Battle Research Page unveiled!

As part of a 2013 National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program grant, the Applied Anthropology Laboratories of Ball State University, Department of Anthropology has created a research web site focusing on the Battle of the Wabash and the Battle of Fort Recovery. 

The Applied Anthropology Laboratories has been awarded numerous research grants to conduct archaeological investigations, assist with preservation planning, and promote community awareness of the history and significance of the Battle of the Wabash (1791) and the Battle of Fort Recovery (1794), two historically significant battles of the Northwest Indian Wars.  This research page serves as a clearinghouse for our current research and as a way for the public to learn more about these two battles that took place in modern day Fort Recovery, Ohio.

This research web site was funded in part by a National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program Grant awarded to Ball State University, Department of Anthropology, Applied Anthropology Laboratories in July 2013.  For more information, visit the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program web page. This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of

American Battlefield Protection Program grant awarded!

Archaeologists at Ball State University (BSU) were recently awarded a National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program grant to plan and design 12-15 interpretive signs (called wayside exhibits) throughout the village. These signs will be very graphical in nature, explaining the Battle of the Wabash and the Battle of Fort Recovery with full color maps, images, timelines, and text. As part of the community input gathering process, BSU archaeologist Christine Thompson will be attending various community group meetings in November through February.

 

Stay updated with museum news and museum media links!

Various Museum media links are listed below.  Thank you for your continued interest and support in the Fort Recovery Museum!
 
General Media Links
October 2012 - WOSU Road Trip: Fort Recovery - Fort Recovery Virtual Field Trip
July 2012 - Check out our TV spot from ABC 22 (WKEF) / FOX 45 (WRGT) / MyTV Dayton - Fort Recovery State Museum TV Spot
Summer 2011 - The Ohio's Historic West video from Ohio Traveler eMagazine features Fort Recovery. Check it out!

Monument 100th Anniversary Re-Dedication - May 2013
Monument Ceremony Photos by Bob Hart - Album 2
Monument Ceremony Photos by Bob Hart - Album 1
Program for the 100th Anniversary Monument Ceremony
WHIO TV "Re-dedicated Monument 100 years later in Fort Recovery" - 5/7/13
Daily Standard Article "Fort Recovery honors frontier combatants" - 5/6/13
Photos by the Daily Standard's Mark Pummell - 5/6/13
Lima TV Stations "Fort Recovery Monument Re-dedicated" - 5/5/13
Ohio Histore-news "Fort Recovery Monument Marks 100 Years" - 5/2/13
The Lima News Article "A time to honor: Fort Recovery to rededicate monument" - 4/28/13
WCSM Spectrum Interview - Kevin Sandler with Kathy Thobe and Nancy Knapke - 4/23/13
News Release - 4/23/13
Daily Standard Article "Descendants to help bring Fort Recovery's past alive" - 4/15/13

These Prezis were created at Fort Recovery Local Schools, in the 7th Grade Tech Citizenship class taught by District Technology Facilitator and Teacher, Cindy Moorman. These three Prezis by Will, Samantha, and Bridget were chosen among the best of the many done by the students.  
Monument Prezi by Will
Monument Prezi by Samantha
Monument Prezi by Briget
 
American Battlefield Protection Program Grants 2013
July 2013 - The Department of Anthropology at Ball State University has been awarded two 2013 National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) grants to continue its archaeological research and preservation work at Fort Recovery. An update on these two new grants and the current 2012 ABPP grant will be given at the Fort Recovery Historical Society on Tuesday August 21. We are all thrilled to be able to continue the work to further preserve and protect our battlefield!
National Park Service News Release
2013 ABPP Awards

American Battlefield Protection Program Grant 2012
July 2012 - We are pleased to announce that Ball State University's Department of Anthropology, in collaboration with the Fort Recovery State Museum, Fort Recovery Historical Society, and the Ohio Historical Society, has received a $54,416 American Battlefield Protection Program Grant from the National Park Service to continue research at Fort Recovery. This grant will research and submit a National Register for Historic Places nomination for the battlefields of the Battle of the Wabash and the Battle of Fort Recovery.

National Park Service 2012 ABPP Grant Awards
National Park Service News Release
Ohio Archaeology Blog 
  
American Battlefield Protection Program Grant 2010
July 2010 - As part of the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program grant, Ball State University's Department of Anthropology held an archaeology field school from May 16 to June 17, 2010 under the direction of Dr. Mark Groover. As part of their excavation, the field school students discovered a 2 ft wide trench that extended 17 ft east/west almost exactly aligned with the Greenville Treaty Line. The trench contained multiple closely-spaced post holes of various sizes with battlefield period artifacts (including bone buttons, shell buttons, lead musket ball, Charleville musket center band) found in or close to the trench. The trench with postholes almost certainly extends beyond 17 ft - additional excavation units in the future could confirm this. The trench/post hole feature most likely represents a palisade wall of the fort or a fort-related structure.
American Battllefield Protection Program Grant Report
Ohio Historical Society "New Discoveries at Fort Recovery" video - August 2011

The Columbus Dispatch - 8/21/11
Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog entry - 8/22/11
Ball State College of Science and Humanities Facebook post - 6/27/11
JournalGazette.net (Fort Wayne IN) The Scoop blog entry - 6/22/11
Ball State University Daily Newscenter article - 6/21/11
Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog entry - 6/20/11
Applied Archaeology Laboratories Facebook photo album - 6/18/11
Ball State University Daily News article - 6/15/11
The Daily Standard (Celina OH) article - 6/14/11
Ball State University Sponsored Programs Blog entry - 5/5/11
Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog entry - 1/6/11
The Daily Standard (Celina OH) article - 10/2/10

Battles and museum featured on OhioPodcast.com!

Listen to Museum Director Nancy Knapke on OhioPodcast.com! Thank you OhioPodcast for the opportunity and promoting Fort Recovery history!
Part 1: St. Clair's Campaign
Part 2: Battle of Fort Recovery; Museum Tour