The Flash-in-the-Pan Fort of Steubenville

Nestled at 4061 3rd St, Steubenville, Ohio, Fort Steuben made its appearance in February of 1787. Major John Hamtramck, a quick-thinking chap, built it to safeguard the pioneering surveyors in the Northwest Territory. The fort bore the name of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a fellow of distinguished reputation. Despite being an immediate crowd-puller, it was abandoned May 23, 1788, never to be rebuilt. The fort was temporarily pitched, but it soon became a haven for all sorts - Captain Hamtramck's troops, curious surveyors, daring explorers, and a sly squatter who slipped in disguised as a surveyor. The fort served as a protective nest, but it was also a playground for intrigue and excitement. Sadly, it was reduced to ashes in 1790 and never restored. Nowadays, a replica graces the site, offering visitors a glimpse into Steubenville's storied past.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons