Old Fort Harrod State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Fort Harrod State Park |
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The reconstructed fort at the center of Old Fort Harrod State Park
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| Type | Kentucky state park |
| Location | Harrodsburg, Kentucky, United States |
| Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Elevation | 873 ft (266 m) |
| Established | 1927 |
| Administered by | Kentucky Department of Parks |
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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 | February 9, 1989 |
Old Fort Harrod State Park is a special place in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, United States. This park covers about 15 acres. It has a rebuilt version of Fort Harrod. This fort was the very first permanent American settlement in Kentucky. The fort got its name from James Harrod. He was a leader who brought the first settlers to Kentucky.
The park first opened in November 1934. It was called Pioneer Memorial State Park back then. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Governor Ruby Laffoon officially opened it.
Exploring Old Fort Harrod State Park
This park offers many cool things to see and do. You can explore the fort replica, visit the Mansion Museum, and see the George Rogers Clark Federal Monument. There's also the Lincoln Marriage Temple and a very old cemetery.
The Reconstructed Fort: A Glimpse into Pioneer Life
The fort is a copy of the original one. It shows what life was like for early settlers. Inside, you'll find several log buildings. These include a blockhouse for soldiers and another for families. There are also cabins showing pioneer life. You can see a "blab school" where kids learned aloud. There's also a minister's cabin and the leader's cabin. The actual spot of the first fort is now under the park's parking lot.
The Mansion Museum: History and Artifacts
The Mansion Museum is a beautiful old house. It's built in the Greek Revival style. Inside, you'll find many interesting items. These include things from the American Civil War. There's also a collection of McIntosh guns. You can see paintings, old papers, and music collections. The museum also has items related to Abraham Lincoln. Plus, there are artifacts from Native American history.
Lincoln Marriage Temple: A Family Story
The Lincoln Marriage Temple is a brick building. It holds a rebuilt log cabin. This cabin is where Abraham Lincoln's parents got married. Their names were Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. It's a neat way to see a piece of Lincoln's family history.
George Rogers Clark Monument: Honoring a Hero
The George Rogers Clark Federal Monument is another important site. It was designed by architect Francis Keally and sculptor Ulric Ellerhusen. This monument honors George Rogers Clark. He was a famous soldier during the American Revolutionary War.
The Big Ole Tree: A Giant of Nature
The park is also home to a huge tree. It's called the 'Big Ole Tree'. This tree is the largest Osage Orange tree in the entire United States. It's quite a sight to see!
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Parking lot for the fort, under which the actual fort site lies
The History of Fort Harrod
The story of Old Fort Harrod goes back a long time. It started in 1773. That's when Captain James Harrod cut down the first tree. This act marked the beginning of people living in the Kentucky area.
Building the First Settlement
The fort itself was built in June 1774. James Harrod led the effort. He worked with Abraham Hite, Jacob and James Sandusky, and about thirty other men. This group included General James Ray and Captain William Pogue. They built the fort and the town of Harrodsburg. Each man got a small piece of land inside the fort walls. They also got a larger piece of land outside the walls. After building cabins, they used a lottery to decide who got which plot.
How the Fort Was Designed
The fort itself covered an area of 264 square feet. The walls were made of tall pickets. These pickets were 14 feet high and over a foot wide. They were buried 4 feet into the ground. This made the walls stand about 10 feet tall. There were gates on the North and West walls, each 10 feet wide.
Inside the fort, there were blockhouses at the Southwest and Southeast corners. The top parts of these blockhouses stuck out 2 feet beyond the walls. This design allowed defenders to shoot along the walls. This helped protect areas that might be hard to reach from the main stockades. Between these blockhouses were seven houses. Each was a story and a half tall, measuring 20 by 20 feet. There was 10 feet of space between them. A single-story cabin was built near the east corner. This cabin was used as a school. Two springs were once inside the fort. Today, only one spring remains within the fort walls. A blacksmith shop was also located on the southern wall.
