Better than we fort...

Ok I know. Not another fort with log cabins.

But this one's interesting and not just for the fact that it was the place Colonel Bouquet left before he was assaulted by Native Americans (sorry, Indians) at Bushy run. At this time the Brits were fighting a French and Indian (sorry, Native American) alliance.

Fort Ligonier just as it was 250 years ago!

This is Fort Ligonier which was on outpost at the furthest reaches of civilisation - a bit like Norfolk. It was originally built in 1758 and was only around for eight years before it became redundant, all the wars having been won by British determination, bravery and sheer duplicity.

Lovely to see a proper flag...

It was built in less than a month apparently - from a standing start. All those trees felled, ditches dug, logs dressed and cabins built. About 500 men women and children turned up on this hill and got cracking.

We think we've met the guy who built these.

 This was the last fort to be built before the big one at what is now Pittsburgh, two days travel away. Halfway between was a staging post - a sort of fortlet. Of course this all decayed pretty quickly after it was decommissioned, and it was rebuilding started in 1954. Archaeological digs in the sixties found more artifacts and evidence of occupation. But this is what I find really interesting...

From the brochure:

Eight acres of the original site of Fort Ligonier have been preserved, with the subsurface features restored and the above-ground elements reconstructed. The inner fort is 200 feet square, defended by four bastions and accessed by three gates; inside is the officers’ mess, barracks, quartermaster, guardroom, underground magazine, commissary, and officers’ quarters.

Immediately outside the fort is General Forbes’s hut. An outer retrenchment, 1,600 feet long, surrounds the fort. Other external buildings include the Pennsylvania hospital (two wards and a surgeon’s hut), a smokehouse, a saw mill, bake ovens, a log dwelling and a forge.

Now, non of this existed a few years ago, it's all been built on the foundations of the original fort. Also the interiors of these buildings have been dressed beautifully, stuffed with either period pieces or excellent reproductions. Also there's a mighty impressive collection of new artillery.

About a third of the shiny bronze artillery. How much did this lot cost?

I can't show you pictures of the museum because photography inside isn't allowed, but they have a collection of fine European art from the 18th century that includes a Gainsborough - out here in the middle of nowhere! There are artefacts from the Royal Navy's 1758 HMS Invincible brought up from the depths of the Solent, a multitude of European guns, officers' dress coats from the British Navy, a pair of pistols that belonged to George Washington and a multitude of artefacts from the era. We did wonder what it was all doing there, as a lot of it had very little to do with the fort.

This is what a quartermaster looks like.

Now this is a non-profit organisation in a small town in Pennsylvania. Can you imagine a Roman fort being recreated in all its glory in say, Wroxeter?

What attention to detail...

 The secret I'm sure is having wealthy patrons, and looking at the names under the pictures most of the money seems to have come from one well to do local family. I think it explains a little of how proud Americans are of their history.

Also, it's interesting to note how George Washington is presented. I think the best word to explain it is reverential. I imagine it's the same way that the English felt about Lord Nelson - the man was a God, who saved a nation for its people…

George Washington - seen his usual colour.

But my intensive research has revealed that he wasn't a God. He still owes fines for books not returned to The New York Society Library. Apparently he took out two tomes; the “Law of Nations” and a volume of debates from Britain’s House of Commons. Both books were due back on Nov. 2, 1789. That's about 230 years of fines he owes. How the mighty are fallen eh?

This man is engaging in the American National Pastime. He rode his own mower here.

Apparently George Bush has committed the same crime - but he's promised to take his book back when he's finished colouring it in.