Old French Road - Erie, PA - Ancient Traces and Roads on Waymarking.com

Along Old French Road, near the intersection with Gore Road in Erie, Pennsylvania, is an historical marker noting the location of the former Presque Isle portage trail that became Old French Road. As the marker states:

"Here today's highway leaves the course of the Presque Isle Portage, part of the historic Venango Trail. The French Road, built in 1753, following an Indian path, turned down into the valley."

The portage trail was used by the French to connect Fort Presque Isle, in the present-day city of Erie along the southern shore of Lake Erie, with Fort LeBoeuf in present-day Waterford, PA. From there, the French could take the water route of French Creek to Fort Machault in present-day Franklin, PA (Venango County), and continue on the Allegheny River to Fort Duquesne, in present-day Pittsburgh. This series of French Forts in what is now Western Pennsylvania caused the British to send George Washington to Fort LeBoeuf to ask them to leave, and eventually led to the French and Indian War. The French lost all of this territory during the war, and thus lost control of the Ohio River Valley.

As the sign mentions, prior to the use of this trail by the French, it was an Indian trail. Today, it is a well-traveled road still connecting Erie to Waterford.

Feature Discription: Old French Road - A former portage trail and Indian path Web address for the route: [Web Link] Beginning of the road: Presque Isle End of the road: Venango Secondary Web Address: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
We ask that if you visit the site, please include a unique picture with your impressions of the location. If possible, and if you are not too shy, please include yourself and your group in the photo. Extra points will be given for your best buffalo imitation or if you are licking something salty.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   12/10/2022 TyroneShoelaces visited it