Schedule | Directions | Hotels | Contacts | Sutlers
The history of Fort Ligonier began in September 1758 and was concluded in March 1766, embracing the period of the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War. The revival of interest in the fort began in the twentieth century and continues with a modern museum and a fully reconstructed/restored fortification within the current property limits. The impressive Fort, finest of its type in North America, is a full-scale, on-site reconstruction of the 1758-1766 original, situated on a commanding hilltop in the beautiful Laurel Highlands. The site currently possesses the most complete 18th c. artillery train on display anywhere, as well as a fine collection of original 18th c. art including paintings of George Washington, King George III, and The Death of General Wolfe.
Visit the website at http://www.fortligonier.org/original.htm for more details as well a for a virtual tour of the fort, including the only facine battery in existence.
Fort Ligonier was situated on the road between Fort Pitt and the supply centers of the Continental army to the East, so the area also had a role in the Revolution for the Pennsylvania militia, 1775-1777, although the fort had gone to ruin, and a smaller stockade was built on the same ridge, not far from Fort Ligonier.
In May 2008, for it’s 250th anniversary, Fort Ligonier has opened a new, permanent exhibit: The World Ablaze: An Introduction to the Seven Years War. The exhibition theme demonstrates that Fort Ligonier was part of a larger conflict in North American - The French and Indian War- which itself was on of several theaters in the great contest later called the Seven Year’s War. The exhibition represents a significant addition to the permanent collection of Fort Ligonier, especially in British, French and Native American items. Serious collecting began by staff in 2001. Over 300 original objects from the mid-18th century were acquired from around the world- the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Portugal, India, Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, and the Philippines- reflecting the global aspects of “the first world war”.
The World Ablaze
is divided into several theaters of war: North America, Maritime, Central Europe,
Western Europe, India, Western Africa, and Spain. The new collection on display
includes a wide array of objects: A 1760-1764 British officer’s regimental
coat and breeches, a 1745-1760 British Sappers and Miners cap, a French cartridge
box and double frog belt, a Jager hunting horn and rifle, Russian grenadiers
caps, French cavalry and engineer cuirasses, elephant trunk armor from India,
Native American quilled moccasins, pouches and neck knife, Prussian accoutrements,
and a Scottish 1750-1800 bonnet with a 1759 light infantry carbine, to cite
a few.
back to top
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 |
| 9:00 – Joint Formation for all troops for safety & general Information – fort parade ground |
| 10:30 – Women’s Clothing Demo |
| 11:30-12:30 – lunch |
| 12:30 – Artillery Demo |
| 1:30 – Tactical Weapons Demonstration. Crown & Congressional Troops will demonstrate weapons & movement |
| 2:30 - Military Music Demo |
| 3:00 – People of the Brigade. Cothing and uniform types will be described and displayed |
| 3:30 – Attack on the Fort by Congressional Troops, with Crown Troops defending |
| 4:45 – Separate formations for Crown & Congressional Forces for closing activities |
| 5:30 – Supper, provided by Ft. Ligonier |
| 8:30 -9:30 –Safety formations, and dusk attack on the fort |
| Sunday, August 17, 2008 |
| 8-8:45 – Breakfast, provided by Fort Ligonier |
| 8:45-11:30 – Museum Tour for B.A.R. members. Non-flash Photography will be permitted |
11:30-12:30 – presentation by Holly Mayer |
| 12:30 – Artillery Demo |
| 1:00 – Joint Formation for Safety & announcements |
| 1:30 – Attack on the Fort (as described for Sat.) |
2:30 – People of the Brigade |
| 3:00 – Military Music |
| 3:30 - TWD (as described for Sat.) |
| 4:30 – Joint Closing Formation on Fort Parade Ground |
Directions: Fort Ligonier is located on U.S. Route 30 and Pa. Route 711, in Ligonier, PA. It is fifty miles east of Pittsburgh and twelve miles north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Accomodations:
Hotel space is very limited in Ligonier, so if you plan on staying in a motel
or bed and breakfast, make arrangements soon. There is a Ramada Inn in Ligonier,
at 216 West Loyalhanna St Ligonier, PA 15658 ,(724) 238-9545. For a complete
list of accommodation, go to the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau site at; http://laurelhighlands.org/accommodations/search.cfm
back to top
Food: There is a supermarket within two blocks of the site, and a number of restaurant within walking distance. There is a convenient store/gas station across the street from the fort. You will be providing your own meals for breakfast Saturday and lunches both days. The site will provide Saturday supper, as well as coffee and donuts on Sunday.
Parking for ALL reenactor vehicles will be a block from the fort. NO reenactors may park in the small lot at the museum, that being reserved for the public. There is enough room for our camps on the site, but access is limited, so there will be B.A.R. members directing traffic. Please be advised that you will only be permitted to have your car on the site to unload/load, then you will need to remove it immediately to make room for others. Everyone cooperating will make this go smoothly.
Modern Camping will be within two blocks of the fort, at the end of the car park.
Artillery may bring their own guns and fire them from the positions normally occupied by the fort’s guns, or one of the fort’s guns ( a full-sized 6 lb gun) may be fired. This holds true for swivel guns as well. Artillery units should call Marty West at the fort to make arrangements.
Arrival and departure times are VERY flexible. You may arrive any time beginning the Wednesday before the event, and you may stay over Sunday night. If you plan on arriving before Friday morning, please contact Bob Cairns at (330) 455-9722, or robtcairns@cs.com to make sure you put your tent in a place that will be correct for the camp layouts.
Two bee hive bake ovens
are available for our use at the fort. Cate Crown will be coordinating the use
of these, and if you’d like to be involved, contact her at; crowncate@verizon.net
back to top
Sutlers: Due to limited space, there will be no Sutlers store tents. If you would like to sell items from a blanket, two things apply. First, all items for sale must be something that could have been for sale in an 18th c. fort, and secondly, these items must not be fr sale in the museum’s gift shop. We’re hoping to get folks to portray peddlers. Call the fort site with any questions.
The Crown Forces will be in control of the fort will man the sentry posts and perform all the tasks related to garrisoning a fort.
Per the regulations of the site, there will be no “casualties” simulated in our opposing forces demonstrations each day.
After supper Saturday evening, Ft. Ligonier Director, J. Martin West, will open the museum for a “behind the scenes look” . Non-flash photography will be permitted, and he will be available for questions. Also after supper on Saturday we will have a “flea market” of sorts, where you can lay all the stuff you don’t need anymore on your blanket, and sell it to someone else who won’t need it.
A paper mailing will be done by the fort, and a return form will be included. Please complete this form and return it so that a proper count can be made for camp layouts and meal planning.
Event Contact: For further information, contact the event coordinator, Bob Cairns, at; 1919 Yale Ave. NW, Canton, Ohio, 44709
(330) 455-9722, robtcairns@cs.com
Emergency Contact: Phone, (724) 238-9701, Fax: (724) 238-9732
Education Dept.e-mail: ftlig2@westol.com