Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Information Seasonal Closures

Jumonville Glen, Mount Washington Tavern and the Picnic Area have closed for the season. They will reopen on May 1, 2027!

Information CCC Camp Picnic Pavilions Closed

The pavilions in the CCC Camp Picnic Area are closed for the immediate future for restoration work.

Overview

The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal of French power from North America. The stage was set for the American Revolution.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Living History
  • Historic Weapons Demonstration
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Skiing
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Fort Necessity National Battlefield: Entrance to Fort Necessity National Battlefield is allowed from sunrise until sunset. The park visitor center and Mount Washington Tavern museum have specific hours. Please see the listing for each facility.

Braddock Grave: Open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Jumonville Glen: Jumonville Glen is open May 1 through October 31 from sunrise to sunset

Getting there

The main unit of the park is located 11 miles east of Uniontown, Pennsylvania on U.S. Highway 40. The visitor center, reconstructed Fort Necessity, Mount Washington Tavern and picnic area are located in the main unit of the park.

Visitor centers

Weather

Weather varies considerably within each season. Be prepared with layered clothing. Precipitation is common throughout the year. Spring: Temperatures usually range from 25°F to 70°F. On average, May is the wettest month. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 50°F to 80°F. July is the warmest month. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 30°F to 70°F. Fall foliage is at its peak around mid-October. Winter: Temperatures range from 15°F to 40°F. January is the coldest month.

Phone: (724) 329-5805

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

cabin and stockade casting shadows on the snow
Fort Necessity in Winter · NPS photo
Fort Necessity and the Great Meadow with trail and tree in the foreground
Fort Necessity · NPS photo / Mike Soohey
Man in 18th century flintlock musket stands in front of a round stockade fort with a British flag
Soldier at Fort Necessity · C. Hinton/NPS Photo
Image of a Caucasian male with a red coat gazing into the distance
Young George Washington · Mount Vernon
black and white photo of an open field with Fort Necessity in the middle with buildings in the back
Historical Picture of Fort Necessity · NPS Photo
Moon in blue sky over green meadow with trees in background
Moon Over the Fort · NPS Photo/JK

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