Cleo Redd Fisher Museum to host program on War of 1812

The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum will host “Why the West Went to War in 1812” at 7 p.m. April 20 inside the museum at 203 E. Main St. in Loudonville.

The program will be presented by Brandon C. Downing, assistant professor of history at Marietta College. Downing teaches courses in early American history including Native and Colonial America, the American Revolutionary War, and public history. His research focuses on Native-White interactions in the Ohio Valley and the War of 1812.

This presentation explores the connection between western states and territories and the War of 1812, focusing on the culture and experiences of settlers living beyond the Appalachian Mountains. By examining backcountry life and early petitions from Kentucky’s formative years, Downing will highlight how settlers understood land ownership, governance and their place in the developing Northwest Territory. He also will address how ongoing and often violent encounters in the Ohio Valley shaped attitudes toward Great Britain and Native nations, ultimately contributing to strong support for war among western communities.

This presentation ties into last month’s topic, where curator Kenny Libben explored the impact of the war in Central Ohio with the destruction of the Greentown Indian village, the massacre of the Zimmer family and the skirmish at Copus Hill.

This event is free to attend. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information on the event, visit www.crfmuseum.com or call 419-994-4050.