Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MM
Old Fort Niagara
Well worth the 25-minute drive north from Niagara Falls is
Old Fort Niagara
(Fort
Niagara State Park, Youngstown, 716/745-7611,
www.oldfortniagara.org
, 9am-7pm daily
July-Aug., 9am-5pm daily Sept.-June, $12 adults, $8 children 6-12). The fort dates back to
1679 when the French constructed an outpost that became Fort Niagara. During the French
andIndianWar,FranceandBritaingrappledforcontrolofNorthAmerica.AftertheBritish
won, they occupied the fort until 1796, several years after the United States had won the
Revolutionary War.
During the War of 1812, British troops again took control of the fort, finally leaving
in 1815. The United States has since maintained control of Fort Niagara, which eventually
served as a camp for German prisoners during World War II. Fort Niagara has the distinc-
tion of being the longest continually occupied military base in the United States.
Plan on spending at least two hours wandering the expansive grounds of the fort. A
well-produced video at the visitors center is definitely worth viewing, as it gives context to
the fort's long history. Costumed reenactors demonstrate how soldiers and civilians lived
anddiedinthe1700-1800s.Therearelivemusket-andcanon-firingdemonstrations,black-
smithing, and food preparation.
