Independence Dam State Park
| Independence Dam State Park | |
| Ohio State Park | |
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| Named for: Independence Dam | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Ohio |
| County | Defiance |
| Location | |
| - elevation | 679 ft (207 m) |
| - coordinates | 41°17′38″N 84°16′57″W / 41.29389°N 84.28250°WCoordinates: 41°17′38″N 84°16′57″W / 41.29389°N 84.28250°W |
| Area | 591 acres (239 ha) |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Management | Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Recreation |
| IUCN category | III - Natural Monument |
 Location of Independence Dam State Park in Ohio
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| Website: Independence Dam State Park | |
Independence Dam State Park is a 591-acre (239 ha) in Defiance County, Ohio in the United States. This Ohio state park lies on the banks of the Maumee River and features ruins of the Miami and Erie Canal. The park was established in 1949 and is open for year-round recreation including, boating, fishing, hiking and picnicking. It is off U.S. Route 24 just east of Defiance, Ohio.
Independence Dam State Park is near the confluence of the Auglaize River and Maumee River. The area has played a key role in the history of northwest Ohio providing a travel route for numerous Indian tribes including the Iroquois, Miami, Lenape, Ottawa, Erie, Wyandot, and Shawnee. Anglo-American explorers were also drawn to the rivers for many of the same reasons as the Native Americans. It provided a reliable source of water as well as an abundance of fish and game.
Two Indian leaders spent part of their lives in the area. Pontiac, an Ottawa leader, is believed to have been born near the confluence of the rivers. He went on to lead what is known as Pontiac's Rebellion against the trade policies of the British rulers in the years following the French and Indian War. Blue Jacket a Shawnee leader made his home in the area. He was a leader in the Northwest Indian War an effort by a united group of tribes to halt the westward expansion of American settlement.
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