Located on a bluff 200 feet above the confluence of the Red and Cumberland Rivers in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Fort Defiance site has been a hub of activity for more than two centuries. Originally inhabited by American Indians, white settlers began arriving in the late 18th Century. The area became a trading center and settlement. During the Civil War, the hilltop was chosen by Confederate troops as a site to construct a fort to defend the river approach to Clarksville. In February 1862, the fort was captured by Union forces, renamed and occupied for the remainder of the war. The site was a magnet for runaway and freed slaves, and many were employed in and around the fort. A visitor today will find Fort Defiance remarkably well preserved; the outer earthworks, powder magazine and gun platforms are still discernible.
Spring/Summer Operating Hours:
Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Fall/Winter Operating Hours:
Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 1-4 p.m.
For the most up-to-date hours and information, please contact Fort Defiance Interpretive Center directly.