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Battlefield · Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
The site of the 1754 battle in which the young George Washington surrendered to French forces at the start of the French and Indian War, with the fort reconstructed.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Fort Necessity National Battlefield
In July 1754, George Washington, then 22 and an officer in the Virginia militia, hastily built a circular palisade in a mountain meadow, Fort Necessity. Attacked by French soldiers and Indigenous allies, he surrendered after a day of fighting. The episode was one of the opening events of the French and Indian War, part of the conflict Europeans call the Seven Years’ War.
The National Park Service reconstructed the small wooden palisade on the original site in the meadow. The visitor center has a film and an exhibit about the war, the contest for the Ohio River valley and the road that linked the coast to the interior.
The park also includes the grave of British General Edward Braddock, killed in 1755 during an expedition against the French, and the Mount Washington Tavern, an early 19th-century inn on the old National Road.
Short trails cross the meadow and the surrounding woods.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours.
Best time
From spring through autumn. In July the park usually offers activities on the date of the battle.
How to get there
It is on US-40, in Farmington, about 15 km from Ohiopyle and Kentuck Knob.
Tip
There is no entrance fee at the battlefield. Combine the visit with Kentuck Knob en route.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Fort Necessity National Battlefield
What happened at Fort Necessity?
In 1754, George Washington surrendered to French forces there, in one of the early battles of the French and Indian War.
Do you have to pay to visit Fort Necessity National Battlefield?
There is no park entrance fee. Confirm the visitor center hours.
Is Fort Necessity near Fallingwater?
Yes, about 25 km away, and roughly 15 km from Ohiopyle and from Kentuck Knob.