls, each 10 feet wide.
Inside the fort, there are blockhouses at the Southwest and Southeast corners. The upper parts of these blockhouses stick out 2 feet beyond the walls. This design allowed defenders to shoot along the walls. Between these blockhouses are seven houses. They are one-and-a-half stories tall and measure 20 by 20 feet. There is 10 feet of space between each house. A single-story cabin was built near the east corner. This cabin was used as a school.
Originally, there were two springs inside the fort. One was at the Northwest corner and another on the eastern side. Today, only the spring near the Northeast wall is still inside the fort. A blacksmith shop is also located on the southern wall of the fort.
Images for kids
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Parking lot for the fort, under which the actual fort site lies
