This fort served as a living classroom for nearly thirty years
before being closed by the University. Since then, a group of local
leaders has taken on the task of returning it to it's once bustling
state. From the Fort New Salem Foundation's web site:
Fort History
Fort New Salem is a living history, outdoor museum interpreting the
history, trades and lifestyles of the region. The settlement is
surrounded by tree-covered hills. The facility takes its visitors
into an era when work and leisure activities reflected the values
and traditions of the community and the Appalachian culture of her
people.
Fort New Salem is a representative frontier log settlement of
Nineteenth Century West(ern) Virginia. Work on this village of 18
relocated log structures began in 1971. The Fort opened to the
public in 1974. The site is approximately eight acres, all owned by
the Fort New Salem Foundation, Inc.
Fort New Salem is located in Salem, WV, a rural Appalachian
community in western Harrison County. It is strategically located
on property adjacent to US Route 50, and is less than 17 miles west
of the Clarksburg/Bridgeport interchange of Interstate
79.
Cache is very easy to get to- no need to do any climbing. Cache is
NOT located near any of the structures, which are in various states
of restoral. Please respect the work that is being done to return
this piece of history to us.