Historical Markers and War Memorials in Fort Recovery, Ohio
Celina is the county seat for Mercer County
Fort Recovery is in Mercer County
Mercer County(128) ► ADJACENT TO MERCER COUNTY Auglaize County(220) ► Darke County(90) ► Shelby County(57) ► Van Wert County(78) ► Adams County, Indiana(29) ► Jay County, Indiana(20) ►
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On Wayne Street north of West Butler Street (Ohio Route 119), on the left when traveling north.
During the 1880's, this building was constructed to accommodate two businesses on the first floor and a very impressive Opera House on the second floor.
The Opera House was the center of community and school activities for many years. The . . . — — Map (db m215045) HM
On Wayne Street north of West Butler Street (Ohio Route 119), on the left when traveling north.
Adam Schneider, a highly esteemed citizen of Fort Recovery, was born in Germany. He came to America in 1881, where he joined his three brothers, Charles, Frederick and Peter, who were engaged in business in Fort Recovery. He entered into several . . . — — Map (db m215044) HM
On Wayne Street north of Butler Street (Ohio Route 119), on the right when traveling north.
The Italianate architecture of this building was originally highlighted by two very large bracketed cornices that bore the name G. J. Volz. Godfrey John Volz operated a successful restaurant on the first floor of the building and offered rooms on . . . — — Map (db m215042) HM
On Fort Site Street near West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
Bottom panel of text:
You are looking towards the high ground and ridge where an estimated 1,400 American Indian warriors assembled in a crescent formation before attacking St. Clair's army. The American Indian alliance consisted of . . . — — Map (db m137438) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
The American Indian tribes living in this region
at the time of the Indian wars were not
originally from the area. The Delaware had
been pushed westward into this region by
the expansion of European settlement in the
eastern United States. . . . — — Map (db m136941) HM
On Fort Site Street just north of West Butler Street (Ohio Route 119), on the right when traveling south.
Background of the Log Home and Original Owners
The land the log cabin originally sat on was purchased from the United
States government by Adam Kock of Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1840
as part of a 240-acre block. The prices was $1.25 . . . — — Map (db m166662) HM
On Wayne Street at West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south on Wayne Street.
"Musketballs were heard continually striking against the pickets and logs of the blockhouses, and whizzlng over the heads of those in the garrison."
Isaac Paxton of Captain Alexander Gibson's rifle company
On June 29, 1794, . . . — — Map (db m137493) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
Although Brigadier General Harmar's campaign was considered a victory for the American Indians, it devastated their homelands. Harmar's troops burned five Shawnee, Miami, and Delaware villages along the Maumee river and destroyed over 20,000 . . . — — Map (db m137373) HM
On Wayne Street at West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south on Wayne Street.
As a direct result of the Battle of the Wabash, the Legion of the United States was formed in 1792 with Major General Anthony Wayne appointed as the Commanding General. In 1793, Wayne led a third U.S. military campaign to control the Northwest . . . — — Map (db m137444) HM
On Gwendolyn Street south of Washington Street, on the right when traveling south.
Pioneer Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Mercer County, with burials from 1812 to 1873. Those buried here were some of the first Euro-Americans who settled the area. Many of these families helped lay out the town of Fort Recovery, established . . . — — Map (db m137521) HM
On Butler Street (Ohio Route 119) at North Elm Street (Ohio Route 49), on the right when traveling east on Butler Street.
Dr. Victor Grasson, a hero of the Indian Wars was killed while caring for the wounded during General Arthur St. Clair's defeat here, November 4, 1791. — — Map (db m22688) HM
On Butler Street (Ohio Route 119) at North Elm Street (Ohio Route 49), on the right when traveling east on Butler Street.
[West side of Monument]
This monument was erected by the Congress to commemorate the valor and perpetuate the memory of the heroic soldiers who were slain in those two memorable conflicts of the North West Territory the defeat of Arthur . . . — — Map (db m20355) HM
On Fort Site Street just north of West Butler Street (Ohio Route 119), on the left when traveling north.
The site of Fort Recovery has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Untied States Department of the Interior.
Battle of the Wabash, November 4, 1791
Battle of Fort Recovery, June 30-July 1, 1794 — — Map (db m166664) HM
Gen. Richard Butler
was Killed by Indians
beneath a tree which stood
on the site of this building
- - - in - - -
St. Clair's Defeat
November 4, 1791 — — Map (db m20271) HM
Near Fort Site Street west of West Boundary Street.
At this spot was found the original surveyor's stake which marked the western terminus of that part of the Greene Ville Treaty line running from near Fort Laurens, in the eastern part of the state, to Fort Recovery. From this point the line ran . . . — — Map (db m20265) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
Top-Left panel of text:
St. Clair's Kentucky Militia (approximately 300 men) camped in general vicinity of the shelter houses across from the Wabash River in Ambassador Park. The 1,400 warriors of the American Indian alliance assembled . . . — — Map (db m137384) HM
On Wayne Street at West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south on Wayne Street.
"Let the ends of the blockhouses present outwards, with three embrasures in each for a small howitz. The shutters of which must be musket proof as well as the door or doors of the sally ports."
--In a letter from Wayne to Burbeck (1793) . . . — — Map (db m137498) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
About 14,000 years ago, the last glacier receded from this area. Mastodons, mammoths, and giant beavers, roamed the region. The ancestors of American Indians arrived in Ohio during this time. These Paleoindians were hunters and gatherers. By 800 BC, . . . — — Map (db m136902) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
On Christmas Day 1793, General Anthony Wayne detached soldiers from Greenville to construct a fort at the site of the 1791 battle. Within five days, a work large enough to house 250 men and capable of defending against musket fire was completed - . . . — — Map (db m136923) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
On this triangle of land between the rivers, Indian forces under Chiefs Little Turtle (Miami) and Blue Jacket (Shawnee) surrounded and attacked General Arthur St. Clair's troops on November 4, 1791. Of his 1,300 soldiers, well over half were killed . . . — — Map (db m136920) HM
On Gwendolyn Street at Washington Street on Gwendolyn Street.
Pioneer Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Mercer County and is the final resting place for many of the early pioneers who first settled in the Fort Recovery area. The large marker on this site lists the names of those buried here.
Temporary . . . — — Map (db m90936) HM WM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
For over ten thousand years, American Indian tribes called the land east of the Mississippi River their home. The 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War with Britain ceding to the U.S. all land east of the Mississippi River, north . . . — — Map (db m137372) HM
On Washington Street at Gwendolyn Street on Washington Street.
Placed in 1951 in memory of Samuel McDowell 1770-1847 Soldier
General St. Clair's Army 1791
General Wilkinson's Army 1792
General Wayne's Army 1793-1794
Pioneer Settler 1838
by His Descendants and the Fort Recovery Historical . . . — — Map (db m90934) HM
Near West Butler Street near Fort St Clair Street.
Beneath the white oak rests an unknown Sha'anoe warrior. To his memory and in memory of his brothers killed here in the battles at Fort Recovery we erect this monument. September 10, 1983 "Weshecatweloo Keweshelawaypa"
(Let Us Always Do Good) — — Map (db m90932) HM
On Fort Site Street just south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
On November 4, 1791 on this triangle of land between the rivers, Indian forces under Chief Little Turtle (Miamis) and Blue Jacket (Shawnees), surrounded General Arthur St. Clair's troops. Of his 1,200 soldiers, 900 were killed. It was the worst . . . — — Map (db m165768) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the left when traveling south.
St. Clair’s Defeat, 1791. Native Americans inhabited and used much of the land in the Ohio valley as hunting grounds. As American settlers pushed west, conflicts resulted and attempts at peaceful settlement failed. Under political pressure, . . . — — Map (db m20333) HM
On Fort Site Street at West Boundary Street, on the left when traveling north on Fort Site Street.
St. Clair's Defeat
When American pioneers attempted to settle the Northwest Territory following the Ordinance of 1787, the Indians, aided by the British fought fiercely for their homes. The first United States army sent to break the Indian . . . — — Map (db m168413) HM
On Fort Site Street, on the right when traveling south.
"Strong, tall, red headed Nance clung her baby tight, and ferociously wielding her frying pan, held off the brutal Indian attackers." St. Clair Battle, 1791 — — Map (db m99335) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
The final battle of the Northwest Indian War, Fallen Timbers, took place on August 20, 1794 in present-day Maumee, near Toledo, less than two months after the Battle of Fort Recovery. The American Indians' loss in the Battle of Fallen Timbers led . . . — — Map (db m137524) HM
On Wayne Street south of East Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
The Battle
of Fort Recovery
1794
Blockhouse Scene
Donated by
Many Generous Financial Donors
Many In-Kind Supporters/Donors
Artist Dan Keyes — — Map (db m136859) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
On June 30 and July 1, 1794, 200 well-trained
soldiers, under the command of Captain Alexander
Gibson, successfully defended this fort against the
frontal, relentless attack of 2,500 Indians led by
Little Turtle, Blue Jacket, and obvious . . . — — Map (db m136934) HM
On Fort Site Street near West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
Since 2010, the Applied Anthropology Laboratories (AAL), in the Department of Anthropology at Ball State University has conducted archeology research on this battlefield with funding from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection . . . — — Map (db m137526) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
Given in memory of Herbert J. Franke, 1911-1988, by his family and dedicated on July 25, 1993, this walkway is designed to give visitors not only a pleasant passage between Fort Recovery parks but also to give them a brief overview of the . . . — — Map (db m137369) HM
The Greeneville Treaty established a boundary line between Indian and Federal land. This line was crossed in 1836 when the plot for the town of Recovery was laid out. David Beardslee laid out the land north; William McDaniel and David Larkin, the . . . — — Map (db m136890) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
"On my way to the center of the camp, I met pale, frightened men running in all directions. Numerous dead bodies …, proved that many of the Indians had been there before me."
--Kentucky Militiaman Robert . . . — — Map (db m137381) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the left when traveling south.
Imagine the scene that unfolded here on the frigid evening of November 3, 1791. St. Clair's main encampment of about 900 people was set up in a rectangle on this high ground with the Wabash River to the west, squeezed in by Buck Run to the south, . . . — — Map (db m137421) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
The depression in the land before you is the bed of the original Wabash (Ouabache) River. (In the early 1900's, it was rerouted to its present course just west
of here.) It was one of the main highways of Indian travel through the region. To the . . . — — Map (db m136904) HM
On Elm Road (Ohio Route 49) south of East Boundary Street, on the left when traveling south.
"This splendid granite shaft, handsome in its proportions; durable in its material; permanent in its foundation and pedestal, and simple in its purity and design, we now dedicate to commemorate the last resting place of those of our heroic . . . — — Map (db m137514) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
In 1990 the old Equity Dairy property adjacent to the museum was purchased with the VanTrees donation. With the support of a community united to make its 1991 bicentennial year one not to be forgotten, the VanTrees Park not only became a reality but . . . — — Map (db m137371) HM
On Darke-Mercer County Line Rd (Ohio Route 49) at Darke - Mercer County Line, on the right when traveling north on Darke-Mercer County Line Rd.
South Side
“Oubache’ was the French name for the Wabash – an Indian word meaning white. La Salle in 1669, was the first white man to explore this stream. Long it had been a link in a well- used route for red warriors and . . . — — Map (db m74353) HM
On East Boundary Street east of Wayne Street, on the right when traveling east.
"Finding no great effect from our fire, and confusion beginning to
spread from the great number of men who were falling in all quarters, it
became necessary to try what could be done with the bayonet."
--Major General Arthur St. . . . — — Map (db m137502) HM
On Fort Site Street south of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling south.
• Welcome to the Fort Recovery Battlefield Walking Tour! The tour is approximately 1.5 miles and will help you understand the Battle of the Wabash (1791) and the Battle of Fort Recovery (1794). Tours are self-guided. For additional information on . . . — — Map (db m137531) HM
