Fort Ticonderoga

The fort controlled a passage along the mouth of the La Chute river, filled with rapids, in the 5.6 Km stretch between Lake Champlain and Lake George. It was strategically placed in conflicts over the trade routes between the Hudson River Valley, controlled by the British, and the Saint Lawrence River Valley, controlled by the French. The terrain amplified the importance of the location. Both lakes were long and narrow and oriented north and south, as were the many ridges of the Appalachian Mountains that extended south to Georgia, creating nearly impassable mountainous terrain to the east and west of the Great Appalachian Valley that the location commanded.

Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolutionary War

During the American Revolutionary War, the fort saw action in May 1775, when the Green Mountain Boys and other state militias under the command of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured it from the British in a surprise attack. The captured cannons were transported to Boston, where their deployment forced the British to abandon the city in March 1776. The Americans held the fort until June 1777, when British forces under the command of General John Burgoyne occupied high ground, making the fort vulnerable to artillery attacks, leading the Continental Army troops under the command of Major-General Arthur St. Clair to abandon the fort and its surrounding defenses.

Fort Ticonderoga as a Tourist Attraction

In the 19th century, Fort Ticonderoga became a stop on the region's tourist routes. In the early 20th century, its private owners undertook the task of restoring the fort. Today, the fort operates as a tourist attraction, museum, and research center, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and the opportunity to learn about its rich history.