(Zoar, Ohio) – At the end of 2021 new, the outdoor interpretive signing was installed at the Fort Laurens State Memorial in Bolivar, Ohio. The storyboards are designed to take visitors on a walk through history where they can learn about Ohio’s only Revolutionary War fort. In addition to visiting the museum, those using the nearby Towpath Trail can now follow the signs to learn about the history of the fort.
The storyboard project also ensures accessibility even during the hours when the museum isn’t open. The 11 outdoor signs take visitors back in time as they learn about the history of the fort from when it was established in 1778 under the leadership of General Lachlan McIntosh until it was left abandoned in 1779.
Walkers will be taken on a journey of what life was like for soldiers and pioneers on the frontier. They’ll, essentially, walk a ‘mile’ in their shoes.
Additionally, flagstones mark the area of the cemetery where 21 soldiers are buried after losing their lives at the fort.
Partial funding for the new signs came from the Ohio & Erie Canalway Strategic Funds Program. “This project was a collaborative effort with volunteers, the Ohio History Connection, and the Zoar Community Association,” stated Tammi Shrum, Historical Sites Director. “Thank you to everyone who helped with the project, especially the muddy installation!”
The Fort Laurens Museum will reopen on April 2, 2022. The new storyboards can be viewed at the Fort Laurens State Memorial year-round.
About Fort Laurens
Fort Laurens was originally built in 1778 under the direction of General Lachlan McIntosh. It initially sat right along the Tuscarawas River. The purpose of the fort was to state an attack on a British garrison in Detroit, to bring an end to attacks on settlers by American Indians loyal to the British living in the area, and to offer protection to the Christian Delaware tribe, who remained neutral about the war. In 1828, the remnants of the fort were demolished during the construction of the Ohio & Erie Canalway. None of the original fort remains above ground today, although the outline of the fort is still visible.
About Historic Zoar Village
Historic Zoar Village was founded by German Separatists in 1817 and thrived as a communal settlement for more than 80 years. Zoar’s historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was named a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2016. Dozens of village structures have been painstakingly preserved through the collaborative efforts of the Zoar Community Association and the Ohio History Connection.