Susquehanna Township near Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Finding the 1750's Fort
Historic Documents
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Archival records are valuable resources for researchers when uncovering clues to the hidden past. A land survey and a hand sketched map of the 18th century place Hunter's Fort on the height of land that overlooks the Susquehanna River at Fishing Creek.
Joseph Shippen's hand drawn 1756 map of the route taken by Colonel William Clapham and his troop with the locations of settler's houses and military forts built along the Susquehanna River. Clapham's route is identified by the dashed lines along the east bank. Typical of supply forts of the period , Fort Hunter is shown with four corner bastion.
Samuel Hunter's 1763 land warrant depicts the location of the old fort with two interior buildings (blockhouse and magazine?). By then the hand dug entrenchments were "level with the ground."
Historic records indicate that the Fort Hunter Mansion, pictured in this photo taken in 1910, was likely built over the fort's blockhouse.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Colonial Era • Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1756.
Location. 40° 20.576′ N, 76° 54.609′ W. Marker is near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and in the Susquehanna Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Mansion Garden (a few steps from this marker); Fort Hunter (within shouting distance of this marker); Margaret Wister Meigs (within shouting distance of this marker); The Centennial Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); Coal Reclamation Business (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fort Hunter (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Last River Raft (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 250 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
