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Field
Trips > NW Region >
Fort Meigs
Fort Meigs, a sprawling 10-acre log and earth fortification is situated on the banks of the Maumee River. During the War of 1812, William Henry Harrison built the fort in 1813 to protect northwest Ohio and Indiana from English invasion. English and Canadian troops, assisted by Indians under Tecumseh, besieged the fort twice. The first assault was in May of 1813 and the second was in July. Both failed and the British retreated after the second attack. This was the first setback the English had encountered in their Northwest Campaign.
With Harrison's victory at the Battle of the Thames in Canada during early October, the war in the Northwest was all but over. Peace came in December of 1814, and in May 1815, the United States formally abandoned Fort Meigs.
In 1965, the Ohio Historical Society reconstructed Fort Meigs to replicate the stockade as it was during the first siege. In 2000, the Society began a complete restoration of the fort site, including the replacement of the fort gate and stockade, roof and log replacement of the seven blockhouses, reconstruction of all batteries, and renovation of the existing blockhouse exhibits. The blockhouses appear as they were built originally, with walls two feet thick, four-inch-thick window and cannon-port shutters, and whitewashed interior walls. New blockhouse exhibits illustrate how the fort was originally built, the living conditions in the fort for both officers and enlisted men, weaponry, and conflict.
The new Museum Visitor Center has 3,000 square feet of exhibits. It features artifacts, weapons, maps, uniforms, and documents including soldiers' letters and diaries that describe Fort Meigs role during the War of 1812. The exhibits emphasize hands-on and interpretive learning opportunities for students and families, as well as workshop and curriculum resources for teachers. The building also includes an Ohio History Store, classroom, and conference room.
Facilities Information
Chaperones: One adult per 15 students.
The Museum and Visitor Center is handicap accessible. The fort is accessible but some assistance may
be required.
As students will be outdoors during part of their experience, we suggest that they dress appropriately
for the weather.
For lunches, there are picnic tables at the far end of the park.
Museum Shop on site
There is no musuem shop on site.
Hours of Operation
Year - round
9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday
12:00 - 5:00 p.m., Sunday
Admission
$3.00 per student; $3.00 per chaperon; teachers & bus drivers are free
Location
Fort Meigs is located on West River Road (State Route 65) in Perrysburg, in Wood County. Take I-475 to
exit 2 and turn north to State Route 65.
Bus Driver's Instructions
Parking is adjacent to the Museum and Education Center.
All tours begin at the Education and Visitor Center
If you will be delayed in arriving at your appointed time, please call 419-874-4121 or 800-283-8916.
Bus drivers are admitted free to Fort Meigs.
Guided Tours
The following tours/programs have condensed files that include links,
content standards and other resources.
Requires  Adobe Acrobat ® Reader, and will load in new browser windows.
Guided Tour: Fort Grounds and Museum (September through March) (205 k)
The fort, and exhibits in the blockhouses (weather permitting), and museum will bring to life the causes of conflict, events at Fort Meigs, and the lives of men and women stationed at the fort. Students will learn how the events at Fort Meigs and the War of 1812 influenced Ohio's development and the history of the United States.
Large groups or students may be divided.
Workshop: Hands on the Past (September through March) (189 k)
In this unique program students have a hands-on experience. Students will learn how historians and archaeologist interpret the past through the study of objects such as the Greenville Treaty wampum belt, and the Tansel powder horn. They will touch and experience life at Fort Meigs with reproductions of actual objects that are associated with the fort. The Stranahan Foundation provided for funding for the preparation and some materials for this program.
Workshop: Call to Arms (September through March) (193 k)
Through active participation, students gain a greater understanding of early U.S. military service. They are enlisted in Ohio's 1812 militia and are marched to the aid of Fort Meigs. Using hands-on activities and critical thinking, students will learn how the military was limited to the technology of the time.
The Stranahan Foundation provided for funding for the preparation and some materials for this program.
Lesson Plan: Frontier Wars of the 1790s (Grades 4 and 5)
(324 k)
In this lesson, students will learn about the frontier wars of the 1790s in the Old Northwest. They will gain an understanding about the causes and effects of these wars through individual or groups research, create informational or editorial broadsides, and share their research and broadsides they have made with the rest of the class. The Stranahan Foundation provided for funding for the preparation of this lesson.
Lesson Plan: A Five Step Plan for the Ohio Country and the Northwest Territory (Grades 5 and 6)
(912 k)
In this lesson, students will gain an understanding that the American victory over the English following the American Revolution was one of the factors that led to the growth of the United States. Before the Americans could settle the land, the government had a series of problems to address. Using materials and a timeline, students will create their plan. The Stranahan Foundation provided for funding for the preparation of this lesson.
Lesson Plan: A Conflict of Understanding over Land (Grades 4, 5, adaptable to 8)
(407 k)
In this lesson, students will learn about the cultural differences between the American Indian and European/Americans in their views about the possession of land. Questions that will be answered will be: How does one define land ownership? What is the meaning of land use? How does one define land boundaries? and, Who has the authority to sell the land? The Stranahan Foundation provided funding for the preparation of this lesson.
Pre-visit History: The Siege of Fort Meigs (September through March) (1,904 k)
This is a paper presented by H. W. Compton that described Fort Meigs and the
events that led to its construction then the important battle that occurred
there during the War of 1812.
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