‘Voices of Fallen Timbers’ tour offers journey into local history

        Our area has many extraordinary features – the lake, fishing, birding, natural areas. We’re loaded.
        But we do seem to be a tad short on scenic overlooks. They’re hard to come by in our flatlands.
        The best one may just be in Side Cut Metropark overlooking the Maumee River and its floodplain. It’s a beautiful natural scene, well worth the visit. At the overlook you’ll find a majestic monument to the Battle of Fallen Timbers, considered by historians to be one of the most significant battles in our nation’s history.
        Even if you’ve heard of the battle it’s a good bet you don’t know the details or, perhaps, why the outcome was so important.
        First and foremost, forget the idea that the battle happened in that great expanse of floodplain beneath the overlook. It didn’t. Turn around and look across US24 to the woodland and former cropland. That’s where the bulk of the quickly moving battle occurred.
        That battlefield now is protected by Metroparks Toledo with additional protection through its lofty status as an affiliate of the National Park Service.
        “On Aug. 20, 1794, the Fallen Timbers Battlefield was the scene of a pivotal conflict that shaped the course of American history,” said Tedd Long, chief storyteller for Toledo History Tours. At that battle General “Mad Anthony” Wayne led a coalition of 2,000 federal troops and 1,500 Kentucky Militia in two hours of skirmishes against a confederacy of about 1,100 Native Americans, supported by Canadian allies.
        Wayne was victorious, which led to the signing of the Treaty of Greenville and opening of the Northwest Territories for settlement under the American flag and Ohio was able to moved forward into statehood. The Native Americans lost control of their homeland and British influence was nullified.
        As important as that battle was, the actual site of the battlefield wasn’t known for certain until 1995 when Dr. G. Michael Pratt, having studied the journals of the era and conducted decades of extensive archaeological research in our area, worked with Metroparks Toledo to positively identify the true location of the main part of the battlefield.            That’s just the quick overview of the battle and the story behind the battle, and the story behind finding the real location of the battlefield is fascinating.
        A 1.5-mile loop trail dubbed the Northwest Territory Trail is a very nice and very popular walk through a woods and ravine where a major portion of the battle occurred. There are a number of interpretive signs provided along the path to help envision what happened and the impact on our nation’s history.
        But you leave wanting to know more. That’s where Toledo History Tours has stepped in with a new self-guided GPS audio tour that can be downloaded from an app. The tour has received high praise.
        “The ‘Voices of Fallen Timbers’ Tour is an immersive journey into the heart of American history,” said Long, who produced and narrated the tape.
        “Each time I visit the battlefield, I‘m deeply moved by the stories of courage, conflict and transformation that unfolded here. Our goal is to share these powerful narratives with the world, making history accessible and engaging for all.”
        The tour, which includes extensive interviews with Dr. Pratt and other notable experts, is available for download on Voice Map.
        For more information about the “Voices of Fallen Timbers” tour and other Holy Toledo History Tours, visit holytoledohistory.com or contact Long at tlong@holytoledohistory.com.