Fort Miami (Ohio)

Fort Miami was a fort built on the Maumee River at the eastern edge of the present-day city of Maumee, Ohio, and southwest of the present-day city of Toledo, Ohio. It was built by the British on territory disputed between Britain and the USA; according to the U.S. interpretation of the terms of the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolutionary War this was definitely U.S. territory, so building the fort was a breach of the treaty, but according to the British interpretation the relevant terms and concession of territory had no force unless and until the USA complied with the terms relating, e.g., to compensating Loyalists for their loss of property and permitting their return unmolested, etc. (These and related disputes were superseded by the fully implemented terms of later treaties.)

The fort played a minor role in British support for Native American hostilities against the U.S. In August 1794, Anthony Wayne defeated the Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers within sight of Fort Miami. Under the terms of Jay's Treaty, the British evacuated frontier posts within U.S. territory.

The British again occupied the site during the War of 1812, which at the time was opposite the American Fort Meigs.

The fort structure no longer stands, and the site reverted to agricultural and, later, public park use, as having been abandoned twice by the British due to poor strategic location, it is of minimal historical value. Now it is a very popular sledding location for children in the winter months.

In 1975, the site of the fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at 41°34′21″N 83°37′34″W / 41.5725°N 83.62611°W / 41.5725; -83.62611; a state memorial has been created at the site. Ft. Miami Elementary School of the Maumee Public School System is two blocks away and named after the fort.