NPS - National Park Service

05/20/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/20/2022 10:46

Fort Necessity National Battlefield Announces Jumonville Anniversary Program and Encampment

Date:
May 20, 2022
Contact:Joshua Freeman, (724)329-5805

On May 28 and 29, visitors to Fort Necessity National Battlefield can hear the shots of muskets and learn about the first battle of the French and Indian War, featuring a young British lieutenant colonel named George Washington.

On Saturday, May 28, the park will host a program to honor the 268th anniversary of the "Jumonville Affair," the opening shots of the French and Indian War. A real-time interpretive walk will take place at the Jumonville Glen unit of Fort Necessity National Battlefield. The program will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Jumonville Glen parking area and will feature a park ranger-led walk to the Glen, explaining the historical events of that fateful morning. Attendees should wear sturdy shoes to tread rough terrain on the park trails. The program will also feature living historians providing a tactical demonstration of the skirmish, immersing visitors in the sights, smells and sounds of the engagement. The program will end at 8:30 a.m. Park staff and living historians will be available afterwards to answer questions.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, the park will host an encampment located next to the reconstructed Fort Necessity at the park's main unit. Volunteers, staff and living historians will set up camps and portray the various members of both the British and French armies who served at the Great Meadows in 1754. French and British Regulars, American Provincials, French-Canadian Militia and Native American participants will each be represented. The camps will be open to the public each day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Formal programs will be offered on both days:

· At 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. a program titled "The Fort Necessity Campaign" will be offered by park rangers.

· At 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. there will be weapons firing demonstrations featuring both muskets and artillery featuring volunteer and staff living historians.

The programs will take place rain or shine and visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. Admission to the park is free, as are the programs. For more information on this and other programs at Fort Necessity, please call 724-329-5805 or visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/fone.