Fort Necessity in present-day southwestern Pennsylvania was the site of the opening battle (July 3, 1754) of the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Known as the Battle of Great Meadows, this encounter marked the first major event in the military career of George Washington, and his only surrender. A National Battlefield was established in 1931. The park features the reconstructed Fort Necessity and includes a monument to the British major general Edward Braddock.
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