Leading the Charge on Learning

STORY BY Kimberly Burger Capozzi

PHOTOS COURTESY Fort Ligonier

Fort Ligonier has long been a favorite for school field trips, drawing busloads of children from around Western Pennsylvania to the site of the restored 18th-century fort and accompanying museum. But while students of the past would file past scenes of mannequins dressed in period garb, today’s visitors are invited to immerse themselves with handson experiences at the historical site.

A field trip might involve a cannon firing demonstration to introduce the science of artillery, or students building their own fortifications based on methods used in the fort. Children can attend summer camps where they play colonial games and complete crafts. And all visitors can walk fully into the log buildings, sit on the troops’ bunks, and handle replica quill pens, pipes, and tin cups.

An engaging, interactive learning experience is the vision of Mary Manges, who was named director of Fort Ligonier in 2020. She served as director of education for nine years before being named director. Her first career was 18 years as a classroom teacher, with special interests in history and literacy. She had recently completed her school administrator certification when the position at the museum opened.

“Our mission is very education-driven. When I was hired, we just really started to explode our programming and focus on building the education programs and providing experiences for all of our audiences— specifically students, but adults as well,” Manges says. “We created unique programs and included a lot of experiential learning opportunities. We were constantly looking for out-of-the box ideas to make our history come to life.”

When Manges started in 2011, the fort hosted about 3,000 students each year, mostly through field trips. In 2019, the number had grown to nearly 7,000 children, including field trips, summer camps, homeschoolers, and Scout troops. During that time, Manges built a staff who shared her love of learning and an educational philosophy that students learn best when they are having fun and trying things for themselves.

“My experience as a classroom teacher helped me know what teachers and schools needed, what teachers needed in a field trip, and what they are looking for to come to Fort Ligonier,” she says.

Fort Ligonier was a British outpost during the French and Indian War, a conflict between Britain and France (and France’s Native American allies), as each sought to expand its colonies in the New World. The fort was instrumental in the building of Forbes Road that allowed the taking of Fort Duquesne from the French in November 1758, now known as Pittsburgh. In addition to military troops, it attracted Native Americans and tradesmen and women who supported the fort. As a window into world events and lifestyles of the past, it offers opportunities to explore many disciplines.

“History didn’t build the fort; science, math, and technology of the 18th century built Fort Ligonier,” Manges says. “We want to help the kids understand that history doesn’t happen in isolation. Science informs history, math creates history, engineering, art—all of these things play a role in what we teach and what happens here.”

Teachers planning a field trip can select from activities encompassing science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math—subjects known collectively as STEAM. Students might learn about the technology of muskets, create Native American crafts, or examine the evidence around a friendly fire incident. A class can march in a military drill, try a scavenger hunt, or work in a mock archaeology dig. The museum also partners with schools on ongoing projects: One teacher brought a seventh-grade algebra class on several visits to measure buildings and apply algebraic principles to ultimately create a scale model of the fort out of wooden craft sticks and clay.

To support teachers in bringing lessons from the fort to classroom, the Fort Ligonier Center for History Education hosts professional development events. Over the pandemic, the museum also began working with out-of-state educators to provide virtual live tours and pre-recorded videos. That might include a tour with a presenter acting the part of a young George Washington. The learning continues during summer breaks with week-long day camps and a program on Wednesdays called Cannonball Club. Again, the goal is to explore history and other disciplines through fun activities and first-hand experiences.

Visitors of all ages can enjoy walking into the imagined quarters of General John Forbes, who was ill and requested his own “hutt” at Fort Ligonier, where he spent his last Christmas alive, and compare that to the more cramped and rudimentary enlisted men’s quarters. That’s thanks to the removal of gates that once separated visitors from recreated scenes. The gates and aging mannequins were retired gradually, starting in 2012.

Manges lives in Ligonier with her husband, Jerry; the couple have three children. Manges grew up outside Jennerstown, and while her family frequently passed the fort, she never visited as a child. While teaching fifth grade, she decided to learn more about a historical marker indicating the school was on the site of a French and Indian War encampment. This led her to bring her own family to visit and sparked a new interest in regional history.

Being named director at the start of a global pandemic was “daunting and overwhelming,” Manges says. But temporary closure of the museum and limits on some in-person programming forced the staff to consider other ways to reach learners—which included new opportunities for virtual education. Manges says she’s committed to continue the expansion of the virtual reach. Modernizing and digitizing aspects of the collection will help support the endeavor. A leadership program is also in development for youth and adults.

“This was the training ground for many of the future leaders of our nation, especially for a young George Washington, who learned many hard lessons and made a lot of mistakes during the French and Indian War,” Manges says. “Good leaders are made, not born, and we see that in various people who were here in the 18th century.”

–MARY MANGES

A typical day for a museum director includes emails and plenty of meetings to oversee management, development, and fundraising, as well as working closely with her staff and board members. But Manges enjoys giving tours when she can. An avid reader, she calls the museum gallery a “giant nonfiction book.” Her favorite exhibit, “Remarks,” features handwritten notes George Washington sent to his biographer 30 years after his time at Fort Ligonier.

“It’s very fluid, just him pouring out his thoughts on paper. He makes profound statements about his experiences at Fort Ligonier,” Manges says. This includes the tale of the friendly fire incident and the danger Washington felt for his life. “After all the other brushes of death he had in his life, he remembered Fort Ligonier as the moment when his life was most in jeopardy.”

Interested in bringing your class or youth organization to Fort Ligonier? Contact the Education Department at 724-238-9701 or mgault@fortligonier.org. Programs are available for pre-K through high school classes, with opportunities designed also for homeschoolers and Scouts. Schools can arrange for a presenter to bring programs to school buildings, or work with the museum to access resources virtually. Learn more about the fort’s educational programs at www.FortLigonier.org/education.

For information and to register for Fort Kids Camp and Cannonball Club, call 724-238- 9701 or visit www.FortLigonier.org/raise-theflag-on-fun. The fort can also be a unique place to host a birthday party, or organized groups can book a unique sleepover event or “escape room” experience designed around fort history. Some programs may be limited due to pandemic health concerns; contact Fort Ligonier for up-to-date information and availability.

Fort Ligonier

200 S. Market St. | Ligonier, PA 15658

724-238-9701

Email: office@FortLigonier.org

www.FortLigonier.org

Summer Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week April through November

Winter Hours Closed Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday–Sunday December through March