A wonderful National Park that offers comprehensive information through, displays, artifacts, video and a reconstructed fort detailing the battle and events that could have derailed what we know as America had they gone any other way.
This is a quality display and fun educational walk through with a staff that is very friendly and eager to give great information. This was a great stop on a road trip.
This is a little known, but significant historical site. Washington I advertently started the French and Indian War here. The recreated fort gives a vivid impression of how small scale events turn into cross oceanic conflagrations.
Very nice visitor center. Great way to learn about early American history.
The film was quite good. Ranger talks were excellent. The visitors center was very good. Also, the Battle at Jumonville was okay.
I am a history buff from Ohio , and my parents are originally from bedford co. Pa. The French and Indian war has always interested me. With all that happened in mid. western Pa. Fort Necessity is a wonderful place to take in and experience that era.
The beginnings of the French & Indian War with a 22 year old George Washington. The things you are never taught in school can be learned at places like this. Just amazing what I didn't know until visiting here.
A must see for any amateur colonial historian. The part you really want to see is Jumonville Glen. That is where the first shots of the French Indian War were fired. That part of the battlefield is relatively unchanged.
Ranger J. Clark gave bar Homeschool Group a wonderful tour. Thank you again for a lovely an educational day!
The center was closed due to the virus but the grounds and trails were open including a short demonstration of a flint lock rifle. It was a great day out and about.
It was I nice stop on our way home. We didn't get to do the whole trail but the walking museum part inside was nice. Small playground outside where there trail starts was okay. I'd share photos but I didn't take any without the kids in them. Very beautiful scenery.
See the battlefield, it's fascinating for history buffs, but don't bother with the ranger tour. There is much to see on a self guided tour.
The ranger giving the tour was mediocre at best. His speech was painful contrived to be dramatic, and he played loose with the facts.
From your local guide William Robinson. Being up at Fort Necessary Battlefield. With my Mother and Father was a very wonderful experience for us. Located in Fayette County up in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. Please take note I am a cigarette smoker my self an there is no somking past the visiter center. And when you get there take a pinknic lunch an take pictures two.
Though, the actual fort is not big, the historical significance is. Those that have read about the French and Indian War or Seven Years War, will be able to appreciate the fort. The area surrounding the fort is also rich with history.
What a place. What a time period to live. Go Visit what a cool little museum. Learn learn learn
Great museum, the little movie gave great details. The museum had lots of interactive exhibits. The trails are fantastic. The actual fort itself is ridiculously tiny. Like something kids would build while playing lol
Extremely interesting in a beautiful area. Access is so easy just off US40
George Washington defended this fort in 1753. Fantastic.
A nice way to learn about a little discussed but important part of American history. The fort itself is physically underwhelming, but that just gives you an idea of what the battle was like. Unless you are a history buff, I wouldn't go out of your way. But if you are in the area, I would recommend a visit.
Important historical site. Excellent explanation of events and significance.
Awesome! I really enjoyed the new addition with numerous artifacts and an excellent movie. A fun learning experience for young and old!
This is an off the beaten path gem. Lots of history. The movie at the visitor center was better than most I've seen from the National Park Service.
The fort is quite small and quite a testimony for the men who fought here.
Take the time to walk the hill and see the Washington Tavern. It's restored to mid 19th century. .static display only. .no active food or lodging.
Beautiful place. Nice museum. Peculiar place for a fort, though---down in the valley? My son explained that George Washington was not the best at military strategy.
This is a national treasure and a gem in PA. Make sure to stop by for a piece of history
Beautiful Park and friendly staff. The video is a great introduction for the Fort Necessity.
We arrived the day it opened on 06/19/2020. The visitor center is pretty with a nice exhibition. No film. Clean bathrooms. Porta Potty in the parking lot. The playground area was closed.
After the visitor center, we walked to the fort. A 5 minute walk. There is not much to see there. The building and the fence around.
Plenty of picnic tables.
We stayed there for one hour and we left.
A nice little piece of American History. Nice movie at the Visitors Center. Will not take more than an hour or so to visit the whole site.
We had a great time learning all about George Washington and the French and Indian war. The museum is fabulous! The park ranger is extremely knowledgeable. Nice play ground and nature walk.
Free.. takes about an hour and a half, with the park service movie, quick walk to the replica fort, and a look around Washington house.
Rangers are extremely knowledgeable. Their wealth of information is very impressive. Talking to the rangers you understand how the events came to play at fort necessity. IE. It all started at fort Lebeulf with Christopher gist helping Washington arrive.
I came here with my family as a child and I will never forget it. The fort itself is so small it's unbelievable that these men utilized it in battle!
Great history here! The Park Ranger gave a guided tour after showing a brief movie - both were entertaining and informative! The outdoor area consists of Fort Necessity and the Mount Washington Tavern, plus several walking trails. The indoor area has a lot of informative displays.
Very nice, make sure you see all 3 sites. Only disappointment was the lights weren't working in the museum so we couldn't see that but the fort was open and had a great reenactor.
Nice clean building and grounds. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The two dressed as indians were great and posed with anyone wanting pictures both group and individual ones. I was there with a large group and they were very accommodating with us for all the pictures that were taken.
This is old school civil war era and a cool place to stop and visit. Check it out..!
I've been here twice w family and am very impressed with the amount of Pre-Revolutionary history to be learned here. The visitors center is top notch w a good introductory movie. You can meander slowly and learn a lot or move quickly into a family friendly playground right outside. The rebuilt for and armory are well done. The original Braddock road runs right through. Stop at the Washington Tavern for early 19thC history of the original National road. Nearby is Braddocks grave marker, and the Jumonville battlefield that Mark's George Washington's first victory as a battle leader. Good restaurants are nearby as well. Worth a half days visit w kids who are interested in a little historical information.
Been there many times great place to take grandchildren . A learning experience and they shoed reenactment of the war.
Easily accessible memorial to the French and Indian Wars and George Washington when he was still a British General.
I visit every time that I am nearby. So much history to be learned. The fort is a short walk from the visitor center.
Very up to date display and plenty of family activities.
Free attraction with good space for RV parking and they allow dogs on the walking path.
The visitor center is very nicely done and has a wealth of information. The fort was a short walk from the visitor center. You can also walk to the Washington Tavern. While the visitor center is open year round some of the sites are closed seasonally. Seeing Fort Necessity was worth the trip. There are a few things to see in the area.
A wonderful setting to visit if ever inclined to understand the stories that are catalysts to our nation's growth...located near by are Mount Washington Tavern and Braddock's grave which I would highly suggest visiting. You can spend as little as an hour or as many as five or six hours depending upon your interest
This is not a huge NP, but well worth the visit. I came with 3 young children and enjoyed our visit. The main building looks at most a few years old and had a very interactive and informative museum about the battle, and the pre-evolution colonial period in america. Outside was also a small playground for kids designed to look like a miniature version of the fort.
The main fort is about a 1/4 mile flat paved walk from the museum. There is not much too the fort but it gives you a good perspective of the period.
There are also other walking trails in the park but we did not use any of them.
Overall highly recommend a stop, even if its just on the way to somewhere else. We only spent about an hour here, but you could do more. Its also Free!
Staff is polite, friendly, and knowledgeable. Helped us get our 4th grader pass and information on how it works, as well as a map that shows where we can use it!
Came here to get a Access Pass for a trip to the Carolinas in the future. Havent been to the new visitor facility in 13 years and learned it is a new one. Way better than the old one. It is nice how they twine the National Road and the French and Indian War together in one center. Did visit the two other units as well on this visit
built in 1754 for a pending conflict with the French, this British fort saw George Washington defeated and forced to leave. A reconstructed fort is on site, and there is a good park office. Good for hiking.
Learning more about the French and Indian war. Also George Washington was at the battle fought here. GW side lost
Visited on a snowy day in early January. We were the only ones there. Visitors center is really nice. Short walk to the fort with signage to let you know what happened and where. Also a few trails through the woods to hike. Gentleman in the visitors center was very friendly and helpful. Neat little park that tells that story of a pretty important turn of events in history
Such an interesting place to see. Lots of beautiful scenery.
This was a really nice place to stop along the way. Has history about the fort and also the road. It was all things I never knew. Very educational and people friendly. I will say if you have PTSD be careful in this place. The spot you walk through is set up to have surprise attack sounds and could trigger an episode.
Not a large part but very historically significant. Make sure to visit all sites on park property - it is well worth it!
Rangers are so nice. The facility is BEAUTIFUL. I love stopping here each time I drive 40. The museum is one of the best walk throughs I've enjoyed
The NPS interpretive center is very interesting. It not only discusses Fort Necessity, but also weaves in the history of the National Road. The fort reconstruction is pretty cheesy, but bonus points for the archaeology done on site that guided it. My 11 and 13 year olds were engaged.
Loved it and they had a scooter for my friend who had knee replacement.
Made an unplanned stop and discovered a gem. Pre-Revolutionary War fort with short trails and a nice, clean, simple visitor's center.
If you love history and hiking this is definitely a must! I've been driving past this on our way to deep Creek since I was 10. Finally stopped in July, we hiked from the visitor center up to the tavern. Beautiful scenery! They also had a self guided tour so you could go to each station and hear what happened. Very cool especially if you are a history enthusiast.
Top-notch museum that explores all sides of the conflict, friendly knowledgeable rangers and guides, beautiful grounds.
Great place to visit. Nice visitors center and great Rangers.
Here you can learn about a young Colonel George Washington of the Virginia Regiment and the mistakes he made that lead this battle to a surrender to the French who also tried sabotaging Washington s good name as an assassin of a man he did not kill. Good stuff here! Excellent staff. Also very cool exhibits on other local history of early transportation to the area. Much smaller battlefield than you think. American history at its finest!
Wasn't expecting much, but was blown away with the museum, rangers and re-enactor presentation. I figured maybe an hour and meh, was I wrong! We ended up spending three hours at the fort and talking with the rangers and re-enactor. Then went through the nice museum and it is very tastefully presented including some of the original logs from the fort after it was burned by the French. This is a must stop and visit! This may have been a George Washington defeat, but still great history. Thank you NPS for another great visitation!
I was driving home from Ohio and happened upon this place....decided to stop and check it out.
So glad that I did, this place was so cool!
I loved all of the information presented and really found it interesting....if you are a history buff you have to visit this place!
Very friendly and knowledgeable ranger. Interesting and in terracotta display in the museum.
Such an important part of George Washington's development as a military leader. George Washington is the only U.S. president to have been an officer for the British Crown.
The well educated staff and the updated exhibit space are great. Lots of fun to have the kids do the junior ranger program.
To say I was surprised would be an understatement. If you consider what happened and what they had to work with is amazing
The site of George Washington's first military surrender is nice to visit if you're in the area, and you'll definitely get a solid understanding of the lay of the land and what the "fort of necessity" looked like during the battle in 1754. The Visitor's Center contains really informative exhibits and an educational short film.
If you're an American history buff, definitely check it out. But keep in mind as with most battlefields for smaller skirmishes, there isn't a ton to look at on the actual battlefield other than the Fort structure, surrounding trenches, and a few info signs.
Made it out today for the Friends of Fort Necessity Edgar Allen Poe readings. He was very knowledgeable, and dare I say...humorous?
