Preserving our Shared History

Starts With You

The Site

During the Revolutionary War, Fort Laurens, the only American Continental outpost in what would later become the state of Ohio, was built along the Tuscarawas River, near the “Great Crossing” by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Its purpose was to serve as a base to attack the British and their Indian allies at Fort Detroit. This historically important site, located today in the town of Bolivar, Ohio, contains a museum, a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and an Ohio Historical Marker… but no fort.

image courtesy, David L. Shelburne

So, Where’s the Fort?

In 1915, legislation was passed in the Ohio General Assembly and signed into law which required the state “to properly restore said fort and works...” Since 1994, the Friends of Fort Laurens Foundation have been educating and fundraising to help rebuild the fort. As the United States nears its 250th birthday in 2026, the Ohio History Connection has cleared the way to reconstruct Fort Laurens, the state's only Revolutionary War fort.

Take Action!

Want to help rebuild Fort Laurens? Contribute to our cause, enlist as a volunteer, or become a member today!