- Fort Augusta
Fort Augusta was a stronghold in
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania , in the upperSusquehanna Valley from the time of theFrench and Indian War to the close of theAmerican Revolution . The fort was erected by Col.William Clapham in 1756 at a site now within the limits of the city of Sunbury, in an area the Indians called "Shamokin." It was first constructed as part of the British defense against the raids of the French and Indians from the upper Allegheny region. Later, it served as an American fortress to aid in protecting settlers of the upper Susquehanna from Britain's Indian allies to the north. Named forAugusta of Saxe-Gotha , the mother ofKing George III , Fort Augusta was the largest of the Provincial forts. It was dismantled in 1794.Today, on the site of the old Fort, the Northumberland County Historical Society has its headquarters in the Hunter House, which it operates as a museum. The museum contains historical and archaeological artifacts dealing with Fort Augusta and items of local history. There is also a genealogical library of material on early families in Northumberland County and surrounding counties. The museum is located at 1150 North Front Street,
Sunbury, Pennsylvania .The fort's underground powder magazine still exists.
ee also
*List of Forts in the United States
*Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
*Shamokin
*Sunbury, Pennsylvania External links
* [http://augustaregt.homestead.com/ 3rd Battalion, Pennsylvania Regiment of Foot, The Augusta Regiment, Burd's Company (Historical Reenactment Group)]
* [http://augustaregt.homestead.com/ftstory.htm Fort Augusta - Stronghold in the Wilderness: 1756-1794]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/colonials-patriots/sitee14.htm National Park Service - Colonials and Patriots: Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings]
* [http://www.northumberlandcountyhistoricalsociety.org/ Northumberland County Historical Society]
* [http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/environmental_center/sunbury/website/FortAugustaMap.shtml Sunbury: A History - Map of Fort Augusta]
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