Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga, NY

Fort Ticonderoga in Ticonderoga, New York is one of the older forts one can visit on the east coast. It was built in 1755 and officially completed in 1759. It was originally a French Military Fort called Fort Carillon. The French created the fort in order to control Lake Champlain. The national historic site still sits overlooking Lake Champlain. Vermont's shore of the lake is just a short hop away as well.

The Fort had to be defended in 1758 with 3500 soldiers making sure that the British army of 16,000 couldn't win it. However, the British did take control and beat the French. Its history continued on even into the 19th century. By then the fort had been purchased as ruins for a summer home by William Ferris Pell. From then on the site has been a tourist attraction as Fort Ticonderoga. It officially opened as a tourist local in 1909 when Taft opened it to the public.

Anyone visiting the Ticonderoga area will want to make plans to stop at the fort. They are open throughout the year, though not on holidays. There are also other closures they can experience throughout the season. The hours are 9:30am to 5pm daily in the summer with the last ticket sold at 4:30pm. There are tours of the King's Garden in summer from 9:30am to 5pm as well. Admission is $15 for adults, $13.50 for seniors, and $7 for youths. A youth is considered anyone between 7 and 12. Seven and under the children will be allowed in free. Parking is onsite to make it easy to view the fort.

There is also the Ticonderoga's Log House Restaurant with views of Lake Champlain. The restaurant has the same operating hours as the fort with breakfast and lunch. They also have afternoon snacks. No smoking, food or water is allowed in the fort. This means any meal must be completed at the restaurant.

This historical site has some museum collections kept within the fort, as well as a library collection. For example the museum offers artwork, books, maps, objects, and manuscripts. These artifacts are from the French and Indian war. They are also partly from the American Revolution. The history of the armies which served at the fort along with military, cultural, and tourism history are also part of the museum exhibits.

The library collections include the William L Stone, Military Manuals, 18th Century English and American Newspapers, and 19th Century guidebooks. There is an archival collection of letters, reports, journals, and much more that can be seen if you have the right credentials. Sometimes these items are also placed on display. The artwork runs from the 1690's to the mid 19th century. A lot of it is maps which show the change in landscapes that have occurred over the years. There are prints, paintings, and photographs of those that worked at Fort Ticonderoga. It is possible to spend an entire day touring the collections, the fort, and the library.