Prickett's Fort State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prickett's Fort State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Prickett's Fort reconstruction
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 Prickett's Fort State Park
Location in West Virginia
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| Location | Marion, West Virginia, United States |
| Area | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
| Elevation | 971 ft (296 m) |
| Established | 1975 |
| Named for | Prickett's Fort |
| Governing body | West Virginia Division of Natural Resources |
Prickett's Fort State Park is a large park in West Virginia. It covers about 188 acres (76 hectares). You can find it north of Fairmont. The park is located where Prickett's Creek meets the Monongahela River.
This park is special because it has a rebuilt fort. This fort helps us remember what life was like on the frontier in the late 1700s. It shows how early settlers lived and protected themselves.
The Original Fort's Story
Long ago, in the 1700s, European settlers moved into what is now West Virginia. They built forts to protect themselves. These forts were needed because of conflicts with Native American groups. These groups felt their lands were being taken.
One important event was the Yellow Creek massacre in 1774. This led to a conflict called Lord Dunmore's War. After this, settlers in the Ohio River Valley felt unsafe.
To stay safe, families often gathered in strong, protected areas. This was called "forting up." Jacob Prickett built one such fort on his land. Prickett's Fort was a simple log fence, about 100 feet square. It was built around Prickett's house. Native American groups usually avoided attacking these strong forts. They preferred to surprise smaller groups of people.
In 1774, there were many forts like Prickett's Fort. Around 80 families, or hundreds of people, would gather at Prickett's Fort when there was danger. They would stay for days or even weeks. Prickett's Fort itself was never attacked. However, some local soldiers were killed by Native Americans in other places.
Rebuilding History: Prickett's Fort Today
The original Prickett's Fort was last mentioned in writing around 1780. In 1916, a monument was put up to honor the settlers who built it. Later, in 1973, the old fort site was going to be used for a parking lot.
So, a group called the Marion County Historical Society created the Prickett’s Fort Memorial Foundation. They wanted to rebuild the fort. They found out the original fort site was likely destroyed when a railroad bridge was built in 1905.
The Foundation decided to build the new fort on a small hill. This spot overlooks the river. They used wood from old buildings that were donated. The new fort was designed based on a description by Stephen Morgan. He was the son of an early settler.
The fort you see today was rebuilt in 1974. It is 110 feet square. It has two-story blockhouses at each corner. Inside, there are 14 small cabins along the walls. There is also a meeting house and a storehouse in the middle. The Foundation says this rebuilt fort is "much more elaborate" than the original. But they believe all its features could have been found in some fort in the area back then.
What You Can See and Do Today
At the rebuilt fort, you can see people showing how things were made in the 1700s. They demonstrate crafts like carpentry (working with wood), blacksmithing (working with metal), and spinning (making thread).
There is also a visitor center. It has a research library, a gift shop, and a gallery. The gallery has an exhibit and a video to help you learn about the fort.
Just south of the fort, you can visit the Job Prickett House. Job Prickett was a great-grandson of Jacob Prickett. This house was built in 1859. It shows what a typical 19th-century farmhouse looked like. It has original furniture and tools. This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Prickett's Fort State Park also has fun things to do outdoors. There's an outdoor theater with 400 seats. You can also find picnic areas and nature trails. There's even a boat launch for river access. The Fairmont State University theater department uses the outdoor theater for shows in the summer.
The park connects to two trails: the MCPARC trail to Fairmont and the Mon River Trail to Morgantown. This means you can bike or walk for miles! Most parts of the park are easy to access for people with disabilities.
