Excellent pit stop. Air conditioned with gift shop & restrooms Watch a 20 min. history film in the mini theater. Tour the small yet very modern museum. Walk the battlefield & 100% scale reconstruction of the Fort on the actual site. Friendly park staff.

Went on Veterans day since my stepson didnt have school and we both loved it! My only recommendation would be to go on a day that it isnt raining, and we were a little disappointed that the tavern was closed but apparently it is only open seasonally. The museum is small but informative. And the 20 minute introduction movie is 100% worth the watch. And the best part is, its free!!! All it costs is the gas to get there. I really must commend the National Parks Service. Great job.

Fort Necessity Battlefield is a nice place to stop and learn about the start of the French and Indian war. They have a very nice museum with plaques, audio exhibits, and a gift shop. Paths are paved and are wheelchair accessible.

Beautiful visitor center, well kept lands. Just a great piece of history tucked in the mountains of SWPA. Basically where America started, that in itself, is pretty cool!

Great place to visit with some interesting history pre-Revolutionary War where it was George Washingtons first and only defeat as a commander. The Visitor Center has one of the best NPS education centers I have ever seen.

Very educational. The park ranger tells the history on the ground and 2 other men tell another story if you can spare about a 1hr and 15min its worth it

Visitor center, play ground, Washington tavern, fort necessity, and picnic area. As a local I go there frequently to run/walk on both road and grass trails. There are some nice foliage views in the fall. If there is enough snow, some folks will snow shoe and cross country ski.

Great spot for history lovers. Visitors Center has a 20 minute video about tje battle and the rangers are engaging.

Great history! Was cool to know we were standing in the same spot where George Washington once stood!

The movie was educational but not boring in the least. It was nice way to spend the morning. The grounds are beautiful.

We arrived the day it opened on 06/19/2020. The visitor center is pretty with a nice exhibition. No film. Clean bathrooms. Porta Potty in the parking lot. The playground area was closed.After the visitor center, we walked to the fort. A 5 minute walk. There is not much to see there. The building and the fence around.Plenty of picnic tables.We stayed there for one hour and we left.

One of the best parks I have been to for a National Battlefield. The audio helps recreate the history by sharing how the mens lifestyle was, where they were and what happened. The fort sits in the middle of an open field and that creates an aura of the time period and setting of the Battle.Then the history is also amazing and how this was a turning point for 22 year old George Washington when he was serving the British Rule and fighting against the French and Indians. Not just that but the park rangers and doing everything they can to make this place feel historically accurate. They are taking time to replant trees and plants of the time period.Then inside of the visitor center there is a museum that is set up for an easy access and doesnt seem like maze. They also have a video that explains the events of the past and how this battle became a thing.

Great location to spend some time and take in some American Revolution History. To walk on the grounds with George Washington and to see some of the historical artifacts in the visitors center was a great experience. Highly recommended, make sure you go to the fort and to Mount Washington Tavern as well. We have a full review on our blog site and YouTube channel.

Awesome experience!!! Both the employees and the volunteer guides were extremely knowledgeable about the history and the historical figures involved throughout the history of the fort.

A historic place early in George Washingtons military career worth the time to detour here or just passing by and its on the historic National Highway, Americas first federally funded road.

I really neat National Park. Very informational. The Rangers were super helpful. I would recommend stopping even for a little bit.

A fantastically done battlefield. Given its age, it is remarkable how much of a sense of the battle that you can get. The museum, Tavern, Braddocks Grave, and multiple battlefields paint a clear and detailed picture of the history of this area. I visit battlefields around the world and I am shocked at how well this park is done. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Interesting site with information about the French and Indian War and the beginning of George Washingtons military career. Nice walking paths through the woods. Be sure to visit the tavern up the hill.

Go with some time to see the video and to take the short walk towards the fort. If there is an interpreter during your visit, listen to his narration of the battle, you will learn about the way fights use to be during the colonization. It is interesting to learn how battle tactics changed with the innovation of newer guns. A very neat center and good history.

Awesome use of todays electronics to tell of historical events.

Visitors center well done. Many historic facts and artifacts. Easy walk to the replica of the fort.

We really enjoyed our unexpected visit to the fort. The workers were very nice. This is worth a stop for sure!

Awesome place. It was just amazing how small the fort was for such an important battle.

The site of George Washingtons first military surrender is nice to visit if youre in the area, and youll definitely get a solid understanding of the lay of the land and what the fort of necessity looked like during the battle in 1754. The Visitors Center contains really informative exhibits and an educational short film.If youre an American history buff, definitely check it out. But keep in mind as with most battlefields for smaller skirmishes, there isnt a ton to look at on the actual battlefield other than the Fort structure, surrounding trenches, and a few info signs.

I need to go back. I was unable to read everything I wanted to. Overall, a great experience. Thanks for saving such a historic site for us all.

Beautiful park with lots of tidbits of knowledge. It was an accidental find, but Im so glad we did. The trails are nicely kept and the picnic area is very nice

A very neat experience for the kids! The oldest is into history. I just wish we had more time to do more exploring. This is an all day trip with multiple sites to check out. Put on your hiking shoes. Also visit the picnic area and trails!

Quite intriguing film show and pleasant grounds. Weather was great which helped.

We had a great time learning all about George Washington and the French and Indian war. The museum is fabulous! The park ranger is extremely knowledgeable. Nice play ground and nature walk.

The first link in a chain of events that would eventually lead to the American Revolution happened here, in a sad little hog-pen known as Fort Necessity. It was also the first battle in an otherwise distinguished military career for the 21-year-old colonel, George Washington.Prior to the battle -- and to defend his interests in a pelt-trading firm -- Washington and a local Indian chief named Tanacharison (called the Half King by the British) led a massacre on a camp of French regulars under the command of Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville. According to one history of the battle, Tanacharison washed his hands in Jumonvilles brains to make sure he was dead.Upon hearing of Jumonvilles death, his brother Louis Coulon led a counter-assault on Fort Necessity. Washington had half the troops in the ill-fortified Necessity and most of them were drunk, so he surrendered. While making his ignoble retreat, the French forces raided his supplies and sent him limping back to Williamsburg, where he would eventually win the support of the British Crown. After winning the war, the crown sent the bill to the colonies, the colonies rebelled, and eventually won their independence.It is thus a strange coincidence that the Battle of Fort Necessity was on July 3rd, but its no accident that July 4th weekend is the best time to go to Fort Necessity. On that weekend there is an encampment of reenactors depicting British and French regulars and Indians, and it is a good time to learn the customs of this land before it was a country. If you cant make it to the Independence Day celebrations, there are tours and musket demonstrations nearly every morning.This is an important place to visit, but be prepared for disappointment (as my kids were) on your approach to the fort. Its little more than a few upright sticks hammered in a circle of earthen works. But the surrounding natural meadow is beautiful, and your imagination can supply the rest.

This was a cooler place than expected. The ranger was really knowledgeable and gave some insight into what happened. Dog friendly, too. Not a lot to see, but worth a side trip for sure.

Loved this place. For a small museum, it was packed with artifacts and information. Everything was well maintained and easily accessible.

Great place to stop walk around and have a picnic

Great history here! The Park Ranger gave a guided tour after showing a brief movie - both were entertaining and informative! The outdoor area consists of Fort Necessity and the Mount Washington Tavern, plus several walking trails. The indoor area has a lot of informative displays.

Here you can learn about a young Colonel George Washington of the Virginia Regiment and the mistakes he made that lead this battle to a surrender to the French who also tried sabotaging Washington’s good name as an assassin of a man he did not kill. Good stuff here! Excellent staff. Also very cool exhibits on other local history of early transportation to the area. Much smaller battlefield than you think. American history at its finest!

Small but nicely run. Informative friendly staff

The visitor center is very nicely done and has a wealth of information. The fort was a short walk from the visitor center. You can also walk to the Washington Tavern. While the visitor center is open year round some of the sites are closed seasonally. Seeing Fort Necessity was worth the trip. There are a few things to see in the area.

Visited on a snowy day in early January. We were the only ones there. Visitors center is really nice. Short walk to the fort with signage to let you know what happened and where. Also a few trails through the woods to hike. Gentleman in the visitors center was very friendly and helpful. Neat little park that tells that story of a pretty important turn of events in history

We found it enjoyable. Washington Tavern was closed but that was not unexpected.

Easy walk and taking my dogs in wasnt a problem. Very friendly rangers in the office answered all my questions. Bought my Passport book here.

If you love history and hiking this is definitely a must! Ive been driving past this on our way to deep Creek since I was 10. Finally stopped in July, we hiked from the visitor center up to the tavern. Beautiful scenery! They also had a self guided tour so you could go to each station and hear what happened. Very cool especially if you are a history enthusiast.

A must see for every American citizen (by birth or naturalized). Visitors center has a brief but stunning video that ends with the curtain rising and a direct view of the fort and the flag flying over it. Go, see and be thankful for those who have gone before. Marvel at their tenacity and strength of character!

This historic battlefield has been on my Bucket list for years and never realized how close I was to it and how nice a park that it is. The Visitors center was build in 2005 and is very modern with a great deal of exhibits and a gift shop. The park grounds are very nice and the trails are easy to navigate. There is usually a volunteer there everyday doing a living history reenactment. Once you are at the Fort site your are only about 500 yards from the Mount Washington Tavern and it is a lovely historical site too. Once you get back on The National Highway you are only about 1.2 miles away from General Braddocks grave site. This is a very nice day trip for the history buff or family.

This is a battle site from the French and Indian wars. George Washington had surveyed the area was made an officer in the British Army for the expidition. Here he cut his teeth at war in a devastating loss that taught him much he would need to know. They chose this rare prairie in the wilderness to set up a timber fort. The location was practically indefensible.

Great history lesson! Very informative ranger tour.

Did you know that George Washington was here, bet you didnt till now. The tavern located in the national road in P.A. was built 400 feet from Fort Necessity .This is a great place to take your kids to learn some well needed history.Take them to explore history that they will not see sitting in a classroom.

I enjoy history and stumbled upon the fort while traveling. The guided tour was excellent.

Free attraction with good space for RV parking and they allow dogs on the walking path.

Nice place to visit if you love history.

Wonderful exhibits! So much history ️

Lots of great info here about the French and Indian war. If you are interested in George Washington this is the place. Lots of history here. The actual Fort is smaller then most think, but it is the real size of the actual Fort. You will see why George Washington was forced to surrender. Also the museum is also interesting and there is a theater, so enjoy the film about why when and how it all began.

Very nice exhibit, well maintained, all staff and patrons were wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Definitely want to come back again!

This was the site where George Washington suffered his first military defeat in the French and Indian war. After ambushing a French expedition down the road a few miles in Jumonville Glen (also part of Fort Necessity NB) he realized the French would retaliate. He built a small stockade and earthworks and took shelter with 400 Virginia soldiers. When the French attacked, he realized the fort was built in a poor location and indefensible. After suffering 100 causalities the French allowed Washington and his troops to surrender and return to Virginia. It was Washingtons only military surrender in his career.This park itself is wonderful. New, modern visitor center with excellent exhibits. Great movie and a nice pathway that leads you to the earthworks and the reconstructed stockade. Youll be amazed at how small it is! Make sure to take the drive and visit the nearby Jumonville Glen which is 6 miles up the road. It gives a beautiful taste of what the wilderness was like in 1755!

Great slice of history to show the place where a young George Washington surrendered as a British officer to the French.

Modern and informative visitor center. Ranger program was excellent!

Clean, well spaced out exhibits to safely social distance and the exhibits were very easy for the kids to understand and interact!

Very insightful, great historical importance

Very interesting and educational. Loved the tour

Good historical stop, the park rangers were excellent and the program was interesting.

This was another place we just drove by and decided to look around, and I am glad we did. The guide was very informative

Great history. Amazing that such significant history occurred essentially in my backyard!!

Great piece of American history along the National Road. The fort is a short walk from the visitor center also check out Mount Washington Tavern and Braddocks grave down the street. The visitor center has exhibits about the fort and the history of the national road.

Although the fort is a reconstruction, this historic site commemorates the first battle of the French & Indian war on 7/3/1754. It marks where a young General Washington, outnumbered, lost the battle but learned key lessons about waging warfare. Gen. Braddocks grave is nearby, where Washington gave the eulogy. The visitor center is new and impressive, with interactive exhibits.

From your local guide William Robinson. Being up at Fort Necessary Battlefield. With my Mother and Father was a very wonderful experience for us. Located in Fayette County up in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. Please take note I am a cigarette smoker my self an there is no somking past the visiter center. And when you get there take a pinknic lunch an take pictures two.

Great place for history buffs to come and learn. A twenty minute movie, artifacts and a trip to the fort must ba experienced. The Fort itself is almost disappointingly small, but the history lessons here tell why. Also featured is an exhibit describing the first Federal road.This place has a small gift shop featuring Virginia hand blown glass. No food or snacks sold here. Public restrooms available. Everything is wheelchair accessible.If you take your time and hike trails as well, you can experience everything in about three hours. Great for groups.

Great History Here! Our History! Please Go An Enjoy!!

To say I was surprised would be an understatement. If you consider what happened and what they had to work with is amazing

Very cool place to visit, kept in very good condition. Not only is the staff extremely educated on every aspect of Fort Necessity, they even dress as if they were there that day. Awesome staff, awesome experience, I would highly recommend!

Rangers are extremely knowledgeable. Their wealth of information is very impressive. Talking to the rangers you understand how the events came to play at fort necessity. IE. It all started at fort Lebeulf with Christopher gist helping Washington arrive.

The center was closed due to the virus but the grounds and trails were open including a short demonstration of a flint lock rifle. It was a great day out and about.

Amazing location I got here Everytime Im up this was both the fort and the tavern very interesting beautiful as well

Very nice museum. Very well kept grounds.

I came here with my family as a child and I will never forget it. The fort itself is so small its unbelievable that these men utilized it in battle!

Great intro to French and Indian war

A nice little piece of American History. Nice movie at the Visitors Center. Will not take more than an hour or so to visit the whole site.

Nice interactive visitors center. Friendly and knowledgeable ranger. Braddocks grave is about a mile from Fort Necessity. Good history lesson on pivotal moments in history.

Some education great walking pet friendly

This is a great place to visit. With or without kids youll find yourself entertained all while getting a quick history lesson. Very clean and new looking. The theater and its show was fantastic. The staff was very friendly helpful and accommodating. If youre ever in the area stop by and have some fun.

Really great place to learn history..

This battlefield does not get the attention it deserves. The events that happened here played a major role in the start of the War of 1812 between the British and the French. It is also the only battle where George Washington had to surrender. It also shows how the French were living and trading peacefully with the American Indians. It also gives you a true feeling of how George Washington had no choice but to surrender.

The well educated staff and the updated exhibit space are great. Lots of fun to have the kids do the junior ranger program.

A very important event in Washingtons life that formed his leadership style and knowledge of international politics. This site is instrumental in helping us understand the events leading up to the Revolution.

I loved the park rangers and volunteer help. I wish I had more time to explore. Great gift shop.

Learned a lot here

Just a nice park

It was closed after hours but we walked the trail to the fort and to the tavern. There were codes for us to have a virtual tour on our phone.

Such an important part of George Washingtons development as a military leader. George Washington is the only U.S. president to have been an officer for the British Crown.

Ni e walk through

Besides learning that George Washington was only 22 at the time. The battle was long before the Declaration of Independence. George was a lieutenant in The English army. The history of US Route 40 (National Road) is also part of the exhibit. National Road was the first road built by the Federal government.

They were working on the normal path, so my wife and I had to take an alternate path. It was trying for my wife.

The rangers were so helpful and full of info. The exhibit is fun and engaging

Great exhibits on several different periods going on at this time. The playground is so spot on for this site and time period. Well worth a visit if you are within an hour

Wonderful Historical Preservation! Worth the walk to visit.

Very clean, staff was great.

Only national park dedicated to a French Indian war history. Beautiful visitor center. Recommend watching the 19 min video to better understand the park. We also did a guided tour that was excellent. It finishes with a great explanation of the musket and a sample firing. We learned so much about Washingtons early days as a soldier, his defeat and later involvement in commerce in the region. The battle at this fort was formative time for our future president.

Lovely place. Great history!

Very informational, love the video. Grandson enjoyed play area and activity book a nice touch

I am a history buff from Ohio , and my parents are originally from bedford co. Pa. The French and Indian war has always interested me. With all that happened in mid. western Pa. Fort Necessity is a wonderful place to take in and experience that era.

Great staff and rangers, very helpful.

Nice historical site.