
Fort Presque Isle Blockhouse - Erie, PA
Posted by:
Facedances
N 42° 08.400 W 080° 04.453
17T E 576503 N 4665735
This was used as defense from Native American uprisings and also used during the War of 1812.
Waymark Code: WMCBTW
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/19/2011
Views: 24
Taken from website:
Fort Presque Isle (also Fort de la Presqu'île) was a fort built by French soldiers in 1753 along Presque Isle Bay at present-day Erie, Pennsylvania. The fort was part of a line that included Fort Le Boeuf, Fort Machault, and Fort Duquesne.
The fort was built as part of the French military occupation of the Ohio Country; rival claims to the area by the British led to the French and Indian War. After the 1759 British victory at the Battle of Fort Niagara, the French burned the fort and retreated from the area.
French Forts, 1753 and 1754The British built a new Fort Presque Isle, which was captured by American Indians during Pontiac's Rebellion. On June 19, 1763, the fort was surrounded by about 250 Ottawas, Ojibwas, Wyandots, and Senecas. After holding out for two days, the garrison of approximately sixty men surrendered on the condition that they could return to Fort Pitt. Most were instead killed after emerging from the fort.
General Anthony Wayne first arrived in the area of Presque Isle in 1786. In 1795, 200 Federal troops from Wayne's army, under the direction of Captain John Grubb, built a blockhouse on Garrison Hill, in present-day Erie, Pennsylvania. Also named Fort Presque Isle, the blockhouse was used as part of a defense against Native American uprisings. It was also used during the War of 1812. General Wayne was stricken ill at Fort Presque Isle and died there in 1796. At his request, his body was buried under the flagpole of the northwest blockhouse of the fort. This blockhouse burned in 1852. In 1880, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reconstructed the blockhouse at Second and Ash Streets, Erie, as a memorial to General Wayne. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has recognized the reconstructed blockhouse as eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
The year the "Fort" was constructed or started.: Original Blockhouse - 1795 Rebuilt - 1880
 Name of "Country" or "Nation" that constructed this "Fort": United States of America
 Was this "Fort" involved in any armed conflicts?: Yes it was
 What was the primary purpose of this "Historic Fort"?: Used for defence of a border or land claim.
 Current condition: The rebuilt blockhouse is in nice shape.
 This site is administered by ----: Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home
 If admission is charged -: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
 Open to the public?: Restricted or by appointment only.
 Link to web-site that best describes this "Historic Fort": [Web Link]
 Official or advertised web-page: Not listed
 Link if this "Fort" is registered on your Countries/ State "Registry of Historical Sites or Buildi: Not listed

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