Fort McIntosh (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
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Fort McIntosh Site
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Site of Fort McIntosh
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Beaver, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1785 |
| Part of | Beaver Historic District (ID96001201) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001614 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 24, 1975 |
Fort McIntosh was an important early American fort. It was built near where the Ohio River and Beaver River meet. Today, this spot is in Beaver, Pennsylvania. This fort played a key role in protecting the frontier during the early days of the United States.
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Building a Frontier Fort
The fort was built in 1778. A French engineer named Lt. Col. Cambray-Digny oversaw its construction. It was named in honor of General Lachlan McIntosh, a military leader.
After the American Revolutionary War, Fort McIntosh became home to the First American Regiment. This is the oldest active unit in the United States Army. The fort was used until it was closed down in 1791.
Life Inside the Walls
Fort McIntosh was shaped like a trapezoid, which is a four-sided shape. Each side was about 150 feet long. It had raised earth mounds called bastions at each corner. These bastions helped soldiers defend the fort.
Strong log fences, called palisades, connected the bastions. A wide ditch, about 15 feet across, protected three sides of the fort. The fourth side was protected by a steep, 130-foot slope leading down to the Ohio River.
Inside the fort, there were several buildings. These included three barracks for soldiers to sleep in. There were also warehouses for supplies, officers' quarters, a forge for metalwork, a kitchen, and places to store gunpowder. The fort might have had two or even four iron cannons for defense.
A Place of Peace: The Treaty
Fort McIntosh is famous for being the site where the Treaty of Fort McIntosh was signed. This important event happened on January 21, 1785. This treaty was an agreement between the United States government and several Native American tribes. It helped define land boundaries and establish peace in the region.
Rediscovering History
Around 1976, people in the nearby town of Beaver decided to find the remains of the original Fort McIntosh. They dug up the area and successfully found the outlines of the fort's foundations.
Their hard work led to a special dedication ceremony in the summer of 1977. Retired General William Westmoreland was there to lead the event. Later, in 2010, a local business owner donated money for a new memorial. This memorial, made of granite and sandstone, now stands at the fort site.
The fort site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it is recognized as a very important historical location. In 1996, most of Beaver was also listed as the "Beaver Historic District." The Fort McIntosh site was highlighted as one of the most significant places within this larger historic area.
Today, the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation helps protect and preserve the restored fort site. You can see granite monuments and bronze plaques there. You can also see the original stone foundations of the fort's walls and fireplaces.
