File:Stop 1 - What is at Fort Necessity? (8e753bb2-5c33-4a68-8a76-a79d427e5732).JPG

A large building that is used as a Visitor Center and a large playground built to resemble Fort Necessity

Fort Necessity National Battlefield commemorates the events that led to the start of the French and Indian War. George Washington was 22 years old, and these events introduced the young officer to warfare. The Fort Necessity/National Road Interpretive and Education Center is the best place to start your visit. It is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. At this visitor center, you can get acquainted with the park stories. Plan to spend about 40 minutes at the visitor center to watch the orientation movie and explore the museum exhibits and artifacts. It is a short walk from the visitor center to the fort. In the summer months, you may encounter an historic soldier or warrior in the meadow. Nearby, on a hill overlooking Fort Necessity is the Mount Washington Tavern. This museum of the National Road era is furnished to reflect life during the road’s heyday in the mid 1800’s. Hours vary so check at the visitor center desk. There are two additional areas of Fort Necessity National Battlefield separated from the main park. Braddock’s grave is the final resting place of General Edward Braddock, whose campaign to the Forks of the Ohio River a year after the battle of Fort Necessity ended in disaster. Jumonville Glen is the site of a fifteen minute skirmish where Washington’s forces clashed with the French. Six weeks later the French surrounded Washington’s fort of necessity, and the French and Indian War began.

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