The summer’s first Sunset Tour at Fort Ligonier included explorations of both the site’s museum and galleries and the grounds, with an interlude for refreshments on the patio of the education center.
Visitors at the June 26 event were impressed by various aspects of history shared by fort staffers Matt Gault and Erica Nuckles.
“We were fed a lot of information,” said Jeff Ferree of El Paso, Texas, who was visiting relatives in the area with his wife Pam. The Ferrees said they were struck by the notion that the French and Indian War was the first world war.
Stan Hunt of Greensburg, with his wife Betsy, pondered the capricious nature of history: “If George Washington hadn’t come here and captured Fort Duquesne, we’d all be speaking French.”
Ronald and Arlene Caliguire of Mt. Pleasant said they were most deeply affected by the tales hardships that denizens of the fort suffered back in 1758 when the frontier outpost was established.
As visitors gathered at dusk behind the fortifications at the top of the hill, Gault noted that the original fort was built to last for three months, but actually survived for eight years.
Julie Donovan, director of marketing and public relations, said the tour was the first public event the fort has hosted since reopening after the covid-19 shutdown. Upcoming tour dates are July 31, Aug. 14 and Sept. 5, and a History Happy Hour is scheduled for July 17 on the upper fort grounds.
Also seen at sunset: Mark Antonette, Dave Plecenik, Todd Augenstein, Bill and Carol Wolford, Chuck and Maryann Cleaveland, Julie Isgan, Kelly Mateljan and fort interns Rachel Berger and Journie Crutchman.
