Fort Niagara

Fort Niagara is a three hundred-year-old fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in northern North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at the river mouth on Lake Ontario. The first structure, called Fort Conti, was built in 1678 by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. In 1688, the Governor of New France, the Marquis de Denonville, constrcuted a new fort at the former site of Fort Conti. Named Fort Denonville, it only lasted until August 1689, when it was abandoned and burned by the Senecas. In 1726, a new fort was constructed on the same site. Called a trading post to appease the Hodenosaunee, or Iroquois, in 1726 a two-story stone building was constructed, initially called "The House of Peace". Its traditional name of "The French Castle" was not used until the 19th Century. The fort was expanded to its present size in 1755 due to increased tensions between French and British colonial interests.

The fort played a significant part in the French and Indian War, and fell to the British in a nineteen day siege in July 1759. The French relief force for the besieged garrison was beaten at the battle of La Belle Famille and the commander of the post, Pierre Pouchot, surrendered the fort to the British commander, Sir William Johnson, who initially led the New York militia. The Irish-born Johnson was not the original commander of the expedition, but became its leader when General Prideaux literally lost his head, stepping in front of a mortar being test-fired during the siege. The fort remained in British hands for the next thirty-seven years.

Though Fort Niagara was ceded to the United States after the Treaty of Paris ended the American War of Independence in 1783, the region remained effectively under British control for thirteen years. Only after signing of the Jay Treaty did American forces occupy the fort in 1796. In the interim, United Empire Loyalists fleeing persecution in the new USA were given land grants, typically two hundred acres per, in Upper Canada and some were sustained in the early years partly by aid from the military stores of the fort. The British captured Fort Niagara during the War of 1812, on the night of December 19th, 1813. British forces relinquished it to the United States with the Treaty of Ghent. It has remained in US custody ever since.

The name "Old Fort Niagara" which is associated with the fort today does not refer to its age but to distinguish the colonial-era fortress from its more modern namesake. The post-Civil War era saw the building of "New Fort Niagara" outside the original walls of the fort. Following the Civil War, masonry forts were abandoned for the style of military camp we now know (masonry fared poorly under bombardment). The newer Fort Niagara contained a thousand yard rifle range, access to rail lines, and access to large industrial areas (Niagara Falls and Buffalo). Fort Niagara was used to train troops for the Spanish-American War, World War I, and as an induction center and POW Camp during World War II. The US Army officially left Fort Niagara in 1963.

Fort Niagara has been renovated and now serves as a park and museum. The restored fort is the scene of frequent historical reenactments of 18th century battles that took place on the site, as well as holding period dances, fundraisers and other special events.

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