“This is where it all started,” Bedford resident Daniel Vital said. “This is the struggle right here.”

Vital is a history buff. He’s in the Bedford Fort Museum. It was created in 1958 to commemorate the 200 year history of the fort, which was built during the French and Indian War.

“The only way it got to be like this was with people taking a chance and dying over it,” Vital said.

The jem of their collections is the only remaining French and Indian War flag in existence.

“It was the flag that did not fly over the fort, it’s not a battle flag, it did not fly outside. it was hanging in the commandants house,” Museum Executive Director Jennifer Ford said.

Unfortunately, there are so very artifacts of that time period.

“What the museum did have the most of was late 19th century 20th artifacts because as people’s grandparents and great grandparents died,” Ford said. “They brought their objects down to the museum which took them.”

The exhibits show how Bedford County was made and developed. George Washington was famous for visiting Bedford, and stayed there during the Whiskey Rebellion.

Washington wanted the main roads developed further to the south because he had property there. Washington lost.

“He did, and if he didn’t we probably wouldn’t be standing here,” she said. 

The road eventually became Pitt Street and Route 30. It’s known today as The Lincoln Highway.

Supporters say there are hundreds of amazing characters that built the foundation of this community and you can find many of them at the Fort Bedford Museum.

A birthday party is planned for September 1 at noon for the museum and fort. It matches up with the rescheduled 4th of July Fireworks that night.