Fort Frederick State Park — Attraction in Hancock

First stop was the Visitor Center where you can pay for your parking ticket ($3 for MD and $5 for out-of-state). Check out some of the items they have there for sale and also the small museum. If you collect passport stamps,this is where you ask for them. To get to the Fort, you can take a walk or drive over.

There is the Captain Wort’s Store which has a great variety of souvenirs and food. You want to go here before and after your visit. Behind the to the right is the Blacksmiths shop. The bathroom and showers are to the left. They have these for the campers after swimming.

Fort Frederick is across the street and still going strong since 1756. Take the path to the right as it will circle around to the entrance.walking inside brings you to the 2 buildings on each side. The center building is not there but there is an outline. If you get there around 10:00 am, you will see the flag raising up the pole. Make sure to say “God save the Queen”. The flag is supposed to be the only version of this flag ever flown and unique to the fort.

The 2 buildings are a beautifully set up diorama of how the soldiers/occupants lived when it was active. What surprised me was that both floors were open and how detailed it was. They really explained who lived in the rooms with such detail.

When coming out of the Fort you will see the CCC Museum across the way. CCC stands for Civilian Conservation Corps. It was created under the New Deal program during the Depression. They were unemployed young men that helped with improving the parks. These men lived like soldiers and were paid a stipend of $30 a month.

It is a great day trip for a family to learn about our country's...

We visited Fort Frederick on a beautiful weekday while biking on the C&O canal. Because of this we skipped the visitors center so I cannot comment on that. Pro tip: If you bike in there is no fee! Otherwise it's $3 per car.

I must say Fort Frederick state park is very well taken care of, so kudos to the state park officials. We didn't see trash anywhere, the landscaping was well maintained, the building's are immaculately restored, clean, hell you could eat off the the (on-site) bathroom floors! There are some picnic tables for eating, picnics are allowed with trash cans and recycling containers available. The bathrooms even have showers outside for use (see picture).

We came mid-week and on weekdays the park is open from 8am to sunset. On weekends there is a ranger onsite for tours and other activities. The building's are turned into museums with props and litature but are closed during the week. I even read there are musket firing demonstrations and other events here. Otherwise this is a great place to visit alone or with the family. Additionally, there are a few on-site trails, a boat launch...

We had an amazing visit to Fort Frederick State Park—this place is packed with history and charm. The star attraction is the massive stone fort, originally built in the 1750s during the French and Indian War. Walking through the reconstructed barracks and along the thick walls really brings the past to life. If you're lucky, you'll catch living history interpreters in uniform, adding even more depth to the experience.

We also really enjoyed the small CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) museum located near the fort. It’s a quiet but meaningful tribute to the young men who helped build and shape so many of our parks during the Great Depression. Definitely worth stopping in if you appreciate conservation history or vintage park culture.

The park itself is peaceful and scenic, with picnic areas, shady trails, and river access if you want to kayak or fish. Whether you’re a history buff or just enjoy exploring unique places, Fort Frederick makes for a great stop with something for everyone. We left feeling inspired and grateful to have places like this preserved...