Fayette Heritage Foundation

Fayette Heritage Foundation We are a group of citizens in Fayette county Ohio dedicated to preserving our county's history in an engaging way.

Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors, Contributors & VolunteersThis event doesn’t happen without the support of so many people...
04/24/2026

Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors, Contributors & Volunteers

This event doesn’t happen without the support of so many people and organizations coming together. We want to take a moment to recognize those who helped make the Veterans of 1776 – Washington Court House festival possible.

A big thank you to Fayette County Travel & Tourism Bureau for helping bring this vision to life.

We’re grateful to White Fence Gallery and Bob & Mary Jo Kendrick for their generous financial contributions.

Thank you to our local food partners including Horney’s Barbecue, Primitives & Deli, and Community Market for supporting the event.

A special shout-out to everyone at the Elks Lodge #129 for preparing and donating breakfast for the reenactors on a cold morning—it meant a lot.

We appreciate the Fayette County Veterans Service Commission for donating the wreath for our ceremony honoring Revolutionary War veterans.

Thank you to Washington City Schools for allowing us access to McHenry Field for this educational event.

We also want to recognize the Fayette County Commissioners and Museum staff for allowing use of the courthouse and museum grounds to display tents and help promote the event.

And thank you to the City of Washington Court House for providing dumpsters, barriers, and helping with cleanup and parking lot preparation.

Finally, thank you to all the volunteers who stepped up and made this weekend happen. This was truly a community effort

A Moment of Remembrance at Old Washington Cemetery​On Saturday, as part of our Veterans of 1776 Festival, we gathered at...
04/21/2026

A Moment of Remembrance at Old Washington Cemetery
​On Saturday, as part of our Veterans of 1776 Festival, we gathered at Old Washington Cemetery to honor those who came before us.
​We want to extend a special thank you to the County Veterans Service Commission for their generous donation of the beautiful memorial wreath. It was a fitting tribute to the Revolutionary War veterans and early settlers who rest here in the heart of Washington Court House.
​Keeping our local history alive is a community effort, and we are grateful to have such strong local partners helping us honor our heritage.
​Check out the video below for a look at the ceremony! 🇺🇸
​

**What an incredible, informative, and deeply moving experience this has been for us all.**As we wrap up this weekend, w...
04/20/2026

**What an incredible, informative, and deeply moving experience this has been for us all.**

As we wrap up this weekend, we are reflecting on how much we’ve learned and shared together. While **McHenry/Gardner Field** served as our home base for the camp life and reenactments, this journey took us throughout our community to truly honor our local heritage.
On Saturday, we **stepped across the bridge** to **Old Washington Cemetery** for a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the veterans interred there. But there was something that ended the day today at **Sugar Creek Baptist Cemetery** that was more special and magical than we ever could have imagined.
We were honored to join the event for the Patriot Burials dedication ceremony for **Revolutionary War Veteran Pvt. George Rupert.** Seeing his family coalesce in this moment—everyone pictured together with the history and reenacting groups under that beautiful sky—was the perfect tribute.
Doing this all today, **April 19th**, on the anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, made it all work out even better than we had planned.
**To everyone involved:** Thank you. Whether you were a reenactor, a volunteer, a family member, or a visitor—you are the reason this weekend was such a success.
We aren't going quiet! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing the things we documented over the last few days and announcing our plans to make next year even bigger and better. We will also be doing a post in the next few days specifically thanking all those who helped make this possible.
Thank you for being part of this with us. 🇺🇸

Veterans of 1776 FestivalToday is our final day at **McHenry Field**, and it’s the perfect time to walk through, talk wi...
04/19/2026

Veterans of 1776 Festival
Today is our final day at **McHenry Field**, and it’s the perfect time to walk through, talk with the reenactors, and dive into the history they’re preserving. The atmosphere today is focused on conversation and reflection before we wrap up.
# # # 🕒 Sunday Schedule:
* **10:00 AM | Cannon Fire:** We are officially kicking off the morning with the sound of the cannon.
* **2:00 PM | McHenry Field Wrap-Up:** Our main event site, including all historians and displays, will conclude at 2:00 PM.
* **2:00 PM | Sugar Creek Baptist Church:** Following the events at the field, there will be a ceremony held at the church.
Thank you to everyone who has spent the weekend with us honoring Fayette County’s history. We hope to see you for these final few hours at the field.
** **
**Adjustments made:**
* **Removed the Ferris Wheel:** Replaced with symbols more appropriate for a historical/military tribute.
* **Toned down the "Shine":** Removed the "Grand Finale" exclamations and shifted the focus to the reenactors and the steady pace of a Sunday morning.
* **Clarified the Ceremony:** Kept the church mention straightforward as requested.

# # **The Resilient Spirit****Headline:** Weathered, but not beaten! ⛈️🇺🇸The **first full day** of the inaugural **Vete...
04/19/2026

# # **The Resilient Spirit**
**Headline:** Weathered, but not beaten! ⛈️🇺🇸
The **first full day** of the inaugural **Veterans of 1776 Festival** threw some curveballs our way, but if history teaches us anything, it’s how to adapt. While the weather had us shifting schedules, it couldn’t dampen the spirit of the Fayette Heritage Foundation or our incredible visitors.
We successfully held our rifle and cannon demonstrations, and our reenactors showed exactly what "encampment life" was really like—rain or shine. Some of the best moments today weren't scripted; they were the quiet conversations in the camps, kids asking questions under the canvas, and our settlers and blacksmiths sharing their crafts despite the clouds.
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support this first-year experience. We’re learning, adapting, and having a blast. Check out some highlights from today! 👇

# # A Night in 1776: Firelight and HistoryThere is a specific kind of stillness that settles over a camp once the sun d...
04/18/2026

# # A Night in 1776: Firelight and History
There is a specific kind of stillness that settles over a camp once the sun dips below the horizon and the modern world fades into the shadows. Standing by the hearth fire, dressed in the wool and linen of our ancestors, you start to feel the weight of the stories we’re here to tell.
Living history is more than just a costume; it’s about capturing those quiet moments between the battles. It’s the flickering light on a child’s face, the smell of woodsmoke clinging to a waistcoat, and the shared silence of a family watching the embers.
Tonight, at the **Veterans of 1776 Festival**, the camp feels alive with the spirit of those who settled this land. We aren't just reenacting the past; we’re honoring the real people—the veterans and their families—who built a life in the Ohio wilderness long ago.
As the fire burns down, you realize that while the centuries have passed, the simple necessity of warmth, family, and a place to call home remains unchanged.
** **

04/17/2026

The tents go up Friday morning. 🇺🇸

At 4:00 PM Friday we officially kick off Veterans of 1776 in Washington Court House, Ohio.

Reenactors are arriving, camp will be set up, and the Revolutionary era will come to life right here in Fayette County.

April 17–19 | Gardner Athletic Field

The countdown is almost over.Tomorrow at 4:00 PM we officially kick off Veterans of 1776 here in Washington Court House,...
04/17/2026

The countdown is almost over.

Tomorrow at 4:00 PM we officially kick off Veterans of 1776 here in Washington Court House, Ohio.

You’ll start seeing tents going up on the field tomorrow as our reenactors arrive and set up camp for the weekend. These historians and craftsmen will be bringing the Revolutionary era to life right here in our community.

Come walk through camp, ask questions, meet the reenactors, and experience a small piece of the world that helped shape our country.

April 17–19
Gardner Athletic Field
Washington Court House, Ohio

See you there.

04/15/2026

If you’ve ever driven into Washington Court House, you’ve probably passed one of these signs.

They mark something pretty incredible — this town was settled by veterans of the American Revolution, given land here for their service.

This weekend we’re bringing that history back to life.

Veterans of ’76 Festival
April 17–19
Washington Court House, Ohio

Come experience the history.

Address

Washington Court
Washington Court House, OH
43160

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