Thank You for Visiting Fort Halifax Park Online!

This website will provide you an historical overview of the frontier fort Fort Halifax, the 1800's farmstead, the nature park, as well as information about current and upcoming activities. Additionally, there is information about the Non-Profit Organization, The Friends of Fort Halifax Park, that serves as the support group for Halifax Township assisting with maintenance, development, management, and the educational, historical, and nature programing of Fort Halifax Park.

​Discover Fort Halifax

Fort Halifax was built in 1756 with the purpose of providing safe shelter for pack trains passing from Fort Hunter (Harrisburg) to Fort Augusta (Sunbury.)  Due to the French and Indian War, settlers in the area regularly encountered deadly conflicts with Native Americans. Fort Halifax was built as a solution to the problem.
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​Meetings, Events, and News

Friends of Fort Halifax Park Inc. - Board Meetings

FoFHP wishes to thank those who attended the November elections meeting and would like to welcome newest board members Stephanie Hoover and Scott Theurer.  Thanks to previous board members Keith Keen and Frank Wilmarth for their dedication to Fort Halifax Park and their work as FoFHP board members.  
Remaining 2021 meeting date is:​​​​

• December 9, 2021 - HAHS* Building/Meeting Room
• 2022 Dates:
• January 13
• February 10
• March 10
• April 14
• May 12
• June 9

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*Board Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of every month at 6:00pm.  Meetings may be held at:

• the Halifax Area Historical Society Building at 3rd and Market St.,
• Fort Halifax Park,
• or via phone conference (COVID-19 procedure). 

​​All members, and those interested, are welcome to attend!  We have an "After Meeting Social" with light refreshments.  Current COVID-19 guidelines are followed, if necessary.  We would like to say thanks to everyone for their support.

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Events

Due to Covid-19 uncertainties FoFHP will make decisions regarding events, programs, and fundraisers as soon as possible to keep you informed.  Please check back here often!

Current Schedule of Events: ​​​​

• December 4, 2021 - FoFHP will participate in the Halifax Area Historical Society Belsnickel Parade - 12:00 noon
• February 19, 2022 - Annual Fort Halifax Banquet - The banquet will be back in 2022!  It will be held at the Halifax Area Ambulance and Rescue Association, 31 Bunker Hill Rd, Halifax, PA 17032 - More information coming soon.
• May 7, 2022 - Colonial Fort Halifax Festival - This enjoyable historical and educational event will be back!  For information regarding prior events visit our Events page.  If you would like to be a sponsor, vendor, exhibitor, or are a living historian feel free to contact us at friendsofforthalifax@gmail.com or 223.237.0988
• June 18, 2022 - 2nd Annual Butterflies, Birds, Bees, and Blooms (4B's) Event - Take a look at last year's event and watch for more information coming soon...

View Past Events:

• Festivals
• Fireworks

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Current and Important News

"Find Fort Halifax" became "Found Fort Halifax!​"
Friends of Fort Halifax Park, Inc. (FoFHP) was awarded three grants toward the funding for the Juniata College Cultural Resources Institute "2021 Fort Halifax Rediscovery Project" field school.  FoFHP, Inc. would like to to thank the three organizations listed below, Dr. Jonathan Burns, Joe Baker, Kris, Amanda, Kate, the field school students; Sonja, Thomas, Isiah, Joe, Rolland, Maria, Madelyn, Chase, Buu, Dion, Sarah P., Sarah, S., Chloe, Connor, Nick, the multitude of community members (food, dig, raffle, chicken bbq, and general help volunteers), the Upper Dauphin Sentinel, Marcus Schneck of PennLive/Patriot News, ABC27, and Fox 43 for their press coverage, our members, and everyone for their support of this important historical endeavor that led to the "rediscovery" of Fort Halifax!  Read all about it here!

• The National Trust for Historic Preservation — Louis J. Appel Jr. Preservation Fund - $10,000.00 grant
• The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission Keystone Historic Preservation - $17,746.00 grant
• The Stabler Foundation, a local charitable foundation providing grants to Non-Profit organizations and institutions located or providing their primary services in central and/or eastern Pennsylvania - $3,500.00 grant​
• Flyrod Raffle -  Congratulations to MURRAY SMALL of Boiling Springs who won the beautifully hand-crafted flyrod!  State Representative Sue Helm drew the winning ticket on Saturday, May 1 at Fort Halifax Park.  Many thanks to everyone for supporting this raffle, to Joe Baker, and Representative Sue Helm.

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Friends of Fort Halifax Park, Inc. is also thrilled to announce the following:

• Fort Halifax Park chosen as Preservation Pennsylvania - PA at Risk site!  Read more here!
• ​National Register of Historic Places -  FoFHP received official notification in December 2020 that the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has designated Fort Halifax Park and Farmstead eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.  This designation will assist the "Friends" in the process of qualifying for additional grants for the stabilization, restoration, and preservation of the 1800's Schweitzer Bank Barn, companion Farmhouse, and all outbuildings.  The Sycamore Allee, part of Route 147 that bisects Fort Halifax is already on the National Register. ​

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