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Cannon Firing Demonstrations At Fort Frederick State Park
Cannon firing demonstrations will take place each day at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Other programs explaining the significance of artillery in the history of Fort Frederick will be presented throughout the weekend.
BIG POOL, MD – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service will host an 18th Century Artillery Weekend, October 27-28, 2007 at Fort Frederick State Park in Washington County, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Artillery Weekend features presentations of the loading and firing of a British 6-pound cannon from the French and Indian War period. The French and Indian War, fought between 1754 and 1763, brought destruction to the frontiers of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 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 an essential role in the location, 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.
Click to see a video of cannon firing (Windows file 868KB)
For this event, there is a service charge of $3.00 per person and children 6 to 12, $2.00 per person. Disabled access is available; however, most of the event activities are situated on grassy areas that may present difficult rolls or walks. Food, gift, and souvenir items will be available for sale at the park store located near the Fort.
Fort Frederick was restored by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and currently operates as a living history museum. Located inside the Fort are two reconstructed enlisted men’s barracks. Fort Frederick is the only stone Fort built by a British colony during the French and Indian War period. The park celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Fort’s construction in 2006.
Fort Frederick is located off Interstate 70, exit 12 (Route 56 in Big Pool, MD). For more information about the Artillery Weekend or other Fort Frederick activities, please call the park at 301-842-2155 during the office hours, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm., Monday through Friday.
October 11, 2007 Contact: Olivia Campbell
410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell
ocampbell@dnr.state.md.usMaryland 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
