Fort Necessity National Battlefield Reviews

There's not a lot to see but the history of the battlefield is very interesting and the visitor center has great staff to add to the experience. A great little slice of colonial American history.

I enjoyed the opportunity to see Fort Necessity. The exhibits explained the events of the fort and surrender. I had always thought that Washington did know some French and never considered that the document he signed was wet from the rain. Did you know that some people blamed Washington for starting the Seven Years War or that he resigned his commission?

There is a small gift shop that has many different things. Here you will find several items specific to the fort. However most of the stuff is of a more general nature.

Really interesting to visit the history of the beginnings of the French and Indian War. A very nice and informative visitor center, and a recreation of the round fort and marked locations of the original tree lines from July 3rd, 1754. An informative film describes the conflicting versions of the controversial beginnings of the conflict the became a world war.

A sordid piece of our history that would go totally un-learned were it not for this spot and the incredible Rangers who staff it.

Very cool place. Had a great Jr. Ranger program. Good video and interesting talk out by the Fort.

An absolutely wonderful site. The interpretive center is top notch and the staff very friendly and helpful. The site is beautifully well maintained and offers a great opportunity to learn about the French and Indian War. Plan on about an hour to an hour and a half to see everything and longer if you wish to hike the grounds.

Very cool place, exhibits , very cool stories and histories, cool souvenirs, I can t wait to go back and take my family! I remember when we were here French people were here and were talking in French and the attendant said many French people come here all the time for French and Indian war tours, Pittsburgh area is rich in history

Good place and good staff . They screen a good short historic movie about the battlefield and national road

Beautiful place. Small museum that does not overload you on info

Go with some time to see the video and to take the short walk towards the fort. If there is an interpreter during your visit, listen to his narration of the battle, you will learn about the way fights use to be during the colonization. It is interesting to learn how battle tactics changed with the innovation of newer guns. A very neat center and good history.

Glad it was free. Inside visitors center was interesting, but unimpressed eith fort.

Very interesting and informative. Nice museum and very helpful staff. Suitable for the whole family.

Only national park dedicated to a French Indian war history. Beautiful visitor center. Recommend watching the 19 min video to better understand the park. We also did a guided tour that was excellent. It finishes with a great explanation of the musket and a sample firing. We learned so much about Washingtons early days as a soldier, his defeat and later involvement in commerce in the region. The battle at this fort was formative time for our future president.

Great interpretation, ask about scheduled ranger talks.

Great history! Was cool to know we were standing in the same spot where George Washington once stood!

Was a great time. I love places like this, the history is great and the details are in depth, very cool place to visit.

Loved our visit there. It is a gem of history in that area.

We go every year and learn something new. .Love this place.

Did you know that George Washington was here, bet you didn't till now. The tavern located in the national road in P.A. was built 400 feet from Fort Necessity .

This is a great place to take your kids to learn some well needed history.
Take them to explore history that they will not see sitting in a classroom.

Interesting historical anecdotes. Worth a visit if you're nearby.

Sorry, it was too hot for me to walk outside much, so we have decided to go back in October to explore the grounds more thoroughly!

A great introduction to the National Road and Col. George Washington

This is a very important historical site in world history given that it began the seven years war. That the fort itself is so little to see is interesting in and of itself. But the museum does a great job of explaining the importance of fort necessity to the seven years war. The museum is very nice, has plenty of parking, and it's worth the drive even though it is somewhat isolated. Don't forget to see Braddock's grave and jumonville Glen while you are there, but the latter is only open in the summer.

Very interesting bit of our history not know until a lot of people in our country very sad we should learn more

Beautiful visitor center, well kept lands. Just a great piece of history tucked in the mountains of SWPA. Basically where America started, that in itself, is pretty cool!

This was a little known piece of history for me. B quite fascinating

I loved the park rangers and volunteer help. I wish I had more time to explore. Great gift shop.

Great retelling of the events when George Washington commanded British troops against the French and Indians, and lost.

Great place to stop for a bit of history if you are in the area. You can learn more about one of our Founding Fathers, George Washington, and his role during the French and Indian war and why he built a "fort of necessity."

This was another place we just drove by and decided to look around, and I am glad we did. The guide was very informative

Very informative museum and stops along the trails. Loved that we could bring our dog. Many tourists were disappointed that the tavern wasn't open. It would have been a great opportunity for everyone to get that part of history as well especially my children.

Great place in our local community rich with history!!

This was a very interesting place to visit. A great display and a beautiful park.

A nice place to get a good sense of history and how things were during that particular time period. The visitors center here has been redone and is quite impressive. Quite a few artifacts to give a good idea of what was used in that time. Clothes, shoes, tools, weapons, ect. Once you get out of the visitors enter, there are a few trails to explore on and the actual fort along with some signs that tell you a little more in detail what occurred on this site. If your a history buff or just someone who is curious about the area, it's a neat place to go.

George Washington's fort in the French and Indian War!

The main building and show was very interesting and it kept your interest. The grounds were well kept and very clean. Great place for children and adults to learn about our past history. But, disappointed that not much else that I was attracted to. Needed old buildings or replicas of British, French and colonial soldiers and American Indians throughout the grounds or some attractions on the property..

Bery important part of American history. Our guide was excellent

One of the best parks I have been to for a National Battlefield. The audio helps recreate the history by sharing how the men's lifestyle was, where they were and what happened. The fort sits in the middle of an open field and that creates an aura of the time period and setting of the Battle.
Then the history is also amazing and how this was a turning point for 22 year old George Washington when he was serving the British Rule and fighting against the French and Indians. Not just that but the park rangers and doing everything they can to make this place feel historically accurate. They are taking time to replant trees and plants of the time period.
Then inside of the visitor center there is a museum that is set up for an easy access and doesn't seem like maze. They also have a video that explains the events of the past and how this battle became a thing.

An authentic historical gem in a pastoral setting in the Laurel Highlands. Very nice introductory movie that gave a nice background of the historical backdrop of this site and its importance in shaping early American pre colonial history and Influencing George Washington's early military experience. The walking tour allows for a nice overview of the battle and its historical impact on the French and British settlers as well as on the besieged Native Americans. The docent stationed at the fort site, dressed in British soldier gear, was a wealth of knowledge !

Great park to visit. Had no idea this was George Washington's first battle which he lost. Really enjoyed the film and the recreated fort.

Excellent film, exhibits. Never mind my t/psyer dollars going towards Interior Dept. Could have been better directions to old reconstructed fort.

Excellent visitor center, video, staff, blacksmith and tavern your.

Nice exhibit, easily accessible, easy parking, well laid out, and free entrance.

Amazing location I got here Everytime I'm up this was both the fort and the tavern very interesting beautiful as well

Great History Here! Our History! Please Go An Enjoy!!

Never knew about this site before! Really interesting

The first link in a chain of events that would eventually lead to the American Revolution happened here, in a sad little hog-pen known as Fort Necessity. It was also the first battle in an otherwise distinguished military career for the 21-year-old colonel, George Washington.

Prior to the battle -- and to defend his interests in a pelt-trading firm -- Washington and a local Indian chief named Tanacharison (called the Half King by the British) led a massacre on a camp of French regulars under the command of Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville. According to one history of the battle, Tanacharison washed his hands in Jumonville's brains to make sure he was dead.

Upon hearing of Jumonville's death, his brother Louis Coulon led a counter-assault on Fort Necessity. Washington had half the troops in the ill-fortified Necessity and most of them were drunk, so he surrendered. While making his ignoble retreat, the French forces raided his supplies and sent him limping back to Williamsburg, where he would eventually win the support of the British Crown. After winning the war, the crown sent the bill to the colonies, the colonies rebelled, and eventually won their independence.

It is thus a strange coincidence that the Battle of Fort Necessity was on July 3rd, but it's no accident that July 4th weekend is the best time to go to Fort Necessity. On that weekend there is an encampment of reenactors depicting British and French regulars and Indians, and it is a good time to learn the customs of this land before it was a country. If you can't make it to the Independence Day celebrations, there are tours and musket demonstrations nearly every morning.

This is an important place to visit, but be prepared for disappointment (as my kids were) on your approach to the fort. It's little more than a few upright sticks hammered in a circle of earthen works. But the surrounding natural meadow is beautiful, and your imagination can supply the rest.

Our national parks and historic sites are real Treasures. Did you know George Washington surrendered here?

Excellent. They have done a good job of building a new visitors center.

Beautiful park with lots of tidbits of knowledge. It was an accidental find, but I'm so glad we did. The trails are nicely kept and the picnic area is very nice

It's amazing to see the original site of such a fascinating time in history.

Great historical stop. Went during memorial day. They had some fun events going on. I love national history and is great to see artifacts from this period in time.

I finally stopped and glad I did. There's a great little visitor center that is very informative.

Great historical site to see and learn about our history a must see if you love to fill and be at the places that shaped our country

Great little park. With some really important history.

Wonderful Historical Preservation! Worth the walk to visit.

Very well done museum and recreated battlefield. There are not very many sites around about the French and Indian War but this is one of the best.

Learned a lot about George Washington's early battles in the French and Indian war. He was not always the winning general you think of from the revolutionary war.

An important historical moment for George Washington.

Awesome displays. Great information! I would recommend this excursion to everyone!

A very important event in Washington's life that formed his leadership style and knowledge of international politics. This site is instrumental in helping us understand the events leading up to the Revolution.

Wonderful! Learned a lot about our local history. Nice displays, great Ranger lead tour, and great gift shop with lots of books!

Great film and display presentation. Well-kept grounds with good walking trails.

Clean, pet friendly, informative, displayed and arranged nicely and easy to locate! A great place to visit to travel back in time!

Very extensive information, lots of artifacts, knowledgeable Rangers.

If you enjoy history this is for you. Went there over 40 years ago on a school field trip and it's the same as I remember it.