Fort Ligonier

We finally made time to stop and tour Fort Ligonier over Memorial Day weekend. This is something that although we live fairly near, we never made time to do. It’s always too crowded in the fall, during Fort Ligonier Days and parking is very limited. With the Memorial holiday, I learned online that the fort would be hosting a group of reenactors from the state of Indiana. They would do artillery demonstrations and also stage a mock battle between English and French soldiers.
The museum is a wonderful source on the time period involving the French and Indian war, which was known as the 7 Years War in Europe. There are priceless artifacts on display. Both the regular volunteer guides and the reenactors were very friendly and very willing to share their knowledge and passion on this period of history. They were intent on involving young and old visitors. There were quite a few people from out of town who made a special trip just to visit this fort.
There is a souvenir shop with lots of items for sale. I picked up two coloring books on colonial soldiers for my great-​nephews.
The museum building is expanding to make an education center; so the parking lot has been reduced due to heavy equipment, but the improvements will be worth the temporary inconvenience.
It was a very nice visit and something I would take an out of town visitor to see.

This is the premier French and Indian War museum! Great place for a family to visit! Staff are friendly and engaging. Well worth it.

There is not a whole lot to do around these parts, so I was intrigued when I saw they had a fully reconstructed fort from the French and Indian War. I was even more excited when I saw there was a BOGO coupon in the local brochure guide available in the area visitor’s center.
This fort is wooden, and played a key role in controlling this area. George Washington even served here. The museum inside did a good job at explaining context and had some interesting artifacts. The buildings were very cool (although a mannequin in the one building was creepy). Only disappointment was I thought this was a living history museum meaning I was expecting to see costumed actors throughout. Sadly no, but not a major detractor.
In all, definitely worth a stop even if you’re not a history buff. Allow an hour to an hour and a half.

Haven’t visited this place for a long time. Enjoyed walking around the small fort.

Drove through this town real quick and it looked awesome. Full of American Culture.
Definitely a good place to bring the family.
When I go back to PA I’m spending time here.

I love this little museum and the replica of the French-​Indian War fort. How bizarrely different it must have been to be on that spot in 1757. Now the cannons point at a highway. Could those soldiers have even imagined? Probably not.
My parents used to take us kids here when we were little, and I took my son. It’s great, and so is the shop, which has cool t-​shirts, cheesy rifles and hats for kids, and neat books about that era and the area, including several by local authors. I also love the giant print by John Buxton of French soldiers and their native allies checking out the fort in 1758. Just beautiful.
A cheap, interesting, beautiful, educational stop for military buffs, history buffs and pretty much anyone needing a break from the car.

Fort Ligonier: The Museum is really two attractions — the reconstructed fort and the museum.
If you are expecting something like Ft. Ticonderoga… don’t. Ft. Ligonier is/​was a small wooden palisade fort built as a staging point on the way to capture Ft. Duquesne/​Pittsburgh. It is cool for it’s size… but it is small.
The museum on the other hand was a revelation. Dedicated to the Seven Years war (also known in the US as the French-​Indian war) it combines artifacts and illustrations to create a unique and amazing exhibition.

I am a total museum junkie. I will go to big ones and small ones, cheesy ones (RIP UFO museum of Portland, OR) and grand ones.
I had no idea what to expect with this living monument to fort-​titude. The museum building houses a spectacular array of artifacts, in addition to the usual story boards and displays.
What is really awesome is the full-​scale, on-​site reconstruction of the 1758 – 1766 original fort. American heritage just doesn’t get any cooler than this. You can climb down a spooky, precarious ladder to where the ammunition kegs were kept, step into a working hospital, or hang in the fort mess hall.
A kooky, amicable historian in an authentic English uniform lurks around with his gear, gunned up and ready to answer all your questions.
There are weapons and cannons and more oh my. Kids would probably go nuts here, it’s a historical goldmine. Wow, am I a geek or what?
$ 8 an adult is a small price to pay for all this American heritage action. After the museum you can hop up the road for a little fun in downtown Ligonier, a darling little community.