PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Fort Meigs opened to visitors on Friday, as it does every year on April 1. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, organizers expect bigger crowds over the coming months. "We do ...

Fort Meigs visitors will experience a recreation of the original 1813 Independence Day celebration as they watch soldiers fire the cannons, toast to the nations and listen to war music.

Two battles at Fort Meigs in the War of 1812 helped preserve Ohio and the Midwest as part of the United States. The first battle will be re-created there next month.

Life in Early Ohio at Fort Meigs in Perrysburg on Saturday, kicked off a two-day event that features historical actors giving demonstrations of life around the time of the War of 1812.

Harrison saw the fort not only as protection, but as a staging area for a future invasion of Canada. Construction began Feb. 2, 1813 on Fort Meigs, named in honor of then-Ohio Gov. Return J. Meigs.