Fort Frederick, Maryland — History & Visitor Guide

Fort Frederick (Washington County, Maryland (near Big Pool), Maryland)

Washington County, Maryland (near Big Pool) · Maryland · French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, American Civil War

Quick BriefAuthorized by Governor Horatio Sharpe in 1756, Fort Frederick was built 1756–57 as the only stone fortification constructed by a British colony during the French and Indian War. Although no military action occurred at Fort Frederick during the war, it served as an important staging area and supply base for English operations further west. From 1777 to 1783, the fort was used as a prisoner of war camp, with as many as 1,000 captured British and German soldiers incarcerated there after the Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown.

Civil WarCoastal defenseOpen to visitors

History & Significance

Governor Horatio Sharpe secured a £6,000 appropriation from the Maryland Legislature in 1756 to build a frontier fortification, which he named after Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore. The design conformed to the style developed early in the 18th century by Sebastien de Vauban, the father of modern fortification.

During Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763, approximately 700 area settlers sought refuge inside the fort. In 1777, the Continental Congress converted Fort Frederick into a military prison, with Colonel Moses Rawlings refurbishing the old fort to hold captured British troops.

During the Civil War, the fort was garrisoned as a gun emplacement to protect the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; the 1st Maryland Infantry (US) occupied it in December 1861, and Company H fought a skirmish against Confederate raiders on Christmas Day, 1861. The State of Maryland acquired the property in 1922 to establish a state park; archaeological investigations and discovery of original plans allowed complete reconstruction of the deteriorated walls. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973.

Key Facts

StateMaryland

LocationWashington County, Maryland (near Big Pool)

Established1756

Decommissioned1862

War / eraFrench and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, American Civil War

Current statusState or National Park

Coordinates39.61027778, -78.00361111

NRHP reference73000939

Map

Loading map…

🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Stone fortification built 1756–57 with restored bastions and walls
Reconstructed barracks and officer's quarters showcase 18th-century garrison life
Museum exhibits cover French and Indian War, Revolutionary War POW camp use, Civil War roles
Potomac River setting with scenic overlooks and walking trails
Picnic areas and recreational grounds on state park grounds

Best time to visitSpring (April–May) and fall (September–October) offer mild weather; summers can be humid, winters cold and potentially icy.

Getting thereNearest airport is MRB (Shepherd Field) near Martinsburg, West Virginia, approximately 23 km away; the fort is near Big Pool in Washington County, Maryland, accessible by car from nearby Hagerstown.

From the nearest major airportWashington Dulles International Airport (IAD)🚗 87 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 2 hr 3 min drive

Fort Frederick (Washington County, Maryland (near Big Pool), Maryland)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

Other Forts in Maryland

Explore Other States