Free Entry to Fort Necessity for National Park Week

April 16th, 2010

Fort Necessity

Admission to Fort Necessity National Battlefield will be free during National Park Week, April 17 to 25. Fort Necessity and Friendship Hill National Historic Site will also celebrate National Park Week with Junior Ranger activities on Saturday, April 24.

“National parks preserve our heritage, promote recreational experiences, and provide places of quiet refuge,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “I encourage everyone to spend some time enjoying America’s Great Outdoors during National Park Week.”

“Fayette County residents are fortunate to have two national parks right in their back yards” said Tom Markwardt, Public Information officer for Fort Necessity and Friendship Hill. “In addition, there are three other parks in southwest Pennsylvania: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, and Flight 93 National Memorial.”

Normally, the entrance fee for Fort Necessity is $5. Friendship Hill National Historic Site and Flight 93 National Memorial do not charge for admission. Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS and Johnstown Flood NMEM charge $4 admission.

There will be hundreds of family friendly events nationwide on Saturday, April 24, for National Junior Ranger Day. Fort Necessity and Friendship Hill invite youth ages 6-12 to explore with their junior ranger program guides. The brand new Friendship Hill “Junior Ranger Adventure Book” uses games and puzzles to aid children in their investigations of Albert Gallatin’s contribution to our nation. The Fort Necessity Junior Ranger Activity Book guides children on their explorations of history at Fort Necessity. Each program takes about two hours to complete. Youth groups are welcome to participate.

Children completing either of the programs will receive a National Park Service Junior Ranger patch and a certificate. Park specific Fort Necessity and Friendship Hill Junior Ranger patches are also available in the park bookstore for those who have completed the programs.

Advance reservations are required for groups and appreciated for families. Call Ranger Mary Jane McFadden at 724-329-5811 for the Fort Necessity program and Ranger Kitty Seifert at 724-725-9190 for the Friendship Hill program.

For more information on Fort Necessity, please call 724-329-5512 or visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/fone. For more information on Friendship Hill NHS please call 724-725-9190 or visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/frhi. A nationwide listing of parks and promotions is available at www.nps.gov/npweek.