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This folder contains photographs of the open
air museum of Ft. Boreman near Parkersburg made by John Sloan during a brief
visit.
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When one drives on the fine highway US 50
going east of west past Parkersburg,West Virginia one passes between the
western and northern sides of a steep ridge and the Ohio and Little Kanawah
Rivers south of Parkersburg itself. Unless one has studied guide books one
would never notice that an interesting Civil War Fort lies atop that ridge.
This is Fort Boreman. Although very little of the fort remains, it is worth the
time to visit. Naturally, A google serach will provide a long list of links
including to youtube. One of the best is -
http://www.greaterparkersburg.com/search/attractions/history/fort-boreman
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Plaque providing history of Ft. Boreman which
was built during the Civil War to protect the B&O Railroad from Confederate
raiders.
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Plaque describing the settlement of
Parkersburg and its role in the Civil War
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View from the lower level of Fort Boreman
north, up the Ohio River, with part of Parkersburg on the right. One can see
that the steep character of the hill enables the fort on this crest to dominate
traffic on the river, and protect the railroad and the ferry site to the north.
It also protects traffic on the Little Kanawha River that joins the Ohio at the
foot of the hill. The bridge in the foreground is over this river. US Route 50
lies below, very tight against the scarp.
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Plaque describing the role of the Ohio River
and Ft. Boreman's defensive role.
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View south, down the Ohio, again showing how
cannon on the steep bluff would control the river, In the distance is
Blennerhassett Island, site of the organization Aaron Burr created for his
failed effort to establish a separate republic on the lower Mississippi. His
party left the island floating down river until he was captured at Memphis.
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Another view up the Ohio that reveals the
second bridge in the distance and a tiny bit of the Little Kanawha River behind
the bushes.
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Plaque that describes the history of
Blennerhassett Island and its role as venue for Aaron Burr's aborted scheme on
the lower Mississippi.
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View of the lower fort area with flags and
example of a Civil War cannon - in the background is the higher elevation on
which the main part of the fort was constructed.
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View of the lower part of the fort looking in
the opposite direction with the Ohio River in the background
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Close-up view of the cannon
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Plaque describing Parkersburg during the
Civil War - But note the map in the lower left corner which is the only one
that shows the full extent of the Boreman fort with its bastions.
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Plaque with longer description of the role of
Fort Boreman during the Civil War
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Plaque describing some other events that took
place on Fort Boreman Hill
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View from the lower area of the stair case
leading up to the main part of the fort.
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Plaque describing the typical winter quarters
- cabins - built at the fort.
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Sign with information on the cost of trails
at Fort Boreman.
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Plaque describing the activities of the
regimental artificer from analysis of artifacts recovered from the ground
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Plaque describing the construction of
trenches in the lower part of the hill.
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Photo of a cannon positioned in the upper,
main section of the fort
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Another view of the same cannon showing its
line of fire toward the river over the lower area of the fort .
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Plaque describing the fort's powder magazine,
the foundations of which remain nearby under a reconstruction.
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View of Parkersburg across the Little Kanawah
River from the upper fort level .
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Another view from the upper level of the fort
looking further north-east up the Little Kanawah River
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