History of Fort Randolph

The first fort stood on the apex of the upper angle formed by the confluence of the Great Kanawha and Ohio Rivers. It was built in November 1774 and named Fort Blair, after John Blair, by Captain William Russell who was both the designer and builder. Captain Russell evacuated the fort June, 1775 and it was destroyed.

Captain Mathew Arbuckle was ordered to rebuild the fort in May of 1776 and he named it Fort Randolph in honor of Peyton Randolph. It was in this fort that the murder of Cornstalk, the Shawnee chief, occurred. For some unknown cause, the fort was evacuated in 1779 and was burned by the Indians.

Probably in 1785, another fort was erected for the protection of the inhabitants during the Indian Wars. It was on the Ohio River bank, fifty rods above its predecessors. Colonel Thomas Lewis was in charge.

Fort Randolph was constructed in honor of the American Revolution Bicentennial. Groundbreaking was on October 13,1973 and dedication was on October 13,1974.