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The site of Maryland's frontier defense
during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the Fort's stone wall and
two barracks have been restored to their 1758 appearance. Historic
displays are in the Fort, barracks and Visitor Center. The park annually
holds military reenactments and other special events. Park lands adjoin
the Potomac River and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal passes through park
acreage. Tours are available by request. Daily Living History programming
is available from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends in the
spring and fall.
The stone fort, named in honor of Maryland's Lord Proprietor, Frederick
Calvert, Sixth Lord Baltimore, was erected by Governor Horatio Sharpe in
1756 to protect English settlers from the French and their Indian allies.
Fort Frederick was unique because of its large size and strong stone wall.
Most other forts of the period were built of wood and earth. The fort
served as an important supply base for English campaigns. During 1763, an
Ottawa Indian chief named Pontiac forged a massive Indian uprising.
Several hundred settlers and militia force sought protection within the
fort during this brief uprising.
Fort Frederick saw service again during the American Revolution as a
prison for Hessian (German) and British soldiers. In 1791, the State of
Maryland sold the fort. For the next 131 years, the fort and surrounding
lands were farmed. During the Civil War, Union troops were often
stationed around the fort to guard the C & O Canal.
In 1922, the State of Maryland re-purchased the fort. Throughout the
1920's, the State began development of Maryland's first state park. During
the Great Depression of the 1930's, a company of the Civilian Conservation
Corps was assigned to the park to reconstruct the dilapidated stone wall,
perform archaeology and locate the foundations of the original interior
buildings. Restoration continued in 1975. Future plans include
reconstruction of the Officer's Quarters and other defensive works.
Courtesy of the
Maryland Department of Resources |
