Fort Frederick State Park Historic Weekend September 15-16

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BIG POOL, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Park Service hosts an 18th Century Artillery Weekend September 15 – 16, 2007 at the Fort Frederick State Park. The Artillery Weekend features artillery demonstrations including the loading and firing of British 6-pound cannon of the French and Indian War period.

Cannon firing demonstrations, as well as programs explaining the significance of artillery in the history of Fort Frederick will be presented throughout the weekend. Times for the Artillery Program are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The French and Indian War, which was fought between 1756 and 1763, changed the landscape and fabric of the North American continent forever. The War, which pitched the French and their Indian allies against the British and their Indian allies, brought destruction to the Maryland frontier. As a result, the colony of Maryland constructed Fort Frederick in 1756 as its main line of security for the frontier. In its finished condition, the fort included four 6-pound cannons, which played a vital role in the design and defense of the fort. Due to Fort Frederick’s unusually strong defenses, it successfully deterred French and Indian raiding parties and restored stability to the frontier.

Fort Frederick State Park is the home of Fort Frederick, America’s premier stone colonial fort. The park celebrated the 250th anniversary of the fort’s construction in 2006. Fort Frederick is located off of Route 70 exit 12 at State Route 56 in Big Pool. For more information about the Artillery Weekend or other Fort Frederick activities, please call the park at 301-842-2155.

Fort Frederick is a member of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information about Fort Frederick, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/fortfrederick.html.

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September 11, 2007

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov