Fort Loudoun Historical Society invites all to Colonial Day at Fort Loudoun on Saturday June 16th, 9am to 3pm. Fort Loudoun was a provincial fort built in 1756 by the Colony of Pennsylvania during the French and Indian war and served as an important supply depot in the line of forts along the Forbes Road. It was the site of the Cherokee Council with Colonel Henry Bouquet in 1758 and site of James Smith’s Black Boys Rebellion in 1765 which was depicted in the 1939 Film “Allegheny Uprising” starring John Wayne.
The event, sponsored by Fort Loudoun Historical Society, is free and family friendly. Smell the campfires and hearth cooking, see log hewing and blacksmithing, and hear the tales of the 18th century frontier. Demonstrations will be happening all day; fort repair by the Kittatinny Associators, blacksmithing by Mark Heckman, open hearth cooking by Rich Fox, axe throwing by Rob Schmelzlen, colonial farming and livestock by Dale Zimmerman, fiber arts by Bev Sanders, Native American Culture by Deb “Turtle” Swartz, and 18th Century medicine by Dr. Lee Davis. Three lectures on topics related to Fort Loudoun:
- 10 AM – History of Fort Loudoun by Andrew Newman
- 11 AM – Native American Dress & Customs by Deb “Turtle” Swartz
- 1 PM – Indian Raids on the Frontier by Calvin Bricker
For kids only, there will be a scavenger hunt and other activities. Children complete tasks, receive an award and compete for a chance to the win the grand prize drawing held at the Patton House at 3 PM.
Food, snacks, drinks and merchandise available for purchase from gift shop in the Patton House.
The Fort Loudoun Historical Society, a 501c3 tasked with managing and interpreting the fort site, is in the process of rebuilding the fort and making improvements. It is launching a “Buy a Log” campaign to help close the gap on funding the project. Be part of the fort’s future.