The Beaver Area Heritage Museum is once again ranked in the Top 25 museums in southwestern Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

2026 EXHIBIT

Fort McIntosh: Its People and Archaeology

This season, the Beaver Area Heritage Museum invites you to experience the historic Fort McIntosh in a new way — through a deeper dive into the fascinating people who shaped it and the manmade artifacts they left behind. Located one mile (3-minute drive) from the original site of the Revolutionary War fort, this exhibit brings history closer, offering a greater understanding of the lives, decisions and moments that unfolded here during the Revolution and the earliest years of our new nation.

Front and center to this story, of national interest, is that from December 1784 to November 1785, the troops at the fort comprised, except for two small detachments at Fort Pitt and West Point, the entire army of the United States. As such it was the birthplace of the first standing U.S. Army in peacetime. Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar, the commanding officer at that time, proclaimed this new regiment as the “First American Regiment” — “The Old Guard” — today’s Presidential Honor Guard.

Discover the People

At the heart of the exhibit are the human stories, told on our interactive touch-screen device.

From well-known figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson — and Delaware Lënape leaders Captain Pipe and White Eyes — and other soldiers, settlers, and Native Americans connected to Fort McIntosh, this exhibit explores 19 individuals whose lives are lesser known but whose experiences, personalities and clashes influenced what its legacy would become.

Their stories offer a more personal lens into the past, revealing the complexity and collaboration that defined life on the American frontier.

Explore our interactive touchscreen

Explore the Archaeological Artifacts

Complementing these stories are authentic artifacts recovered from the Fort McIntosh site — many of which have never been seen before and are being displayed publicly for the first time.

Through the work of Michael Baker International’s archeologists and cultural resource specialists, these objects have been carefully organized and studied, helping to bring new understanding to the site’s history through everyday objects used by soldiers.

Items such as buttons, tools, musican instruments, tableware and and fragments of military equipment provide a tangible connection to the men who lived and worked here. Stored away for decades since the archaeological digs of 1974-1975, these objects have now been brought into view to help tell a richer, more complete story.

Their work also opens the door for future learning — creating opportunities for students and scholars while inspiring curiosity and a sense of wonder for visitors of all ages.

Some newly identified military artifacts

Unearth the Experience

As part of the Museum’s growing focus on education and engagement, youngsters are invited to take part in a hands-on archaeology experience.

At the interactive dig table, children can uncover artifacts using proper techniques, learning how discoveries are made while enjoying the thrill of finding something for themselves. Each young explorer can even take home their discoveries — creating a lasting connection to the experience.

This interactive element makes the exhibit especially engaging for families, offering something meaningful for visitors of all ages.

Birthplace of the First Standing U.S. Army in Peacetime

Constructed in 1778, Fort McIntosh was the first fort built by the Continental Army north of the Ohio River (the boundary with Native American Indian nations), as a direct challenge to the British stronghold at Detroit.

It was the headquarters of the largest army to serve west of the Allegheny Mountains.

The fort was the site of the 1785 of the Treaty of Fort McIntosh involving chiefs of the Delaware, Wyandot, Ottawa and Chippewa nations, and U.S. treaty commissioners George Rogers Clark, Richard Butler and Arthur Lee. As a direct result, the way was cleared for Congress to enact the Land Ordinance of 1785. This became the pattern for ultimately opening Ohio and all the western territories to boundary surveys and orderly settlement, and marked the real beginning of the westward migration that continued for the next 100 years.

From December of 1784 to November 1785, the troops which garrisoned Fort McIntosh instituted, except for two small detachments of a total of 80 men at Fort Pitt and West Point, the entire army of the United States. This has been deeply researched and published by the late Frank Carver in the book It Happened Right Here. As such it was the birthplace of the first standing U.S. Army in peacetime.

Colonel Josiah Harmar, the commanding officer at Fort McIntosh in 1784-1785, proclaimed this newly formed regiment as the “First American Regiment” — The Old Guard — today’s Presidential Honor Guard.

A Two-Part Journey Through History
A visit to the Museum pairs naturally with a walk to the nearby Fort McIntosh site, where imagination can take over. Together, these experiences create a fuller picture — one that connects place, people, and discovery in a way that brings the story of Fort McIntosh to life.

Plan Your Visit
Saturdays, 10 AM – 4 PM
First Sundays of Each Month – 1 PM – 4 PM
Location: Beaver Area Heritage Museum, 1 River Road, Beaver, PA

We are grateful to Bags & Blessings, the Rotary Club of Beaver, the Fort McIntosh Club, Tusca Ridge Garden Club, and others whose volunteer greeters help make these extended hours possible and warmly welcome visitors throughout the season.

Special Programs and Events
The story of Fort McIntosh continues beyond the exhibit. Join us throughout the season for special programs and events that bring this history to life:

April 30 – Beaver County’s Place in the Nation’s 250th Anniversary
Beaver County Chamber of Commerce speaker’s series featuring Andrew E. Masich, PhD, President & CEO, Senator John Heinz History Center
Learn more →

May 16 — Remake Learning Days
A hands-on day of discovery as part of this regional celebration of learning.
Learn more →

August 15–16 — The First Regiment Comes Home
A special event featuring the United States Army Old Guard, honoring the legacy of the nation’s first regiment and its connection to Fort McIntosh.

September 19-20 — Fort McIntosh Weekend
A weekend dedicated to exploring the history, people, and legacy of the fort through expanded programming and activities.