For our chapter project, we have placed a commemorative granite marker and bench near the best-estimated site of the American Revolutionary War fort called Fort Preservation, located in the Ligonier Valley in Pennsylvania. The next phase of our project is the educational phase, which will include publishing a book. The granite used in the project is Pennsylvania granite. The site can be found at 1868 Lincoln Highway, Ligonier, PA.
How can you be a part of history?
By donating towards this project, YOU will become part of the story! It will be because of you that this history lives on! Without each and every person who donates, aids in research, tells someone about the history, etc., the story eventually evaporates into the past. No amount is too small! THANK YOU to everyone who has donated money and time to our project so far!
How to donate:
Good, old-fashioned snail mail. (Guaranteed to arrive faster now than in 1777 since motorized vehicles, and not horses, will be transporting your donation.) You can mail your donation to P.O. Box 55, Laughlintown, PA 15655.
Our Journey to Fort Preservation
The chapter voted to form the America 250! committee at our members’ meeting in May 2021, and the committee had its first official meeting on August 14, 2021, and a project was born. With years until America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, it seemed we had plenty of time, but with a project of this magnitude we needed to get down to work right away. Our committee members are amazing, each with her own skillset and ideas to contribute; writing for grants, researching pensions, requesting permissions from multiple entities, contacting local companies for estimates for the granite and installation, making a nostalgic cookbook for fundraising, keeping meticulous records of meetings and correspondence…the list keeps growing!
In the fall of 2022 permission for the Fort Preservation granite marker to be installed was given by the landowner. Visitors to the completed project will be able to enjoy learning about the Ligonier Valley’s important contributions to history in a natural landscape.
Our committee decided to undertake a cookbook fundraising project that began in May 2022. Recipes were sent in by chapter members and a unique cookbook was created to not only provide delicious options for dinner or dessert, but to evoke the memories that are often associated with food and cooking. Handwritten recipes, stories about recipes, and also some Fort Preservation history made this truly a one-of-a-kind creation. The finished printed cookbooks began selling in November 2022. All funds collected from sales went towards the Fort Preservation Project. We sold over 300 copies! Below are a few images from our cookbook:
On November 5, 2022, a group of history lovers gathered to install a sign marking the future site of the Fort Preservation marker. Among those gathered were members from the Fort Ligonier Chapter, NSDAR, members of the Fort Preservation Society, NSCAR, and family and friends of members. See photos below of this exciting morning:
We are excited to announce we have received a grant for the funding for the Fort Preservation Commemorative Granite Marker which was provided by LVE/Craig Family Fund, Ligonier Valley Endowment/Marvin & Mary Louise Gantz Fund, LVE/Pam, Bill and Todd Stablein Family Fund, Ligonier Valley Endowment/Martha Lou Schove Fund, James and Rebecca Mauch Fund, Ligonier Valley Endowment/John S. and Kathryn G. Tosh Fund and the Ligonier Valley Endowment of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
August 17, 2024: Groundbreaking day! Thank you to Unity Memorials for your expertise and patience along this journey with us!
Drumroll please…INSTALLATION DAY! On September 7, 2024, the Fort Preservation marker and bench were officially installed! Our level of excitement was through the roof to see over three years of planning of this phase actually completed–we sometimes thought it might never really happen. But we aren’t done yet. Next up is the party, and then back to work for the educational phase of our project.
On October 5, 2024, 247 years (minus 2 days) after the construction of Fort Preservation began, we gathered at Fort Ligonier to celebrate the installation of our marker and bench with the local community. 126 people joined together to celebrate our history in the Ligonier Valley. It was a wonderful event, followed by a group of DAR members, along with several Fort Preservation Society, N.S.C.A.R., members, visiting the marker and bench on a beautiful autumn day.
All photos on this page courtesy of chapter members.
Fort Ligonier Chapter, NSDAR 