Situated in the Piedmont region of North Carolina near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 1756 Fort Dobbs state historic site holds secrets of the Carolina frontier and its settlers, the collision of French, English, Scotch-Irish, Native American and African American cultures and colonial military history. It is the only North Carolina state historic site associated with the French and Indian War and the only one located along the official colonial frontier.

England and France had been enemies for centuries before either claimed parts of the New World. In North America, the conflict involved settlers, soldiers and native peoples. The climax was the French and Indian War (1754-1763).

As a result of France"s growing attempt in early 1754 to connect her extensive dominions in North America by uniting Canada with Louisiana, she took possession claimed by England to be within the Province of Virginia and began a line of military posts from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley. North Carolina was the first colony to respond to Virginia Governor Dinwiddie"s call for military assistance and marked the first time a British colony voted to support troops outside of its own borders in behalf of a common cause and defense.

North Carolina"s Colonel James Innes (1700-1759) was commissioned commanding officer of all provincial forces in the first Ohio expedition by Governor Dinwiddie from June 4, 1754 to October 24, 1754. Under Innes, North Carolina"s provincial soldiers consisted of approximately 750 men, including Lieutenant Hugh Waddell.

Disbanded in the fall of 1754, North Carolina provincials returned to service under Major Edward Brice Dobbs in 1755, during Braddock"s march, and later during the New York Expedition in 1756. North Carolina continued to send troops throughout the war to the aid of the other colonies and participated in 1758 in Forbes Expedition. In 1759, under Colonel Hugh Waddell, North Carolina provincials were recalled from South Carolina following the fall of Fort Loudoun. North Carolina was again at the aid of Virginia in 1761 during the Cherokee War, where the Cherokees were soundly defeated.

Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each Tuesday-Saturday (except for major holidays)

Fees: Fee structure not known
No Metro Region listed. Park Management: State