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Altitude: m. ASL.
Region:
United States > Virginia
Cache type: Virtual
Size: No container
Status:
Archived
Date hidden: 2012-02-12
Date created: 2012-02-12
Date published: 2012-02-12
Last modification: 2016-04-06 
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Description
EN
During the 1700's the Virginia frontier was still "Indian Country" and life was perilous for the few Whites that settled here. To protect themselves during Indian attacks, frontiersmen often built specially designed fortications known as Blockhouses. The Blockhouse here at Natural Tunnel State Park is a recreation of the one built by John Anderson near the Moccasin Gap. It was a starting point on the road through the wilderness of Kentucky, and the station where travelers used to wait until parties collected large enough to defend themselves against Indians on the journey.
While all Blockhouses were not identical, most were designed with features that made them easier to defend than a standard cabin. Bullets often penetrated the chinked spaces between logs in a cabin, so the logs of a Blockhouse were squared up tightly and fit together without chinking. Windows were replaced with small rectangular openings called firing ports, which enabled those inside to shoot out at attackers from any direction. The second story of a Blockhouse usually extended beyond the first floor walls and had firing ports cut into the second story floor. This allowed those upstairs to fire down on anyone that managed to get close to the walls below. The fireplace and chimney of a Blockhouse were built on the inside. This prevented the attackers from tearing the chimney down and enrering the building through the fireplace. On the East wall are wrought iron hangers that were used to hang meat or other items out of reach of varmits as a means of storage.
Password is number of firing ports in the Blockhouse.
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