Fort Tonoloway State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Tonoloway State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Fort Tonoloway State Park
Location in Maryland
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| Location | Washington County, Maryland, United States |
| Nearest town | Hancock, Maryland |
| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Administrator | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
Fort Tonoloway State Park is a special area in Maryland that is still being developed. It's located close to a town called Hancock. This park is named after Fort Tonoloway, which was a frontier fort built a long time ago.
The fort was built in 1755 by Lieutenant Thomas Stoddert and soldiers from the Maryland State Militia. It was also known as Stoddert's Fort. The fort was used for only a short time and was left empty in 1756. This happened when a bigger fort, Fort Frederick, was built nearby.
The land that is now the state park was once used by the Boy Scouts. Today, experts are studying the area to learn more about its history. They want to find out if there are old artifacts buried there. Once these studies are done, the park can be planned for fun activities.
What Was Fort Tonoloway?
Fort Tonoloway was a small but important fort. It was built on the frontier. This means it was on the edge of where people lived. Beyond it was mostly wilderness. The fort helped protect settlers from dangers during the French and Indian War.
It was a simple fort, likely made of wood. Soldiers lived there to keep watch and defend the area. They were part of the Maryland State Militia. This was a group of citizens who trained to be soldiers. They protected their home state.
Why Was the Fort Abandoned?
Fort Tonoloway was only used for about a year. A larger, stronger fort was built not far away. This new fort was called Fort Frederick. It was much bigger and offered better protection. Because of this, Fort Tonoloway was no longer needed.
The soldiers moved to Fort Frederick. Fort Tonoloway was then left empty. Over time, it fell apart and was forgotten. Today, only its location is known.
The State Park Today
Fort Tonoloway State Park is not like other parks you might visit. It doesn't have trails or picnic areas yet. It's considered an "undeveloped" park. This means it's still in the early stages of becoming a public space.
Before the park can be used for fun, archaeologists need to do their work. Archaeologists are like history detectives. They dig carefully in the ground to find old objects. These objects can tell us a lot about the people who lived there long ago. They hope to find clues about the old fort.
Once the archaeological studies are finished, plans can be made. The goal is to make the park a place where people can learn about history. It might also become a place for outdoor activities.
