Winchester's Fort Loudoun - French & Indian War Foundation Friends

07/03/2026

The extreme heat is making outside work at the fort site a no go.

07/03/2026

The FIWF is looking for volunteers that can assist the foundation with various tasks, such as helping out on a committee. If you are interested in history and have some extra time, please contact Donna Leight, our president who would love to help find a way you could assist us in our mission. Our mission is: to Preserve & Interpret the Colonial History of the Virginia Frontier. We have committees covering topics such as Development & Fund Raising / Grant Writing, House & Grounds, Membership, Education & Outreach, Site Planning, Some of our meetings are held virtually to save members from having to drive to the site. Thanks so much for considering spending some of your valuable time helping us better serve the public.

07/01/2026

The Francois-Louis Picoté de Belestre Story - French & Indian War Foundation (FIWF) members Dr. Carl Ekberg and Donna Leight share a story about Wi******er’s Fort Loudoun in 1757, at the height of tension and conflict on Virginia’s frontier. Learn about the capture, interrogation, and life of French Ensign Francois-Louis Picoté de Belestre.
Filmed and Edited by Ashby Wratchford, FIWF Member
Produced by Paladin Media Group
This film was made for the French & Indian War Foundation. Join them in their mission to preserve and interpret the Colonial History of the Virginia Frontier. Join, volunteer, contribute! Visit FIWF.ORG and FIWF Friends page to learn more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHF200DkDMk

French & Indian War Foundation (FIWF) members Dr. Carl Ekberg and D...

06/30/2026

Hot day at the dig today. Wrapping up this trench soon. A few finds for the FIWF growing collection. A youth group stopped by this morning and our president Donna Leight gave them a nice tour. The kids stopped by my sifting station n trench to look at some artis. They were very well behaved and had several good questions about things. Another man stopped by and got a tour from Donna. I apologize as I am bad with names, but he was very receptive to the knowledge we were passing on. By afternoon I had experienced enough of the heat and started the lengthy teardown cover up process. Sitting here now I feel sorta like a baked potato.

06/29/2026

https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/gpr-scans-to-be-performed-at-site-of-fort-loudoun/article_1c8a48c4-a3bf-572b-90de-3cf38f194f80.html

WI******ER — One of the most historically significant structures ever built in Wi******er has been gone for nearly three centuries, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have secrets left to

06/28/2026

Had 5 folks stop by for an info chat as I was unloading this am. Time to find.

06/27/2026

06/25/2026

First time finding one of these.

06/24/2026

Putting the fort dig to bed 4 the night as the sun starts to set. Several sets of folks stopped by today and I enjoyed chatting with them abt the fort