The Beginning of the Fort

Harrodstown was established in 1774, on the south side of Town Creek.  The first structures were simple log cabins close to the Big Spring.  A wagon path was cleared following the course of the Town Creek, which originated at the Big Spring, and ran through town past the site where the first fort was built in 1775.

James Harrod and his men arrived here in 1772 and laid out a town site of simple log cabins alongside the creek.  The cabins were abandoned briefly because of fear of Indian attacks, but were re-occupied in 1775.  Fort Harrod was built further to the west and the pioneers moved there when it was finished.

Fort Harrod was originally built on Old Fort Hill.  When it was decided to build a new replica of the fort, they moved it several hundred feet from its original location.  The area with the original fort has since been used for a fort parking lot.