Long before the Mothman, long before the collapse of the Silver Bridge, there was no Point Pleasant, just open land as far as the eye could see. But the land was soured by war and conquest, and The Revolutionary War left its mark everywhere, like stains on the skin of America. At the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, there was a revolutionary fort that marked the beginnings of Point Pleasant, and a curse that was said to plague the region for two centuries.

Flickr/billyliar In 1774, the Americans were heavily engaged in the conquest of the Virginia territory, but the native tribes in the region had called the area home for generations. To fight against the soldiers infringing on their territory, seven tribes joined together to drive them back. Their leader was Shawnee Chief Keigh-tugh-qua, whom the Virginians called Cornstalk.

WikiMedia/John Frost On October 10, General Andrew Lewis set off from his fort at Camp Point Pleasant and met the native tribes at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. The battle that followed, known as the Battle of Point Pleasant, left the tribes beaten and the Virginians victorious. General Lewis moved on to command other battles, and in his place a new fort was constructed, to hold the land and fend off possible retaliation by the defeated tribes.

Wikipedia/Kevin Meyers Rather than retaliate, Cornstalk had a different idea. In 1777, in an effort to cool tensions between the Americans and the British (who were tempting some of the other native leaders to join them), he decided to travel to the fort and ask for an audience with Commander Arbuckle, the leader of the garrison.

Facebook/ Fort Randolph Re-enactors and Friends Instead, Arbuckle took Cornstalk and the two other men that accompanied him into custody. A short time later, Cornstalk’s son came to the fort in search of his father, and was also taken into custody. Although it is said that the prisoners were taught very well, they would never leave that fort alive. Instead, in a fit of rage over the murder of two soldiers by native warriors, a group of soldiers burst into the Shawnee’s quarters and gunned down the prisoners. The legends say that as Cornstalk lie dying, the body of his slain son next to him, he called upon the Great Spirit to curse the region for 200 years.

Flickr/billyliar Since then, many tragedies have occurred in the area, including plane crashes, fires, toxic spills, weird weather phenomena and the collapse of the Silver Bridge.

Facebook/ Fort Randolph Re-enactors and Friends Although the original fort no longer exists, a replica sits on a nearby location at Krodel Park and Lake, just a few miles east of Point Pleasant. Every May, reenactors come together for the Siege of Fort Randolph event, and in the fall is the Battle Days event which takes place at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park in Point Pleasant. Additionally, the park itself offers RV camping, fishing and a playground.

Krodel Park and Lake is located at 1186 Charleston Road in Point Pleasant. To learn more about the fort and watch a video about its yearly events, be sure to visit the Fort Randolph website here.

Flickr/billyliar

In 1774, the Americans were heavily engaged in the conquest of the Virginia territory, but the native tribes in the region had called the area home for generations. To fight against the soldiers infringing on their territory, seven tribes joined together to drive them back. Their leader was Shawnee Chief Keigh-tugh-qua, whom the Virginians called Cornstalk.

WikiMedia/John Frost

On October 10, General Andrew Lewis set off from his fort at Camp Point Pleasant and met the native tribes at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. The battle that followed, known as the Battle of Point Pleasant, left the tribes beaten and the Virginians victorious. General Lewis moved on to command other battles, and in his place a new fort was constructed, to hold the land and fend off possible retaliation by the defeated tribes.

Wikipedia/Kevin Meyers

Rather than retaliate, Cornstalk had a different idea. In 1777, in an effort to cool tensions between the Americans and the British (who were tempting some of the other native leaders to join them), he decided to travel to the fort and ask for an audience with Commander Arbuckle, the leader of the garrison.

Facebook/ Fort Randolph Re-enactors and Friends

Instead, Arbuckle took Cornstalk and the two other men that accompanied him into custody. A short time later, Cornstalk’s son came to the fort in search of his father, and was also taken into custody. Although it is said that the prisoners were taught very well, they would never leave that fort alive. Instead, in a fit of rage over the murder of two soldiers by native warriors, a group of soldiers burst into the Shawnee’s quarters and gunned down the prisoners. The legends say that as Cornstalk lie dying, the body of his slain son next to him, he called upon the Great Spirit to curse the region for 200 years.

Since then, many tragedies have occurred in the area, including plane crashes, fires, toxic spills, weird weather phenomena and the collapse of the Silver Bridge.

Although the original fort no longer exists, a replica sits on a nearby location at Krodel Park and Lake, just a few miles east of Point Pleasant. Every May, reenactors come together for the Siege of Fort Randolph event, and in the fall is the Battle Days event which takes place at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park in Point Pleasant. Additionally, the park itself offers RV camping, fishing and a playground.

Have you ever been to an event at the fort? Feel free to tell us what you thought by adding a comment below.

To learn more about West Virginia, check out these 15 things you didn’t know about West Virginia history.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.