Meadville in Crawford County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
George Washington Actually Slept Here!
Major George Washington was 21 years old and a loyal British subject when he was sent by the governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, on a dangerous diplomatic mission into western Pennsylvania. Governor Dinwiddie had heard reports that the French were building forts in this area, land claimed by England and the Virginia colony.
England and France were bitter rivals at the time — both wanting to control trade in the Ohio River area. England was not about to tolerate French troops on British land. Young Washington left Williamsburg, Virginia at the end of October 1753 to check out the existence of these French forts and deliver Dinwiddie's letter to the French commander. The letter demanded the French peaceably depart from the Ohio Country because: "The Lands upon the River Ohio in the Western Parts of the Colony of Virginia are so notoriously known to be the property of the Crown of Great Britain."
Washington was also charged with convincing Native Americans in the area that their lives would be better if they traded with England rather than France. At Logstown (on the Ohio River) he met with Shawnee, Delaware, and Iroquois Indians and some joined him in his travels.
Washington was new to the wilderness and didn't make this trip alone. He had an experienced guide, Christopher Gist, and both men kept journals of their travels. It is in this journal that Washington wrote of "several extensive and rich meadows," a description that later attracted David Mead to this area to establish a settlement.
On December 8, 1753 Washington and his party arrived at Cussewago, a Delaware Indian Village located at the mouth of Cussewago Creek where it joins French Creek, just upstream from where you are standing. They camped there for the night. The next day they continued their journey north to Fort LeBoeuf (now Waterford, Pennsylvania) where Washington finally met the French commander and presented Governor Dinwiddie's letter.
Washington and Gist alternately followed French Creek and Indian paths and their return route took them once again through this area. They arrived back in Williamsburg, Virginia on January 16, 1754 and Washington presented Governor Dinwiddie the letter he received from the French at Fort LeBoeuf. It essentially told the British that the French were the rightful owners of the Ohio River Valley and to stay out of New France.
Within seven months Washington would be back in western Pennsylvania fighting the French and their Indian allies at Fort Necessity. Washington's 1753 mission had led to war — the Seven Years War, also known as the French and Indian War.
Follow in George Washington's "footsteps" by driving Washington's Trail 1753 through western Pennsylvania. Watch for the blue and white highway markers. They closely follow Washington's 1753 travels. The signs were erected by Washington's Trail 1753, a non-profit formed with the mission to educate all ages about Washington's 1753 journey. For more information visit www.WashingtonsTrail.org.
[Illustration captions]
• Washington at the Point 1753 by John Buxton
• French Creek 1753, Half King and Christopher Gist by John Buxton
Sign donated by the Crawford County Historical Society with funding from the Crawford County Commissioners’ Act 13 grant program.
Erected by Crawford County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, French and Indian. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington, and the George Washington Slept Here series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1753.
Location. 41° 38.215′ N, 80° 9.699′ W. Marker is in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in Crawford County. Marker can be reached from North French Street south of Mead Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in Bicentennial Park, near the northwest corner of the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 42080 North French Street, Meadville PA 16335, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mead Avenue Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Meadville's Founding (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of the Gibson Tavern (approx. 0.4 miles away); Within This Block (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Shryock Store (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mill Run (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Market House Plaza (approx. 0.4 miles away); Meridian Building (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Meadville.
Also see . . . Washington's Trail 1753. Washington's Trail is a driving route through western Pennsylvania. Traversing modern highways, the route commemorates young George Washington's first military and diplomatic venture in the Fall and Winter 1753 - 1754. (Submitted on June 15, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 447 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 15, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.