Welcome to Fort Henry State Historic Site, a place where the echoes of America’s early frontier history still resonate. Originally known as Fort Fincastle, this fortification was constructed in 1774 at the behest of the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore. It was named after Viscount Fincastle but was later renamed Fort Henry in honor of Patrick Henry, a prominent figure in the American Revolution.
Fort Henry was established during a tumultuous time as tensions simmered between colonial settlers and Native American tribes. The fort’s construction was primarily a response to the outbreak of Lord Dunmore’s War, a conflict involving Virginian settlers and the Shawnee Indians. Supervised by Colonel William Crawford, the fort was built with the assistance of local settlers like Ebenezer Zane and John Caldwell, along with militia reinforcements from Fort Pitt.
The site is perhaps best known for its role in two major sieges during the American Revolutionary War. The first siege in 1777 saw Fort Henry withstand an attack by a coalition of Shawnee, Wyandot, and Mingo warriors. Among the defenders was Major Samuel McColloch, who became a local legend with his daring escape known as ‘McColloch’s Leap,’ a dramatic horse ride down a steep hill to evade capture.
The second siege in 1782 was marked by the heroics of Betty Zane, who braved enemy fire to retrieve gunpowder from a nearby storehouse when the fort’s supplies ran low. Her courageous act helped the defenders hold out until reinforcements arrived.
Over the years, Fort Henry evolved from a military stronghold to a symbol of the American frontier spirit. Its strategic location near the Ohio River made it a vital point of defense and a focal point in the struggle for control over the region.
Today, Fort Henry is not just a site of past conflicts but a reminder of the resilience and bravery of those who lived and fought here. It stands as a testament to the complex history of early American settlement and the interactions between various cultures on the frontier.
