Fort Necessity National Battlefield National Park

"Fun with the Family"

At Jumonville Glen, 5 miles from here, the 22-year-old George Washington met with his first experience of battle in 1754, during the French and Indian War. Washington’s forces won the first encounter. The fort was built afterward in expectation that the French would return, which they did, but this time Washington was forced into the only surrender of his career. Here you can also visit the grave of General Braddock.
A brand-new visitor center offers a gripping twenty-minute film about the young George Washington (then working for the British), the fort, and the creation of the National Road. Its rich interactive exhibits include Indian culture and artifacts unearthed during the construction project. The center's playground introduces kids to heroes of the fort's history. You’ll probably be surprised when you see the size of the reconstructed fort. The circular stockade is 53 feet in diameter. The gate is only 3.5 feet wide.
While you’re in the neighborhood, you may wish to visit the Mount Washington Tavern, built in the 1820s on land once owned by George Washington himself. The tavern has been restored to look as it might have in the period when it was constructed to serve travelers along the new National Road, which was built in 1818.