Finding Fort Tonoloway

Fort Tonolway was built in 1755 by Lieutenant Thomas Stoddert and men of the Maryland militia. The fort’s erection was a direct result of British General Edward Braddock’s campaign and his defeat in July of 1755. Garrisoned for only a year, the fort was abandoned in 1756 when nearby Fort Frederick was established. In the ensuing 263 years, the precise location of the fort has been lost. Preservation Maryland will join with the Maryland Park Service and the American Battlefield Protection Program to embark on an archaeological project to find the location of Fort Tonoloway.

 


Partners: American Battlefield Protection Program, Maryland State Parks

The Problem

Fort Tonolway was built in 1755 by Lieutenant Thomas Stoddert and men of the Maryland militia. The fort’s erection was a direct result of British General Edward Braddock’s campaign and his defeat in July of 1755. Garrisoned for only a year, the fort was abandoned in 1756 when nearby Fort Frederick was established. In the ensuing 263 years, the precise location of the fort has been lost.

The Fix

Preservation Maryland will join with the Maryland Park Service and the American Battlefield Protection Program to embark on an archaeological project to find the location of Fort Tonoloway.

 

Updates

OCTOBER 2020

After months of exhaustive research, Preservation Maryland and its consultant, Rivanna Archaeological Services, completed the effort to trace the history, context, and potential location of the long-missing French and Indian War-era Fort Tonoloway on Maryland’s Western Frontier.

ACcess full report

FEBRUARY 2020

As part of the organization’s Six-to-Fix preservation priority program, Preservation Maryland is an effort to locate the historic location of the lost Fort Tonoloway.  Preservation Maryland’s efforts are in conjunction with the Maryland Park Service and made possible by a grant from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program.

ARCHAEOLOGY UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2019

Preservation Maryland is seeking proposals from qualified consulting firms to inventory the historic resources and cultural landscape of Fort Tonoloway, located within Maryland’s Fort Tonoloway State Park; conduct military terrain analysis (KOCOA); and develop an archeological research design to inform future research and preservation planning.

VIEW THE RFP

See More Updates

Save History Today

The Six-to-Fix program allows Preservation Maryland to take direct action to fulfill its mission to protect the best of Maryland. Your donation helps provide technical assistance through Preservation Maryland staff and preservation experts to threatened and underutilized historic places – your donation has a direct impact on saving Maryland architecture and history.

Donate Now

Be Part of the Fix

You can help. Six-to-Fix rallies the Maryland preservation community around discrete and necessary tasks and projects to advance each project. Folks with all skills and interests are encouraged to sign-up. You will receive periodic announcements with opportunities to participate, and we hope you can join us to save history together.

Sign Up Today
Our Story Donate Press & Media Resources Contact Us Site by Younts Design Inc. © Preservation Maryland, 2023.