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George Washington Trail

Follow along the George Washington Trail 1753 through Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, commemorating young Washington's first diplomatic mission to western Pennsylvania - a mission that led to the outbreak of the French and Indian War.

About The George Washington Trail 1753

Throughout Allegany County, going west from Oldtown, Maryland, to the crest of Savage Mountain, George Washington’s familiar profile is depicted on blue signs along our scenic byways and city streets. Serving as a marker for George Washington’s first diplomatic venture to what is now western Pennsylvania through Allegany County in 1753, the signs encourage visitors to travel along the route to discover George Washington's first diplomatic mission to demand French troops leave land (now western Pennsylvania) claimed by England. Follow Washington's profile though Allegany County to discover the footsteps of the Father of our Country and learn more about his military career that began and ended in our mountains.

Washington's 1753 Misson

In 1753, the imperial nations of France and Great Britain and the Native American nations all claimed control of the Ohio Country, the area encompassing present day western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Acting on orders from Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie, 21-year-old Major George Washington embarked upon a dangerous expedition north from Williamsburg to deliver a diplomatic message to the French ordering them to evacuate the region. The French erected three forts to reinforce their claim to the area: Fort Presque Isle (Erie, PA), Fort sur la Riviére aux Boeufs (Waterford, PA) and Fort Machault (Franklin, PA). During his journey to the French forts in the winter of 1753-1754, young Washington encountered many hazards. There were “excessive rains and vast quantity of snow”. He was nearly shot by a Native American guide near Harmony, PA, and he nearly drowned in the icy waters of the Allegheny River near present day Pittsburgh, PA. When Washington returned to Williamsburg in January of 1754, he reported to the governor that the French intended to remain entrenched in the Ohio Country. This marked the beginning of the military struggle known as the French and Indian War. 

Along the George Washington Trail 1753

Relive Washington’s first diplomatic expedition—retrace the steps of our first president, take advantage of the historic and natural attractions along the way. Round, blue trailblazer signs with Washington's famous profile are located along Washington’s route through scenic western Maryland and Pennsylvania. Explore these three locations as you travel Maryland's portion of the George Washington Trail 1753  to gain a historical perspective on Washington’s various other visits to Allegany County in 1748, 1753, 1755-58, and one last time as President in 1794. Pick up the trail at the Maryland/PA border and follow it north for the  Pennsylvania portion of the Washington Trail 1753 .  

Points of Interest Along the Trail

The michael cresap house - oldtown, md.

On this spot in 1748, Washington arrived as a teenage surveyor and enjoyed the hospitality of famous colonial frontiersman, Thomas Cresap. Young Washington saw his first Native American around Cresap’s campfire. This historic home and Thomas Cresap’s grave remain here to help visitors share the wonder of this river crossing.

PROSPECT SQUARE - CUMBERLAND, MD

On this spot in 1755, Washington served as an aide to British General Edward Braddock at Fort Cumberland during the French and Indian War. Later, in 1794, he returned to the same parade grounds to review troops preparing for the Whiskey Rebellion, a protest against the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. You can feel the history in your bones touring parts of the original Fort Cumberland in the basement of Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Washington Street and Washington’s log headquarters, twice occupied by George Washington in his travels to Allegany County, located at Riverside Park in Cumberland, Maryland.

Braddock’s Road At St. John’s Rock - Frostburg, MD

Deep in the Savage River State Forest, a once-in-a-lifetime sight awaits experienced hikers. The longest stretch of Nemacolin’s Trail on public land winds west toward Fort Duquesne from the rocky precipice where Washington crossed with over 2,000 elite British troops on Braddock’s ill-fated 1755 march.

This project was funded in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust. The trail links to a greater trail system that travels from our stopping point at the Maryland/Pennsylvania border through Pennsylvania's modern highways to explore Washington's route through Pennsylvania on the same 1753 military expedition to Pittsburgh.

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• George Washington’s 1753 Journey

• The French and Indian War

• Braddock Trail

• Forbes’ Trail

• Documentary (The War That Made America)

• Webinar / Summit Recordings

• Phineus Cobb, Embedded Journalist - coming soon!

• Educational Resources

• Plan your Visit

• Upcoming Events

• Past Events
• Newsletters

• News Articles

• About the Trail
• Donate / Sponsors

Washington's Trail

Braddock's road, forbes' trail, scroll to top, george washington travels nemacolin’s path from present-day cumberland, md to the forks of the ohio. the path, as it continues north, becomes known as washington’s trail..

When George Washington first entered the Ohio River Valley in 1753 he was only 21 years old. Recently commissioned as a major in the Virginia Regiment, he came to the region to deliver a diplomatic note to the French at Fort LeBoeuf (present-day Waterford, Pennsylvania) ordering them to withdraw from lands claimed by the King of England and the colony of Virginia. Needless to say, the French commander did not feel “obliged to obey” Washington’s summons to depart and the young Virginian headed home to prepare for war. On his return trip, Washington got his first taste of gunfire when an Indian guide, who was aligned with the French, turned and fired at him from point-blank range. Fortunately, for the sake of America, the bullet missed.

Washington came back to the forests of Pennsylvania the following spring, again following Nemacolin’s Path. He tasted short-lived victory at Jumonville Glen and bitter defeat at Fort Necessity. In the aftermath of the Fort Necessity defeat, Virginia’s governor, Robert Dinwiddie, decided to reorganize his battered regiment into ten independent companies, with no officer holding a rank higher than captain. This meant that Colonel Washington would have to face demotion. Rather than accept such humiliation, the young Virginian resigned from the army. For a short period of time, it seemed as if Washington would never again don a military uniform.

Washington joins Braddock – Nemacolin Path becomes known as Braddock’s Road.

Then, in the spring of 1755, General Edward Braddock came to America to push the French from the Ohio Country and back to Canada. Eager for redemption and “to attain a small degree of knowledge in the Military Art,” Washington offered his services to the general. Braddock replied that he would “be very glad” to take on the young Virginian as an aide. This led Washington back to the frontier and his next brush with death at the Battle of the Monongahela.

By all accounts, Washington’s behavior at the horrifying debacle was exemplary. According to one account, the fearless officer rode into the thick of the battle and attempted to rally the Virginia troops who were being shot down not only by the enemy, but from the frightened Redcoats who fired wildly at anything that moved. Sensing that the soldiers were in an exposed position, Washington rode forward and cried out to his men, “Boys! Take to the trees!” Braddock, who was riding nearby took the command as an act of cowardice instead of common sense. He lifted his saber and bellowed out, “I’ve a mind to run you through the body. We’ll sup today in Fort Duquesne or else in Hell!” After the general was severely wounded, it was Washington who organized the retreat and saved the remnants of Braddock’s shattered command. Just before he died, General Braddock was heard to mutter the prophetic words, “We shall know better how to deal with them [the enemy] another time.”

After Braddock’s defeat at the Monongahela, the British army went into winter quarters and the provinces were forced to fend for themselves against the sporadic raids launched against the frontier by the French and Indians. Restored to rank, Washington spent the next three years struggling to defend the backcountry. Plagued by a lack of supplies with his command threatened by desertion and insubordination, the young warrior bitterly complained, “I have been posted… for twenty months past upon our cold and Barren Frontiers, to perform I think I may say imposibilitys that is, to protect from the cruel Incursions of a Crafty Savage Enemy a line of Inhabitants of more than 350 Miles in extent with a force inadequate to the taske.” Despite such hardships, Washington held on until the spring of 1758, when General John Forbes and his army finally brought a promise of redemption.

Washington joins General Forbes and a new road is cut.

In 1758 the French held control of Fort Duquesne and the Forks of the Ohio. General Forbes’ route from Philadelphia to the Forks of the Ohio to seize control from the French required cutting a path to build a road over mountains and through over 300 miles of wilderness. Meanwhile, Colonel George Washington and his troops from Maryland and Virginia traveled Braddock’s Road from the Potomac and planned to meet Forbes’ army in Cumberland, MD to reach the Forks. But Forbes was intent on the more direct route so he pushed forward, cutting a new road over the mountains.

Washington and his troops had no choice but to join with Forbes as they advanced over Laurel Ridge to arrive at Loyalhanna Creek.