Early in the French and Indian War (1754 – 1763), the British built this wooden blockhouse to defend against the French. The oldest surviving wooden fort in the United States still flies the Flag of British America. Fort Western also served as a trading post. The most famous residents were Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr in 1775. Five years later, Arnold defected his post as a U.S. general during the Revolutionary War to become a British general and traitor. Burr went on to become the 3rd Vice President of the United States.
